New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-18

Mother" Hartzell sits at the head
Of the circus stairway, with twinkle
in one eye and a calculating frown
ings and the goings Of her family Of
800 girls.
Any one who has had to retire to
a sanatorium after chaperoning a
college house party for weekend
will sympathize with "Mother" Hart
zell, who has to keep track of all
those high-fying. strong-armed young
women for six months of circus
year in the complicated life of the
big circus. Discipline is strict. "Twos-
ing" is forbidden. But now and then
Cupid puts something over.
She Has Official Title, Too
Officially "Mother" Hartzell is head
bit of scarlet satin to be re-span-
gled. or a pink velvet hat whose
feather needs to be caught at just the
fetching angle, to give her semblance
Of industry; but obviously when sne
mas to keep one eye on all those girls
and the other on that strange
man whose errand keeps him
hanging around the outer door
much longer than efficiency seems
to require, she has not much sight left
for fine sewing. The girls troop past
her, chiffon ruff1es covered with i'm
promptu bathrobes for the journey
through the drafty back regions, en-
route to blue serge and sailor hats.
"Billy," the Rough Rider Girl, stops
for chat, throwing her sombrero
on the floor, khaki-clad Legs swinging
over the edge of the sewing machine.
~ lrrru opI MT an tho fnnd
bag" she grins, "soon as my old man
shows up"
She flashed an inquiring glance at
the chapcron, and seeing the eye that
twinkled turned on her, she raked up
a bit of recent history.
"You really weren't half so fierce
about our getting married as you pre-
tended, Mother Hartzell," she began.
CAN that talk about fining me if you
ever caught me at the soda fountain
with him again, and that time Mr..
Ringing said he'd have fired US both
if we didn't quit going to the movies.
And then when we got married, any
way, you didn't say word"
Chapters From Chaperon's Life
"Mother" Hartzell smiled from The
depths Of seventeen years experience
in trying to supervise Cupid
otis the way of the world" she
said, call l do is to make sure the
young folks are really in love and then
1 never interfere. There are times
when rules are meant to. be broken"
The rough rider settled thoughtful
chin on her arms.
"Do you think it's good for woman
ried?" The modern woman's con
slant question burst from her painted
lips.
OTIS best for husband and wife to
together" said Mrs. Hartzell,
serenely. "I'll tell you my own story.
My husband, you know, is George
Hartzell, the clown. When our baby
was little l never travelled with the
circus, but when he was ten he was
not very we'll and the doctor recon-
mended vacation from school. The
boy, of course, was crazy to go on
the road with his father, and though
we warned him he would have to work
if he was part of the circus he said
he was willing, refused to stay home
alone while they two travelled, so /
got job and went along too.
"For eight years we three were with
the circus, and then the boy went into
the movies and afterward into the
great adventure with the A. E. F., but
father and l have gone along together
l wouldn't go back to the lonely life
in a small town for anything The
circus keeps me young, with all you
young folks around and so much going
on all the time"
Philosopher in Khaki Speaks
The rough rider threw a cotton he'll
met at the majestic figure of the lady
juggler in red velvet, who stalked past
to her dressing room. Then she said:
ut is queer how the circus gets
you. Say, bet Tiny will miss it.
Remember Tiny?"
Then the story of another circus tri-
umph over Cupid and the official chane-