Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13

not die. 1t was amalgamated and lost its lden-
tity. 1t was at its best when it Travelled by rail-
road, carrying its people and all its paraphernala
to the towns where it was billed to appear. This
is story of that time.
The show arrived in Missouri town on
Saturday in the summer of 1871. 1t was the
first railroad circus to visit that section. This
NAV have had something to do with the crowd
that came in from the farms The little town
for once in its history was swamped with hui
mainly and vehicles
1t was circus weather, a rare day in June.
The free pageant, the parade, had Just ended
Chariots, outriders in tinsel, Gagged wild ami
mails and the military band" had returned to
the pavilion on bit of prairie that abutted the
railroad track.
The crowd that had watched the spectacle
did not follow it to the show ground. This was
unusual. 1t turned back to little house at one
end of the principal street. The house was the
scene of double tragedy A man had shot his
wife and then killed himself. They were COM
paratively unknown in the community, having
recently moved to the town. The man had
been day laborer. His wife had attracted no
attention in her neighborhood
When the bodies were discovered they lay
the spread of a bed. But for the few
splotches near the pillow the spread was as
white as the daisies that grew near the window.
Both were dressed in their best. They had pre-
pared themselves for the circus. There was a
bunch of flowers at the woman's waist. There
was white rose in her hair On the little bu-
reau in front of the mirror was an envelop. On
the face of it was scrawled in awkward ch1rog-
raphy these two words, Circus money"
For more than an hour the throng which had
turned from the parade when it was over gath
cred in knots about the house. They seemed to
be hesitating as to the proper thing to do; for
they were the sort of people not accustomed to
tragedies. At last, however, one little aggrega-
ton turned and stroled toward the tent by the
tracks Others followed All went to the circus.
When the afternoon performance was over
the people from the country returned to their
homes Between the end of the afternoon per-
Torrance and the hour for the performance at
night report was circulated that percentage
of the night receipts would be given for the
burial of the victims of the tragedy.
No one stood sponsor for this singular report.
People in small towns know nothing OF show
benefits But if it had been otherwise this re-
port would have caused comment; for circus
benefit is unusual thing except IN great
cities and in these it IS
EVERYBODY who could went to the circus
- that night Whether the report prompted
the citizens to turn out, whether they were
prompted by that indefnable something that
takes hold Of everybody when there IS circus
in town, is not known The motive has no
place in this story. Besides the report was not
true.
The next day was Sunday Long before
church people were ready for the sanctuarles
long before the bells in the white steeples had
sounded the circus was packed on nat CARS anu
in freight cars with the coaches for the talent
attached and the train stored on a switch,
ready to pull out the following morning for the
next town. The owner of the show was not
churchman; but he never Travelled on Sunday.
When the show had to Journey in its own teams
over uncertain country roads, in the old days
Sunday was the same as any other day; but
the railroad circus lay by on the Lords Day
The "Old Man" and his star performers
were quartered at the only hotel worthy OF the
name in that town. Among the stars were
handsome fellow, the most graceful man that
ever sat a saddle, and the principal clown who
had sawdust name. The latter was man of
culture and travel, and had taken to tent life
for his health and to see the world.
1t was an unusual funeral that occurred that
Sunday afternoon from the scene OF the tragedy
of the day before. For the most part the at
tendance was composed of strangers. The two
collins concealed, except for their outlines,
by a profusion of flowers. The contributors
did not live in the town. There were no de-
signs; just a heap of all that could be OBJ
tanned on short notice. No minister of the
town had been asked to come, and none was
there. But stranger read the service for the
dead that is written for all in the Episcopal
Book of Common Prayer. A woman whom no
one in the town would have known sang
Abide with Me-" The collins were carried to
the hearse by strangers. The cortege con-
sisted of few carriages The interment was
made in an inconspicuous part OF the little
towns cemetery. 1t was according to the same
hot obs Of fha And