The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-06-05
away I'M one end, sfhes ring horses "A
the center ands the men erformers r.

the center and the man peri Formers r.
the other end
temporar curt Mn was HING be-
tween the main ana the dressing ,tent
e shut out the curious mob that tried
Z to peep IS 8 AZ the back lot Tor d
glimpse 5of things not q be seen 10
the ring Ass III 35.3 Isl;
Colored streamers h fnstened to the
roofs OF the tents waved and hoated
in the night mir and ,beckoned to the
townspeople on the other side to make
haste TO getstheh places, forget their
cares and be children again
Over the tops &c the tents the lurid
light Of the distant red f1re shot into
!; the sky, accompanied by the cries of
the peannt butchers. : the popcorn
boys. the lemonade vendors ana the
exhort attons Of the sideshow3 spieler,
whose Tying banners bore the painted
reproductions 5of his freaks. Y Here and
there stood unhttched chariots. half
1 lllee 81 81 trunks. trapeze tackle, paper
!. hoops &C stake pullers or other proper
t1es necessary to the show /? 3 ~. S=E&:
Torches famed at the tent entrances.
while Y II al lamps land lanterns gave
light for the loading Of the wagons.
There was a constant stream of life
shooting ia and out from the dressing
tent TO the big top as gayly decked
men, women and animals came or
went. j, =: *tSs LII \: U: "
>>s DrrooWsy dogs were stretched tnder
the wagons @ q, waiting their turn to. So
dressed as lions Or bears. The wise
old goose. With his modest gray mate,
pecked at the green grass Of turned
his head aaai from side to side, watching
the singing clown, who rolled up the
painted carcass and long neck sc the
imitation giraffe from which two prom Oh,
erty men had just slipped, their legs
still incased III stripes. ,. ST. ,% & s.
\ Ambitious canvasmen and R.ro ca,,,n.t
We're exercising, feet in air. ID the
hope OF. some day getting into the per 81,
formers ring: Property men stole q
minutes sleep In the soft warm grass
while they waited for more tackle to
load IN the wagons. Children Of the
/: performers were swinging on the tent
ropes. ChatteringS monkeys sat astride
the shetland ponies, awaiting their en-
trance to the ring. The shrieks sc the
hyenas in the distant animal tent thu
roaring Of the lions and the trumnet.
Ing OF the elephants mingled with rho
1ncessant clamor Of the band. And
back OF all this, pointing upward II
mute protest, rose solemn church
splre, white land majestic against :
J. vast panorama Of blue, moonlit hills
that encircled the whole lurid picture.
Jim's eyes turned absently toward the
church az he sat fumbling with thu
lock Of the little brown satchel,. Z
He had gone from store to store in
the various towns where they had
played looking tor something to. in
spire wonder in the heart of a miss
newly arrived: at her sixteenth wear.
Only the desperation Of a last moment
had forced him to decide upon the imi-
/ tatton alligator Bag which be. nov,
3 It looked small and mean to him a &.
the moment of presentation approach
ed, and he was glad that the @sales,w,,o.
man In the littles country store had
suggested the addition Of ribbons and
laces, which he now drew from the
pocket Of his corduroys. I He placed
his red and blue treasures very care
fully, In the bottom Of the satchel and
remembered with regret the strand Of
coral beads which he had SO nearly
bought to 60 with them ~
He opened the large property trunk
by his side and took from It laundry