The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-05-03
Married Life
Warren Takes Helen to the Circus and
the Evening Is Without Discord.

Warren Takes Helen to the Circus and
| the Evening Is Without Discord.
| to the CIRCUS tonight?" asked Warren
| abruptly.
"Oh, I'd love it,"
"Ail right, get your bonnet on"
| An hour later they were making heir
way through the crowd, past the ticket
window and into the great arena OF
the circus. The place was brilliantly
Lit and a brass band was playing Wig
orously.
They were late. Already herd of
elephants were performing in the ring.
| One ponderous creature was mincing
along gingerly on a revolving barrel,
while two others were riding on huge
see-saw, and still another two were
beating drums.
"Oh, it doesn't seem fair to make
such dignified animals do such foolish
things" murmured Helen, viewing the
elephants playground with some dis
favor "Oh Iook--you know he doesn't
like to do that" as one, with slow re-
luctance stood on its head with its
tail absurdly small in proportion 10
his large body, waving pathetically in
the air
Suddenly at a crack OF the trainers
whip, the elephants came in line. and
by resting their great paws on the
backs of one another, formed a huge
pyarmid, to the top OF which the train
er climbed and held out his hands for
applause.
"Oh Warren, look. as an elephant
lifted trainer up by his trunk and
carried him across the ring, while an
other trainer lay flat on the sawdust
and the other four elephants formed
pyramid over him. "Oh, if they
should make a misstep."
We'll, they won't. Now for heavens
SAKE s don't start to anguish over all the
things that look dangerous. What do
you expect at a circus? Here comes
the horses" as now the elephants hav-
ing finished their act were hurried out
one side OF the ring while the horses
and bareback riders ran in at the
other.
One of the most marvellous things
about a circus is the rapidity with
which the acts are changed. There is
never a moments wait. And now in
stantly in each of the three rings the
horses We're Looping around with their
riders turning somesaults on their
broad bare backs.
The centre ring horses We're milk
white, and with their silver strappings
and the pale blue satin tights of their
riders formed an effective picture. The
man had already shed his dress suit and
the young woman her white satin CLOAK
and feathered hat, with which they had
begun the act. The shedding Of clothes
on horse back is one Of the many time
honored parts of the circus which we
would regret to have changed.
Now the young woman jumped from
her horse. and ran across the ring, leap
ing on the the other horse beside the
man who had been turning the double
somersaults. And then, as the pro-
gram expressed 1t. they performed to-
gether some DELIGHTFULLY."- daring and
delectable demonstrations of the latest
and most artistic feats of equestrian
ISM"
.Oh. dear. that's really very ciever,
murmured Helen at some especially
skillful feat.
Pretty good work, but not so Won
derful as it seems. Look what broad
backs those horses have-and that easy
regular lope. That's the typical circus
horse"
Then the Clowns. 4
The next act was an acrobatic one,
and while they were setting the rings
a crowd of clowns raced on. Clowns
had never appealed to Helen, and now,
she looked without smiling and with
more wonder than amusement at the
grotesque figures in their various an
tics which brought out ripples of
laughter from all over the house.
oh dear, | can't see anything funny
in that" as a man dressed as an i'm
mense fat woman in calico mother
hubbard fell sprawling down and show
ed a wide expanse OF striped hosiery.
You never think anything funny.
Never saw a woman with so little
sense OF humor."
Here clown, dressed as back
woods farmer, came chasing a squeal-
ing pig around the ring. The whole
place was in an uproar when he finally
got hold Of the pigs tail and slid
along the ground. But Helen could
only feel sorry for the poor little an
imaI, who, helpless and unwilling was
forced to go through this twice a day"
Now the acrobat act was set. and
the jugglers and tumblers went through
many feats, the perfecting of which
had required years OF patient training
Yet they received not half as much ap-
blouse az had the foolish clowns,
whose work called for no skill. except
to be as absurd as possible.
Dear, that's wonderful Why don't
they applaud" as after q particularly
marvellous Juggling act the man step
ped out and bowed in anticipation of
some recognition of his skill.
But there was only faint hand clap
from some one in the gallery.
'-oh, he did some marvellous things,
persisted Helen Why don't they ap-
plaud him ="
Warren shrugged his shoulders. PEG