Milford chronicle., 1939-08-25
MAKING THEIR OWN
PLAYTHINGS
DIXIE NJ. BURTON


been to the circus When telling me
of the experience, his mother said
the boy had enjoyed the trained
animals, clowns, bareback riders and
trapeze performers, but had seemed
especially interested in the big tent
that housed the circus.
How do they get the canvas over
the poles?" Lowell had asked. DO
the poles and ropes ever break? Who
put in the electrict lights?
The morning after the circus, l
saw him carrying armloads of sticks
from the garage to the yard. He then
went into the house and came out
with hammer, a ball Of strong cord.
a box of tacks and a old white sheet.
The longest stick was pointed, so
he had little trouble hammering 1t
into the soft ground. With that as a
center, he formed circle by erect
ing shorter sticks, leaving an open
| ing at one side. More sticks made a
lane or leadway to this opening.
Strong cord was stretched from the
center pole to the surrounding ones.
"Oh, yes" | thought, Lowell had
gone into the circus business"
Occasionally. as the boy worked. l
heard his mother offering him advice
or suggestions from an open window
at which she sat sewing.
Having cut a piece the desired
dimensions from the sheet, the
yOungster threw his canvas" over
the poles and tackled 1t securely to
them. Another piece of the canvas"
enclosed the leadway to the circus
tent.
Lowell now erected a side-show
tent, and placed his toy automobile,
trucks, wagons and fire engine about
the circus grounds. At last every
thing was ready for the circus people
and the animals. Toy clowns, sold
iers, a darkey banjo player, dogs,
horses, bears and rabbits, soon form
ed long line entering the lane lead
ing to the "big tent. A brown
elephant with a dashing cowboy
seated on a green blanket headed the
procession. Two policemen in uni
form stood on either side of the line
to maintain order.
For weeks, Lowell enjoyed the cir
Gus. He changed and improved it.
Flags were put up, people and ami
mails were moved about and the per-
formers placed in dangerous - even
hair raising - places and positions
He and his playmates took turns as
barkers, ringmasters, animal train
ers and clowns.
The boys birthday anniversary
came on a Wednesday. Tuesday eve
ming, we noticed he was taking down
his tent, and he called across to us,
rather sadly: We'll, we are packing
up. We have to move" In the morn
ing, saw his father setting up
beautiful big green tent.
Lowell seemed pleased with his
birthday gift, and he and the three
boys who had been invited to have
luncheon with him, romped about the
tent and ran in and out of 1t playing
Indian, camping out and other games
But after a few days, Lowell's plea
sure in his gifts Jagged, gradually
grew less and almost ceased. His
parents tried to interest him in the
big green tent. but the boy was only
politely attentive, and he no longer
seemed contented to play in his own
yard.
Lowell did not attend the circus
that came to town in the fall, but
early on the morning of its arrival.
his parents motored with him to the
show grounds to watch the workmen
put up the tents.
l was out of town the following /
day, but when l reached home in the
l found him giving the
touches to another circus
tent, under an elm in the back yard.
Lowell had. profited from his former
experience and by watching the
workmen at the show grounds. The
second tent was much larger than
the first and 1t was constructed bet
ter and was more attractive looking.
He and his young associates were
soon playing happily around it.
Lowell's parents had come to
his attitude toward the
big green tent and had been impress
ed with the fact that the playthings
/ child makes with his own hands are
not only the ones most highly priced
BY him. but are also the most valu-
lble in his development.