The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-06-19
MY FAVORITE
Z STORIES
Observation-Disclosures
(Copyrightl
The Prize Smell of the Circus
By IRWIN S. COBB

The Prize Smell of the Circus
Harry Dickson, the writer, probably
knows as much about the southern
negro as any white man can ever ex-
pect to know. But even so, In his
search for local color and quaint
lines with which to illuminate his
stories, he constantly is striking a
new angle of thought or new angle
of observation on the part of some
one or another Of his dusky neigh
bors, down in Mississippi.
Once upon a time Dickson was on
hunting trip in Sunfower county.
While there, he met an old negro
guide, bear-hunter of superior at
tainments and person of quaint
and an original philosophy. All his
life the old man had been buried at
the back edge of the canebrakeS.
Only once or twice had he been to a
large town. The dream of his life, It
developed, was to see circus. He
had 'heard of circuses, he had talked
with persons who had seen circuses
and he treasured a tattered program
of circus performance which a
white man had given him. But the
marvels of the red wagon and the
white top never had revealed them
selves to him.
Learning of the old mans ambi-
ton, Dickson had an inspiration. 1t
was an inspiration born partly Of
philanthropy and partly of selfish
and mercenary motives; for he
scented chance to get some prime
material for one of his stories. He
promised Uncle Jim that when next
the circus visited Vicksburg, he,
Uncle Jim, should see 1t.
In the middle of the following sum-
mer Ringing Brothers came along
with their show. Dickson sent Uncle
babe him be in Vicksburg at daylight
of certain morning. He met Uncle
Jim at the train
That day was probably the most
crowded day and the most eventful
in Uncle Jim's entire life. His patron
took him up into the yards to see
the circus unload from the cars, and
took him then to the show lot to
watch the raising of the tents.
Under escort of Dickson the old
negro saw the street parade, the
afternoon performance and the side
show and heard the concert He saw
1t all-menagerie, hippodrome, freaks
and the rest of it. His widely
popped eyes and the look on his face
testified to this enthrallment at be-.
holding all these wonders, but not a
word either of commentator or ad.
miration fell from his lips. Harry
was rather disappointed. He had
expected constant flow Of copy"
Still maintaining his silence Uncle
Jim trailed Dickson to his home when
the day was ended. He had dinner in
the kitchen with the servants and a
little later was to be taken to the
train which would carry him back to
his home in Sunfower county. To-
ward dark Dickson went to the back
Of the house to bid his guest farewell.
Uncle Jim, with his shoes off, sat
on the lowermost step of the porch
easing his tired feet.
uncle Jim," said Dickson, "I'm
afraid you haven't enjoyed your trip
very much"
IVY, Mist Dickson" said Uncle
Jim, "whut meks you think dat?
amt never gwine furgit whut seen
today ez long ez lives, an rs always
gwine be grateful to you, suh."
But you haven't said anything
about the circus. What made you so
dumb?"
well, sub, my eyes beheld so much
dat it seem lax my tongue forgot to
wag."
ooh, that was it? Well, Of all the
things you've seen today what Inn
pressed you most?"
'All of it pressed me-from de
start to de finish"
Eyes, l know, but there must have
been some one thing that stands out
in your mind above all the others
amazing than anything else. Think
the whole day over, now, and see If
you can tell me what that thing is"
well. sub, Mist Dickson" said
Uncle Jim, after a period of refec-
ton, "ef 1t comes down to jes' one
thing, I'd say de thing witch hit me
de hardest was dat air beast witch
dey calls de camel. Uh, uh-h-h-h-
dat camel"
"Why the camel particularly"
asked Dickson.
mist Dickson" said Jim, hes
got such a noble smell I"