In the early days in the South the country was so sparsely settled that
we did not content ourselves with showing in the towns, but were in the
habit of putting our tents up on any large plantation which appeared to
be centrally located for a region in which we believed we could make a
good "stand." It was invariably our custom to show in the afternoon. In
the evening the attaches of the show were quite apt to be invited to a
plantation dance or "hoedown." The "acting" at these impromptu
gatherings was of no mean order. The negroes would bring out all their
finery and there was sure to be a "Miss Sue" or a "Miss Lucinda" to
carry off the honors.
Many people--and this was particularly true in the South--entertained
the notion that circuses secured most of their performers by stealing
children. One time when we were showing down in Texas an incident
occurred which will illustrate under what strong suspicion we were held
in certain localities. It so happened that at the time we were showing
in a certain Texas town, a little colored chap named "Josh" became
lost. Of course there was a great hubbub over this incident, and we
were immediately blamed for having a hand in the matter. A thorough
search of all our belongings, however, failed to reveal to the angry
inhabitants the whereabouts of the missing boy. At intervals during the
excitement the boy's mother, a great negro "Mammy," went about among
her people moaning and wailing:
"Ain't dat horrible, ain't dat sorrowful, the old showman done stole
little Josh away from his paw an' his maw." This incensed the crowd and
for the time being we were in imminent danger of being torn limb from
limb by the enraged crowd. Finally, however, the missing boy turned up,
and, to make amends, the old negress went about exclaiming: "Little
Josh done got home; little Josh done got home!"