Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-08-23
~
from the
Democrats Pen

Well, Sir, went to the circus on
Monday, and, do you know, l saw
more grown-ups holding on to little
children's hands than I have noticed
for quite a while.
Seems to me have read somewhere
in Holy Writ about, "a little child
shall lead them" Of course them big
BOYS and girls didn't want to go to
the circus, but the tots wanted to see
the animals, so they took these by the
hand and took care Of them in the
crowd.
Blest if I didn't see lots of young
sters with daddy and nanny holding
on to the right and left hand of their
youngster, and then maybe aunty or
uncle behind, every now and then TAX
ing the shoulder to steer everybody
in the right and proper way.
A little child was leading them all
right; that is, they would like you to
believe it; but, down deep in their
own hearts they were satisfying their
own desires and blaming it on the
kids. Reminds me of some of these
humans who get just little more
"Oh! be joyful" aboard than they can
manage, then go ahead and cut up
some Of their didos, and blame John
Barleycorn for the capers. They sat
isfy themselves that the corn juice
is to blame when they are revealing
their own instincts with liquor as an
excuse. These adult circus goers are
revealing their own inclinations but
charging it up to their offspring.
Speaking of circus, it's just won
derful how some of those statesmen
can wiggle the money out of you. 1
reckon there isn't anybody who's too
good to take a gamble, so when one
of those circus spielers tell you, in
loud and convincing tones, that, for
a nickel, they'll sell you a package
of candy containing also brick house,
steam yacht, 1885 car, more or less,
why, you simply bite, that's all. 1
pulled out one of my hard-earned
hicks, invested it in a prize package;
got half cents worth of candy and
a flash light-without the flash, and
no way to get flash. Somebody be-
hind me let out big "haw-haw!" And
what could I do but "haw-haw" with
'em. Made me so tarnal mad / went
and bought another one. This time
I got a pocket book. took that as
a hint from Providence to keep my
money where it belonged, and so did.
But you know that hawker got many a
nickel out of some people saw there.
I've been trying to collect bill from
for some time, and just can't, that's
all. Now, don't mean you; you
don't owe me anything! it's that Teller
sittin' long side O. you.
I reckon, tho; the human machine
must have it's seasons of relaxation,
even if somebody else pays for it.
People are going to see little fun,
in spite of big guns and little fishes,
and you've got to wait for your little
account until there happens to be a
small surplus in the exchequer. Even
then if you fail to strike at the proper
time, the surplus goes for more fun,
and you are left twiddlin' your toes.
They tell me the lights went out
in the big tent at night. I hope that
little episode didn't result in an exodus
of pocket books or anything like that.
Still, if the crowd resembled me in
that respect, it had very few pocket
books; don't have much use for one.
I generally carry enough to pay for
an yeast cake for the house, pound
of coffee or a loaf Of bread. If it's
any more, I have to go to some OF
these stores who'll take risk and
charge it. I haven't heard of any big
losses in the big dark tent; which
goes to show that you've got to get
up early and sit up late to beat an
Eastern Shoreman, if the circus boys
had any such ideas. But there's also
an old adage about the difficulty OF
getting blood out of stone no mat
ter how dark it is.
Guests of Mr. and Mrs. A. p. Beau
Il As.s.