St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

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c7lze Qfesmerzbl. 'I- HE circus tent was crowded 5 not a seat to be had anywhere on the circular tiers extending one above the other to the height of at least forty feet from the ground. Peanut and lemonade venders found unutterable diffi- culty in getting around to sell their light refreshments, while everyone was pushing and struggling to .get in someone else's way, or, to put it in a milder form, every- one was trying to get a place where nothing would be missed by him-no, not even nails in the show horses' shoe. In the centre of the tent was a tall pole, around which a medium-size platform was erected, and on this tem- porary stage a .table and two chairs were placed. Of course, the usual number of trapeze, suspended rings and bouncing boards were scattered throughout the tent, and there were three circles Calthough small onesj in which the performance was to take place. Away near the entrance from which the performers made their appearance a brassy brass band sounded, and this hushed the expectant audience into something akin to quiet. Soon, however, the music lost its charm, and impatience was markedly written on every face, until I the manager left his box outside the tent, and after bow- ing politely, begged All the good folk of this flourish- ing town fliiredericktownj to accept his profuse apolo- gies for having kept them waiting so long, but the fact was Mlle. Hortense de Gouillet, the feature of the even- ing-the mesmerist-had suddenly been taken ill, and - Here the people rose from their places and looked threatening, but seeing that the manager was still trying to speak, they resumed their seats, catching the words very distinctly- but she will make her appearance as usual tonight, although a little tardy in coming to the tent. Then, with one grand iiourish of his soft felt hat, the speaker retreated, amidst the -thundering applause of Fredericktown's enthusiastic inhabitants. In truth, it would have been a sad calamity if Mademoiselle had been unable to appear, for these country farmers in this small fthough, to use the manager's words,j flourishing town had never seen nor had they heard of aught so wonderful as Mademoiselle's power. On the bill boards it was written :

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3 Studenfs jzeverie. I. EATED alone in my study, My churn- having gone for a call. My lessons all out for the morrow, I gaze on the picture of all. II. My mother is sitting before me - The loveliest of all to me - And memory carries me over To my home beyond the sea. 'l l'+'l !- V. Praying for me and the others As only a mother knows how Asking that He in his mercy A blessing for each will allow. 164 III. I wonder what she is doing While I am so far away, And cannot return to see her For many a tiresome day. IV. I know she is doing her duty- Doing it day by day. And when the evening has faded I can see her kneeling to pray.

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Mlle. de Gouillet BY ONE STEADY GLANCE COMPEL ' ANY MAN, WOMAN OR CHILD TO COME TO HER, OR TO LEAVE HER PRESENCE. 'ie WHO CAN WITHOUT DIFFICULTY BRING ANY PERSON SHE WILLS TO ' THE PLATFORM. ETC. And for two weeks this strange woman- if, indeed, she were a woman -had been the talk of the town. But to continue : The performance had commenced. First, a stately procession of elephants entered, marched around the entire inclosure and retired. These were fol- lowed by half a dozen riderless horses, which galloped around in their free and easy style until caught by the ring masters and conducted to their proper places. They were then bidden to dance, walk, kneel, and to do num- bers of other things equally delightful to the rustic audience. After this the riders pranced in, gaily bedecked in brilliant hues. When the trapeze performers had made their adieux, a stillness fell upon the people, a sudden hush, 'for now she was to enter l Even the lemonade boy stopped, with his foot on a farmer's hat, to look. She came 3 not a large, coarse-looking, masculine woman, with painted cheeks and tousled hair-no. A petite creature, simply dressed, and looking anything but prepossessing. In reply to the almost timorous applause which greeted her entrance, Mademoiselle quietly bowed and took her place on the platform. Indeed, she did look very weak, and here and there all over the tent motherly matrons murmured something to that effect. But Mademoiselle merely seated herself in a chair and dreamily gazed around her. Then in a low and gentle voice she told the people that if anyone doubted her power to rise. The whole population of F redericktown sat like charmed birds and no one moved. Then, continued the mesmerist, I will that all the