The immense crowed which attended the circus here on the 29th ult., was 

estimated at from twenty-five hundred to three thousand persons, in fact the 

crowd was so completely jammed together and the head of the day so intense, 

you could not have enjoyed the sparkling wit of Dan Rice in his palmist days 

had he been here.  The cry was continually quit crowding and down in front.  

However, the day passed off without a fight or a serious difficulty, while 

but five or six men were seen in a "weaving way, spending their money free."  

Much of the exhibition did not meet the approbation of our citizens, and of 

course some were disappointed whilst others were pleased and satisfied.  We 

were present and pronounce the performance good, and taking everything into 

consideration the "big show," with its rare collection of wild animals and 

excellent music, was as entertaining as any county deserves that cannot boast 

of a single turnpike road.  We advised our friends to come and see the 

elephant, but when they arrived and learned that he had made his escape and 

returned to his native land, per the Cincinnati railway, many under 

excitement and acting from the impulse of the moment, did the very thing 

which we advised them not to do, we told them not to fight the tiger, but as 

soon as the canvas was closed in the afternoon the alluring, tempting monster 

was turned loose upon our public square (in violation of the law) in the 

shape of a basket full of little blue boxes, containing pen points, one 

dollar, then dollar and twenty dollar bills, and more than this one of the 

boxes contained a one hundred dollar bill, because they saw the master of his 

own trick put it there and shake it up with the balance, but the fact is it 

never went there, and who would not give the small sum of fifty cents for a 

chance; the shrewd trickster could not hand his basket around fast enough to 

supply the demand; he sold them by the hundreds.  Young men were there and 

old gray heads were there spending their money, showing that the hope of 

gain, and the power of avarice knows no bounds.  A few of the boxes 

containing the $10 and $20 were drawn, which we since learn was a sham and 

returned to the trickster, and little did we think that we had men in our 

midst who would compromise their honor, and make themselves tools and 

accomplices in the hands of a stranger and swindler for the purpose of 

enticing their unsuspecting neighbor and friend into a trickster's snare.  

Yet we much say experience teachers the best lesson, and we trust many of our 

friends left the $100 bill wiser if not better men, convinced that it is 

foolishness to best against a man's trick.



The circus men behaved themselves in a quiet, gentlemanly manner while here, 

complaining a little occasionally because ours was a temperance town, and the 

clown, Davenport, says, Somerset is very much like a grave yard, because the 

bodies all remain but the spirits have departed, and that he had seen more 

mediums in our town than ever before, but their combined powers could not 

call forth the spirits.

 

The Concert.  The concert given by II. C. Jone's singing class, assisted by 

the Somerset Cornet Band, and by Prof. Singleton's String Band, on the 

evening of the 31st ultimo, was indeed a brilliant and successful 

demonstration of the skill and competency of the worthy instructor.  The 

pieces were well arranged, executed with care and without embarrassment, 

evincing an unprecedented improvement in the musical talent of our town.  The 

Presbyterian Church was filled to its utmost capacity , while the audience 

manifested that degree of pleasure and satisfaction characterized by all 

appreciative assemblies.



Our space will not permit us to speak of the programme in detail, but we must 

say that the young ladies who participated in the exercises were dressed with 

taste and elegance, with voices so sweet and full of melody, enabling man to 

realize those visions of love and beauty at who's shrine he loves to kneel.  

The young men played their parts admirably, and received much praise for the 

good deportment and politeness.  Truly should Somerset be proud of her sons 

and daughters and their proficiency in the arts and sciences.  Our town 

certainly possesses a talent for music that should be cherished, cultivated 

and perfected, and we are glad to see the old folks evincing a determination 

to bestow upon their children these rare accomplishments.



Mr. Jones requests us to return his heartfelt thanks to the citizens of 

Somerset and vicinity for their liberal patronage and kindness toward his 

during his most pleasant sojourn with them.



The Cornet Band, String Band, Col. Newell and Lady, Mrs. Mag Scott, Jno. 

Silvers and Prof. Singleton, will also accept thanks for kind assistance 

rendered on the evening of the concert.



Mr. Jones was urged to organize another class in our town, but engagements 

elsewhere debars him this privilege.  We assure him that while here he made 

many warm friends, more particularly amongst the young ladies, who will 

fondly cherish his memory.

 

Personal.  Prof. Huffaker and lady, Dr. Shadowen and lady, Wm. Harvey and 

daughter and Miss Dickison, of Louisville, were present at the concert on the 

evening of the 31st ult., all of whom speak much praise in behalf of the 

young ladies and gentlemen and the musical talent of our town.



Three Card Monte.  Some of our friends wish to known how a certain young man 

felt, on the day of the circus, when the cunning banker vanished with his 

$40, and whether or not he recovered his means.



The Hog Law.  Several suits have recently been instituted against our 

municipal authorities for the unlawful taking, impounding and selling hogs 

under certain town ordinances.  We anxiously await the result.



The Circus at Clio.  We learn that two of the circus hands got into an 

altercation at Clio on the 30th ultimo, one of them receiving several stabs 

in the back and side, which, it is thought, will prove fatal.  The wounded 

man was conveyed to Monticello.  Whisky was the cause of the difficulty.  No 

arrest made.



Fair Booths.  The booth privileges of the Pulaski County Fair were purchased 

on Saturday last by J.B. Gragg at the price of $46.70.



Milford Doolin.  Has so far recovered his health, that he left his home again 

this morning for Nashville, where he will resume his charge of the Sulphur 

Springs.  We hope the next two months will prove a profitable season to him.



Missionary Money Stolen.  It was discovered on last Sunday morning that the 

box, containing missionary money to the amount of two or three dollars, into 

which the little children drop their nickels every Sunday morning, at the 

M.E. Church South, had been stolen by some miserably depraved thief, by means 

of boring holes through the library press with a small gimblet.  It was 

supposed to have been abstracted on the day…