Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-30
The Argus Daily Short Story
Big Clown and Little Clown-By Temple Bailey
Copyrighted, 1903 by Associated Liera

lie was big ana bury. Il figure IN MS
fantastic dress TO make all the little
boys gi@glc and the little girls stare.
half frightened.
That w;ls when he was in the ring.
But when he was clothed in the OrG-
nary garb of a citizen he was simply Il
fresh faced boy who could stroll along
the village streets without attracting
Unusual attention
He liked the little villages where the
circus stayed for Il day or two and
then moved on languidly down dusty
roads to the next stopping place
Some time" he said to the little
clown. I'D just like to stay behind in
one Of these little towns and turn
farmer and stop being funny for
awhile"
The little clown was woman.
When she was dressed for the ring she
wore infantile. clothes. with blue
sash. and carried II big stick of red
striped candy. and all the little girls
and boys would almost go into convul.
sions of laughter when she shook her
rattle ut them
Il KNOW" said the little clown, .how
you feel. Sometimes | think it would
be nice to have little house and make
bread and put the weeks wash out on
the green grass and have cat and n
FIREPLACE
Her voice trailed off drcamily.
The big clown looked down at her.
I've beensfunny all my life" he said.
when ! wasn't anything but a baby
| my father used to take me in the ring
with him. He was a clown. too, and
I've just grown up to it,"
The little clown nodded sympathetic-
ally. Most q us grow up to it." she
said, .and then somehow we can't get
away"
The big clown stood up. 1t was time
for him togo into the ring. He twirled
his pointed hat in his hand and then
put it on. u am going to get away
from it," he said. 81 want Il home and
| neiShbors. I'd like to be a sheriff i'm
some town or mayor or on the school
board He smiled till the thick white
paint on his face was folded into deep
creaSeS
Then he was off to the ring, and the
little clown turned her attention to the
contortionist. who was in shining iri-
| descent green like n snake
Il wish you wouldn't pay so much
attention TO the big clown" the contor-
| ZIONIST told her. 81 can't ever get q
minute with you"
The little.clown looked at him with
eyes that went beyond him through
the door of the tent to where the ap-
pie trees were flinging up pink branch
es to sapphire sky.
Did you ever see anything so pref
typ" she asked. and pointed to it.
But the contortionist had no eyes
for apple trees. 81 have never seen
anything so pretty as you are" he
said. land if you will stop this,clown
business and marry me will put you
in an act that will give you Il chance
to show people how good looking you
are. You could wear white and your
hair in yellow ringlets down your back
and a gold crown. And I'd put on red
with horns, and we'd give an angel
and devil act"
| The little clown leaned forward
eagerly. Il have always wanted to
do something like that" she said.
i I've wanted to have an act that
would make people do something be-
sides giggle, and l ought to get pref
ty good pay"
=, "Well. should say" the contortion-
list Dragged. II get bigger pay now
than any one in the show. and you'd
| just about double it after l had taught
you what to do. 1t would be swell
business"
YES" said the little clown, at
would
And when the contortionist had gone
the little clown sought the bearded
lady.
which would you rather do" she
| demanded. "have little house in a
sountry town. with a fireplace and a