THE CIRCUS AND THE SHOW. 1 45 



especially between them and the earth. As evidence, in part, of the 

 correctness of this explanation of the phenomenon, the ashes of burnt 

 leaves were precipitated from the rain water, a little of which fell 

 during the day, when suffered to stand a few hours (pp. 260, 261). 



See " The New-England Magazine " (IV. 379-383) for 

 May, 1833, published in Boston, for a description and ex- 

 planation of the Dark Day. 



THE CIRCUS AND THE SHOW. 



In modern times the circus and the menagerie have been 

 united, and their exhibitions are now confined to cities and to 

 large towns situated on the line of railroads. Formerly the 

 young folks of Groton, and even children of a larger growth 

 were treated periodically with these attractions, which then 

 always came separately. In my boyhood, nearly every year 

 a circus would put in an appearance in the village, and pitch 

 a tent — a small one in comparison with those now in use for 

 such purposes — behind one of the taverns, or on the Com- 

 mon just north of the Burying Ground. People would come 

 even from the neighboring towns in considerable numbers, in 

 order to see the remarkable feats which had been duly adver- 

 tised. Large posters, put up in the bar-rooms, blacksmith 

 shops, stables, and other public places, set forth the strange 

 sights to be seen. The man of gigantic strength, who could 

 pull against four horses, as well as the one with iron jaws, 

 who could lift a small cannon by means of straps between his 

 teeth, while some one else fired it off, the rider and the acrobat 

 were all there, including the clown with his stale jokes. It 

 was a gala day, and booths and benches were in order for the 

 sale of gingerbread and poor lemonade. Drunkenness was 

 not uncommon, and on the whole a deep impression was 

 made on the youthful mind. Two performances were given, 

 one in the afternoon and the other in the evening; and be- 

 fore the audience left their seats the place of the next exhibi- 

 tion was announced by the ringmaster. 



These circuses used to come to Groton from Lowell, Nashua 



