Evening journal., 1910-04-01
GOING TO
THE CIRCUS
By M QUAD
Copyright. 1910. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

about this time the billposter for a
circus appeared and pasted the road
side barns with the usual gaudy bills,
and the excitement began.
Perkinsville was no circus town. It
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. shall be a spectator my
self" replied the widow. mot only
that, but shall attend the circus
both afternoon and evening. / shall
expect you to escort me in the even
ing"
"w-h-a-tl" gasped Moses as he stared
at her with open mouth.
The widow repeated the words and
said she was tickled to death that
circus was coming
'But it's wickedl It's monstrousl
You can't be in earnestw
81 shall be there on a front seat"
"But l 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 a black sheep. Mary, don't
think Of doing any such thing"
"Moses, I'm going to that circus,
and that's hatl' replied the widow as
she put her foot down. Il don't be-
lieve there's any more wickedness
about It than at a spelling school.
Why should there be-"
"But circus men swear and fight" {"
protested Moses.
80 do lightning rod men and tin
peddlers. I've heard some of the men
around your mill swear"
"But circuses have a clown, and the
clown
"And the clown he jokes and makes
fun. Why shouldn't hep
"AIary." solemnly said Moses, 'ff you
go 10 that circus then all is over be-
tween us"
"All right, Moses; I'll be there"
Moses went straight from the house
OF the widow TO that Of his minister
and told his story. 1t produced coli
sternation. The widows independ-
ence Ind been winked at, but here
was a case Of revolution. rebellion de-
fiance. It 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 errand replied;
81 have been to Sunday school pic
MICS of our church and seen selhshness,
quarreling and backbiting. 1t can be
no worse at a circus. and 1 am go
ing. Did you ever see a two horned
rhinoceros2"
"N-now was the stammering reply.
"Then by all means go and see one.
II may be your only chance for the
next twenty years. Yes. and there's a
five legged calf and a 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.
II was decided that she must be 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 a vain
hope She took the floor to ask how
many persons present had ever at
tended a circus. Five men signifieC
that they had. and seven or eight
more could have done so, but didn't.
The widow asked how they had beeI
harmed-if It had led to profanity
drunkenness. wife beating and theft
All pleaded not guilty. Then she aske,
why it was more wicked to look at al
elephant than an OK. No one answer
ed. Then she asked why It was wors
to listen to a clowns Joke than t
some Of the stories told around tn
postoffice while waiting for the mai
to arrive. No one answered. Then sh
asked why a woman shouldn't walk
tight rope or a rail fence II she want
ed to- She had seen men walking owe
the bridge on the railing, and no on
had raised a fuss about It. Wome
would jump through hoops at the Gil
Gus. What Of It? She knew a woma
In Perkinsville who had crawle
through a screen door when locke
, out.
The widows best weapon was save
TO the last. She had made a good case
but she clinched It by asking II an
one present would please point out 1
the Bible where Christian men an
J women were forbidden the circus an
, more than the pairing bee, the corr
husking OF the lasses candy pull. A
heard, but no one complied, and Mrs
Hooper wrapped her toga about he
and walked out.
The circus appeared on the dat
given. The widow was there, Nose
was there. and the three or four pee
pie in town who weren't there wer
down with the mumps or measles.
was even said that the three minister
penetrated as far as the cages OF th