The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-26

 the circus and memories of it nestled very tendery n my heart was afraid that if were to return to an old trail would find disappointment and Usilluson- ent at the end So much did fear this that last year gave away two passes to the circus which hao been given to me- just didn't have the courage to go For as YOU grow older you cling ercey to dear mem ories and the recollection of happier days You don't want those treasured jewels tarnished and spoiled. Therefore up to that last minute wasn't really sure was going to the circus here in Waterbury couple Of Mondays ago. For lot had happened to me since hao seen the circus before had been in war. had spent three wears in Central Africa. I had shot big game And I, and another chap had had menagerie of our own.
 was living in little place called Bukoba on the west side of Victoria Nyanza was trader, and was one of the only five white who were domced there Our nearest white neghbors were same seventynVe or hundred miles away across the lake
 The nenagerie consisted of dog (breed unknown) cat an English hen, parrot, maroout storK pony d mule an eland buffalo, dozen or so turtle doves, and two small monkeys They got on amously together, and we never grew tired of them
 Tn addition to our own menagere there was the nnenaperie of the wids to be viewed easily and at no cost lion leopard rhno buffalo, hippo zebra giraffe, secretary birds, aardvark and aardwolf numerous sians and crocodes snakes some of them very polson- GUS, and all kinds of gazelle. And once there was pageant as great Ringing Brothers have ever con, ceived when local chiefs from outlying districts beyond the hills came in to pay their respects to the British Governor.
 They came in palaquins of red and purple and yellow and gold They brought their own colorfully attred personal guards and their own bands, and their own retainers And they streamed the hills from before dawn in the village below, the early sun nasnng on watching them until it time for them to parade past the Bona where the Governor and his aides and were sitting And they passed each chief would dlsnount from his palaquin and salaam and walk by, and then be carried further on.
 And the bands made strange music. And the danc- ing girls gyrated their bodies and the soldiers looked make-up-were truly awesome. The parade took the best part of two hours which seemed but few minutes knew would never forget it as long as lived Ana never have.
 Invariably thought of this pageant and of the menagere when the urge came to go to the circus Invariably stayed away Then two Mondays ago l weakened went down to the circus grounds not intending to do more than look at the animals For s my inhbitionS they and the smell of tanbark, ana the crowds and the noise and the sight of the big tent went inside and magic touched me as Strode to my seat under the big top.
 forgot Africa and the pageant of Africa, and the wild animals and my own menagerie was all eyes and ears. was very young. I was small boy playing hockey to to the circus and that's as great thrill as anyone can know
  believe joined the msts of oden years And was grown up and adult once more But little of something chung the name of beautiful girl who had seen doing asoundng things all by herself high under the big top The name Lalage-which if you pronounce it cor rectly-is singing poem And was uneasy in my mind for couldn't remember why the name should stir me for all that appears often in the works of Horace
 Then suddenly the name of place mentioned in the news of the present Italian campaign flashed at me -Rimini, and knew why was stirred.
 I stirred, for very dear called Aline Kilmer-Joyce KimerS widow-once had introduced me to Lalage and Rimni in grand poem by Rudyard Nplng, which great number of people do not know. give you the first stanza If you get one-tenth of the enjoyment out of it that got you will be grateful to me- and to the circus whicl brough all back Here it is:
 (Marching Song of Roman Legion '' of the Later Enpire)
 When left Rome for Lalages sake
 By the Legion's Road to Rimini,
 She vowed her heart was mine to take
 With me and my shield to Rimini-
 Grill the eagles flew from Rimini-)
 And I've tranped Britain, and I've tramped Gaul,
 And the Pontac shores where the snowflakes fall
 As white as the neck of Lalage-
 GAS cold as the heart of LalageD
 And I've lost Britain and I've lost Gaul,
 And I've lost Rome and, worst of al
 I've lost Lalage.
 EDMUND LEAMY