Smyrna times., 1942-06-18
The
What Not Shelf

same thing. We swear that this
will be our last circus-that we
have seen all there is to see about
it. And so the next year we go
right back, and enjoy the great
show Just as much, and make the
same vows.
The managerie this year seemed
definitely smaller and less interest
ing. Besides, all the animals had
just been fed, and were sleeping
blissfully on their backs, their fat
bellies up.
So we took advantage of the OPP
portunity of studying Gargantua
and his mate, M'Toto. Several
years ago, we had fallen into a
golden opportunity to watch this
hideous but interesting gorilla, for
his cage was not surrounded by
spectators ten deep, as this year,
and there had been room, good
view, and almost an. hours time.
Last night, however, was different.
In Gargantua's cage, and far out
shining him in audience interest,
was - a-beautiful-n ew-rubber
tire. People were actually staring
at the tire as if it were some rare
speciman, just captivated and put
on display.
All through the crowds there
were murmurs from young and old,
'By golly look at that good tire!"
The guard with the cage, weary
and bored with so many remarks
about the tire, answered one indig-
nant mans complaints with would
you like to go in and take the tire
away from him ?"
That settled that
Then, there was dancing camel
that struck our fancy. A swing
and sway camel, with big sad eyes
and buck teeth, who pranced de-
lightfully for peanuts, took them
gently if bit MOSTLY from your
hand, and munched them with a
politely reproachful expression.
- -
Somehow, the show itself just
didn't seem natural, for the famil-
lar circus band was not there, and
monograph records were used in
stead. 1t didn't seem the same,
because the versatility of the band,
which was like no other on earth,
was half of the show.
When the three Chinese tight
wire artists were announced, the
Wilmington audience almost dis
graced itself. There was a strain
ed, antagonistic silence. We heard
several persons within earshot re-
mark Chinese, huh? Betcha they
are Japs!"
At any rate, the audience wasn't
sure, and it was hostile and stiff.
You could feel it in the air-see it
in the stoney faces.
The Chinese women performed a
series of remarkable feats. There
was no applause. We felt ourselv-
es growing angry and Inundated
with this group of people who were
afraid to appreciate perfection and
daring and hard-earned talent-be-
cause the artists were oriental.
But the Chinese kept right on
doing extraordinary tricks, and
soon, there was a faint applause,
and then it grew louder-until by
the end of the act, the whole tent
had unfrozen and relented and CIV
en- these artists their due acclaim.
How mean and hurting and cruel
prejudiced people can be!
And all the while, group of
young girls next to us gorged on
everything that came by Peanuts,
spun sugar candy, cokes, popcorn
(both buttered and caramel) ice
cream, and heaven knows what
else.
And the same juggler who went
into a frey temper last year went
into a tantrum this year, because
in throwing balls to the audience,
he hit popcorn man and knocked
whole carton of his wares to the
ground. The audience howled, and
for a minute, the popcorn man had
the spotlight--mad as he was.
- -
We left Smyrna wearing white
~. 1..A