The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-05-01
COSMOPOLITAN AND DEMO.
CRATIC,

= Cosmopolitan and democratic. in
Me broadcast sense OF the term, the
ctcus man Is an universal institution.
know there are many who say thai
nothing can he universal unless il per-
tains 10 the univrrSG--thc cun,, moon.
stars and the earth. and they are IN.
doubtedly cOrrest in Il grammatical
sense. Still ! use the term univer.
sal advisedly. for all the planets OF
the universe are inhabited. rs many
scientists would have us believe, |
still maintain that the circus is uni.
versal; that wherever mankind en-
lists there Is the circus.
Sincerity is always impressive, and
no one is more sincere titan B. T..
Wallace who made the quoted state
menL. Mr.. Wallace for many years
conducted II circus under his own
Carl Hagenback. lie freUucnted
Washington during the sessions OF
Congress and has wide acuuaint-
apceance among statesmen, men OF
AFFAIRS and thinkers of the country.
At present, lie is general manager OF
the great circus consolidation OF the
Observation-Disclosures Shows. which
comes to Iinonown Friday. May y.
He lisa student aud philosopher who
finds in his circus work the exercise
ana The opportunity TO study the
country and people that nothing else
could give him. Continuing on his
subject, he said:
Thai the cil sus was the first form
of public entertainment adopted by
the ancients. IL - fact lhal is cstah.
lished by records OF The most remote
antiquity. Ancient Ninc"ch. first OF
the great metropolis Of the world.
llad her circus. When III" ruins of
the city which was buried by the
sands washed over by the floods OF
the river Tigris, 697 year" before the
Christian era began. the circus s;ruc
turc was found to be mex; in size and
Importance to the temple OF Asshur.
the supreme deity of the Assyrians.
There is scarcely SchoolbOy who is
not more or less familiar with the
games at Athens were the circus OF
those Gays. Wherever Lam has in
;ny W." performed t"ais OF skill or
over the horse, he has enjoyed him
self in at least the rudlmcntary forms
nGular. In It man secs other men
doing the very thing he las tried to
do himself, or ut least he feels that
1t lies in his power TO 10 il If he
Or practices II. as the Smuiatiyr small
boy puts it. If lie is conscious OF the
fact that he is seeing some other
man doing something thar Is quite
beyond his power OF accomplishing.
his admiration for and lbs interest
In the successful man is all The
greater"
rs the popularity of the pugilist
10 be accounted for In the same man
ner?" he was asked.
why. yes. TO some extent" Col.
Wallace replied. But there Is a vast
difference between pugi.ism and
other displays of skill and strength.
suppose there are boxers who can
can look Mt pugilists Understandings
and appreciate the skill with which
they attack and defend, INT they are
IN vast majority. The element OF
personality. environment and interest
have much 10 do with the enjoyment
OF men witnessing pugilsni. and there
are few who can control the passion
Of conflict when they Sc" finish
fight. Feats performed III circus
never arouse any sort OF passion. and
no one is Obliged TO understand any.
thing about the science 10 enjoy
item.