Page 108 - 1918 VES Meteor

TH.FJ :ili.ETF.OR 7
accomplishing anything save making his boy the man he hill1self should have been. lie often "·onclcred how his com- panion, Gl'imaldini, could be so happy and full of zest in his work, often practicing for hours to achieve a funny fall or grimace. However, he was soon to see an interesting side- light of the little clown's character. Whenever the show exhibited in Chicago, Grimaldini always took his costumes and disappeared for the mol'ning. It was the manager of the circus who, in casual conversation, revealed the reason for this habit. "Ten years ago," he said, "when we were showing he1·e Grimaldini lost his little son, who fell from a trapeze. He was taken to a hospital and died a few hours later. Now, every time we hit this lot old Grimaldini dresses· up in his clown's stuff and goes to the hospital and amuses the sick children." So Grimaluini, too, had known sorrow. Yet he was .be chee1·iest person on the lot, and, incidentally, one of the most popular. Jules began to wish that he might do something, something 1·eally big for other people, that his whole life might not be wasted or spent entirely on his son.
Then the war brok<' out. Jules saw his chance. Here was his opportnnity to atone-to gain the respect of all aucl to make his son proud of him. lie left the show and hastened to a recruiting station. Within five minutes he had been rejected because of a weak heart. And within five minutes he felt his old bittemc-ss and absolute rliscourage- ment creeping back. Even now his past rose to smite him. H he bad only kept himself in condition ! He was about to lose all grip of himself when the thought of his boy checked
him. Back to the circus he went sadly, and donned his clown's garb. Then came his inspiration. It was little Grimaldini who gave it to him. The two were standing in the pad-room awaiting their turn to enter the ring. From the big tent came the sound of laughter and applause.