The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-05-13
GOING TO
THE CIRCUS
By M QUAD
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

Moses Fairman was visiting the
Widow Hooper at least two nights q
week with a view to matrimouy. Jus,
about this time the billpOStar for 4
circus appeared and pasted the road
side barns with the usual gaudy bills
\ and the excitement began.
Perkinsville was no circus town. II
never had had one and didn't want
one. Such things were looked upon
as demoralizing in the extreme. The
bills were hardly up when the parents
began warning their children and the
ministers had something to say from
the pulpits. On one of his visits to the
widow Moses Fairman expressed the
hope that she would not even permit
her cat to view the circus parade. and
the next instant he was a surprised
man.
"Why, l shall be spectator my
self" replied the widow Not only
that, but | shall attend the circus
both afternoon and evening. | shall
expect you to escort me in the even
| ing
"W-h-a-t" gasped Moses as he stared
at her with open mouth.
The widow repeated the words and
said she was tickled to death that Il
circus was coming.
But it's wicked! It's monstrous!
You can't be in earnestw
Il shall be there on front seat"
But | won't go, and neither will
any church member You have heard
what has been said about it. Why,
you'd be turned out Of the congrega-
ton as black sheep. Mary. don't
think Of doing any such thing"
Moses, I'm going to that circus.
and that's fatr replied the widow as
she put her foot down. II don't be-
lieve there's any more wickedness
about it than at spelling school.
Why should there be-"
But circus men swear and fight"
protested Moses.
so do lightning rod men and tin
peddlers. I've heard some of the men
around your mill swear"
But circuses have Il clown. and the
Clown
and the clown he jokes and makes
fun Why shouldn't he?'
Mary" solemnly said Moses, IF You
go to that circus then all is over be-
tween us
"All right, Moses; III be there"
Moses went straight from the house
of the widow to that of his minister
and told his story, 1t produced con-
sternation. The widows independ-
ence had been winked at, but here
was a case Of revolution, rebellion, de-
fiance. 1t must be met and crushed
in the bud. The hour was late. but
the minister went to struggle with
the rebel. She put her head out of her
chamber window and after ascertain
ing his Grand replied:
81 have been to Sunday school pic
MICS Of our church and seen selfishness,
quarreling and backbiting. 1t can be
no worse at a circus, and I am 60
lug, Dlu you eNel oee '"o hoih
rhinoceros?"
"N-nov' was the stammering reply.
Then by all means go and see one.
1t may be your only chance for the
next twenty years. Yes, and there's
five legged calf and dodo."
Next day the news was all over
town. and the earth proceeded to rock.
The widow had many callers at her
house and Moses had many at his
mill. All were again" the widow.
1t was decided that she must he put
down. At first she was only deter
mined SO much was said. however,
that she got her mad up and an
nounced that she would attend Thurs
day evening prayer meeting and an
nounce her position. She was there.
and the church was crowded. 1t was
hoped that she intended to recede from
her first position. but it was vain
hope She took the floor to ask how
many persons present had ever at
tended a circus Five men signiied
that they had, and seven or eight
more could have done SO, but didn't
The widow asked how they had been
harmed-if it had led to profanity,
drunkenness. wife beating and theft
All pleaded not guilty. Then she asked
why it was more wicked to look at an
elephant than an OK. No one answer
ed Then she asked why it was worse
to listen to clowns joke than to
some of the stories told around the
postoffice while waiting for the mail
to arrive No one answered. Then she
asked why woman shouldn't walk a
tight rope or rail fence If she want
ed to? She had seen men walking over
the bridge on the railing, and no one
had raised a fuss about 1t, Women
would jump through hoops at the cir
Gus. What of it? She knew a woman
In Perkinsville who had crawled
through a screen door when locked
out.