No one believed that the show
could continue against such distressing odds. At no performance were
the receipts half adequate to the requirements; each clay saw the
enterprise sink deeper into a mire of debt from which there was no
apparent prospect of escape. The characteristically ebullient spirits
of the performers surrendered at last to the superstitions that
persistently obtruded themselves upon the notice of individuals. All
manner of "bad luck" signs cropped out to sustain this multitude of
beliefs. Every one was resorting to his luck stone or an amulet. Even
David Jenison, sensible lad that he was, fell under the spell of
superstition. He carried a "luck piece" given him by Ruby Noakes, and
not once but many times was he guilty of calling upon it for relief
from the general misfortune.
A bloody fight on the circus grounds between the showmen and an
organized band of town ruffians came near to bringing the concern to a
disastrous end. The riot happened in one of the hill towns along the
river, and was due to the ugly humor of the unpaid canvasmen and the
roustabouts who went searching for trouble as an outlet for their
feelings.
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