Photo: Handlebar Moustache from dipity"Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls...We are here today to tie this young lady to the cross." A hush fell on the crowd, and the voice paused dramatically before continuing:
"and if she fails to get away, at the count of 1, 2, 3...
each and every one of you, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,
will get into this show free."
I remember the exact words from the mouth of a circus man with a black handlebar moustache. I was twelve years old, thrilled that the circus had come to town. Along with the rest of the crowd, I was filled with anticipation. My mind reeled at the possibilities. How could the woman untie herself from all these ropes in the count of three?
If she didn't, would we really get in free? My mind was calculating the costs of unforeseen options. Would I now have enough to buy a hot dog and some cotton candy after going on the Ferris wheel? At the time I had no inkling of its history: the ride was invented by George Ferris and first used at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.
I haven't been to the circus since a Mexican circus came to Surrey Place when my daughter was young enough to enjoy it, but I just watched a film called The Butterfly Circus. This short movie has a story of quite another sort, one definitely worth thinking about. The link was passed along by the Brain Guy, Terry Small.
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