The circus grounds appeared to be the favorite arena for the settlement
of the neighborhood feuds that were then characteristic of backwoods
communities. Weapons of every sort, from fists to pistols, were
employed and bloodshed was the rule rather than the exception. But the
belligerent spirit of the pioneer yeomen was sometimes displayed in
ludicrous ways. An instance of this character came near having a tragic
ending. A party of young people halted before the elephant drove and
amused themselves in teasing old Romeo. The ringleader in this reckless
sport was a veritable young Amazon. For a time the patriarch of the
drove, who had more good common sense than all his tormentors, stood
the annoyance with dignified forbearance. But at last the big country
girl succeeded in arousing his ire, and the huge elephant raised his
trunk and gave her as dainty a slap, by way of warning, as was ever
administered by a mother or school mistress to an unruly child. But the
young woman would not take this hint that would have sent the most
reckless animal-keeper of the show to a discreet retreat. Her pride was
wounded before her companions. With her face flaming with anger, she
leaped over the guard chain and made a vicious lunge at the shoulder of
the elephant with the point of her gaudy parasol. Fortunately an
attache of the show leaped forward in time to save her. This was one of
the most foolhardy displays of animal courage that I ever saw--and it
was thoroughly typical of the circus-going public of the West at an
early day.