Gutenberg Articles

Appearance

Excerpt ​

Excerpt from Polly of the Circus, by Margaret Mayo

“The parson's promise didn't get to him none too quick,” he read. “That
seemed to be what he was waitin' for. He give up the night it come, and
I got him a little room in a hotel after the show, and let one of the
other fellers get the stuff out o' town, so's I could stay with him up
to the finish. It come 'round mornin'. There wasn't much to it--he just
seemed tired and peaceful like. 'I'm glad he wrote what he did,' he
said, meanin' the parson. 'She knows, she allus knows,' he whispered,
meanin' you, Poll, and then he was on his way. He'd already give me what
was saved up for you, and I'm sendin' it along with this--” A blue money
order for two hundred and fifty dollars had fluttered from the envelope
when Douglas opened it.

“I got everythin' ready afore I went on the next day, an' I went up and
saw the little spot on the hill where they was goin' to stow him. It
looked kinder nice and the digger's wife said she'd put some flowers on
to it now and then. It was YOU what made me think o' that, Poll, 'cause
it seemed to me what you would a' done; you was always so daffy about
flowers, you and him.

“I guess this letter's too long for me to be a-sayin' much about the
show, but the 'Leap-a-Death' girl got hern last week. She wasn't strong
enough for the job, nohow. I done what I could for her outside the show,
'cause I knowed how you was always a-feelin' 'bout her. I guess the
'Leap-a-Death's' husband is goin' to jump his job soon, if he gets
enough saved up, 'cause him and Barker can't hit it off no more. We got
a good deal o' trouble among the animals, too. None o' the snakes is
sheddin' like they ought to, and Jumbo's a-carryin' a sixteen foot
bandage around that trunk a' hisn, 'cause he got too fresh with Trixy's
grub the other night, and the new giraffe's got the croup in that
seven-foot neck o' his'n. I guess you'll think I got the pip for fair
this time, so I'll just get onto myself now and cut this short. I'll be
writin' you agin when we hit Morgantown.

Explanation ​

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Polly of the Circus by Margaret Mayo ​

Context of the Source ​

Polly of the Circus (1907) is a melodramatic play by Margaret Mayo, a popular early 20th-century American playwright known for sentimental and morally charged stories. The play follows Polly, a trapeze artist who falls in love with a minister, leading to a conflict between her circus life and religious expectations. The excerpt is a letter from a circus performer (likely a friend or colleague of Polly’s) to Polly herself, informing her of the death of a fellow performer (possibly her lover or a close friend) and updating her on circus life.

The play explores themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the tension between worldly pleasures and spiritual salvation—common in melodramas of the era. The letter serves as a bridge between Polly’s past in the circus and her new life outside it, reinforcing the play’s emotional and moral stakes.

Themes in the Excerpt ​

  1. Death and Mortality

    • The letter describes the peaceful death of a circus performer, emphasizing his acceptance ("he just seemed tired and peaceful like") and his final thoughts of Polly ("She knows, she allus knows").
    • The burial on a hill with flowers contrasts with the harsh, transient life of the circus, suggesting a moment of dignity in an otherwise rough existence.
    • The mention of the "Leap-a-Death girl" dying from the dangers of her act reinforces the fragility of life in the circus, where performers risk everything for spectacle.

  2. Sacrifice and Loyalty

    • The writer stays with the dying man instead of leaving with the rest of the troupe, showing deep loyalty.
    • The money sent to Polly (likely savings meant for her) highlights selflessness and care—the deceased ensured she was provided for.
    • The writer’s actions (arranging flowers, helping the "Leap-a-Death" girl) reflect Polly’s influence—she was kind and compassionate, and others emulate her.

  3. The Harsh Reality of Circus Life

    • The letter shifts from solemnity to dark humor, listing absurd and tragic mishaps:
      • Animals suffering (snakes not shedding, Jumbo’s injured trunk, a giraffe with "the croup").
      • Human conflicts (the "Leap-a-Death" husband quitting, tensions between performers).
    • This juxtaposition of death and chaos underscores the instability and brutality of circus life, where both people and animals endure hardship.

  4. Nostalgia and Longing

    • The writer remembers Polly’s love of flowers, suggesting her absence is deeply felt.
    • The phrase "you was always so daffy about flowers, you and him" implies a shared past—Polly and the deceased had a close, perhaps romantic, bond.
    • The letter yearns for Polly’s presence, as if her kindness could fix the circus’s problems.

  5. Religion and Redemption

    • The "parson’s promise" (likely a letter from a minister) gives the dying man peace, implying spiritual comfort in his final moments.
    • This ties into the play’s central conflict: Polly’s choice between the circus (sinful, worldly) and religion (pure, redeeming).
    • The dying man’s acceptance of faith (via the parson’s letter) mirrors Polly’s own potential redemption.

Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices ​

  1. Colloquial & Vernacular Diction

    • The letter is written in heavy dialect ("ain’t," "kinder," "a-feelin’"), giving it an authentic, working-class circus voice.
    • This contrasts with the formal, moralistic tone of the play’s religious themes, reinforcing the gap between Polly’s old and new worlds.

  2. Juxtaposition of Tone

    • The letter shifts abruptly from somber (death, burial) to darkly comedic (animal mishaps, performer dramas).
    • This mirrors the circus itself—a place of both tragedy and farce, where life and death coexist with absurdity.

  3. Symbolism

    • Flowers: Represent Polly’s kindness and beauty, contrasting with the harshness of circus life.
    • The "little spot on the hill": Symbolizes peace after struggle, a rare moment of dignity in a transient life.
    • The money order: A tangible connection to the past, but also a reminder of loss.

  4. Foreshadowing & Irony

    • The "Leap-a-Death" girl’s death foreshadows the dangers of the circus, reinforcing why Polly may have left.
    • The giraffe’s "croup" (a respiratory illness) is ironic—such a large, majestic creature brought low by something mundane, much like the circus performers themselves.

  5. Epistolary Form (Letter Writing)

    • The letter format creates intimacy and immediacy, as if the reader (Polly—and by extension, the audience) is being spoken to directly.
    • It also filters the circus’s chaos through one person’s perspective, making it more personal and emotional.

Significance of the Excerpt ​

  1. Emotional Anchor in the Play

    • The letter humanizes the circus performers, who are often seen as caricatures or villains in melodramas.
    • It deepens Polly’s character—her past relationships and influence are felt even in her absence.

  2. Reinforces the Play’s Central Conflict

    • The parson’s letter giving peace to the dying man mirrors Polly’s own struggle—will she find redemption through religion, or remain tied to the circus?
    • The chaos of the circus (animal injuries, performer deaths) contrasts with the order of religious life, pushing Polly toward her decision.

  3. Social Commentary on Circus Life

    • The excerpt exposes the exploitation and danger in circuses (both for humans and animals), a critique of entertainment industries that use bodies for spectacle.
    • The dark humor in the animal mishaps masks deeper tragedy, reflecting how circus life normalizes suffering.

  4. Melodramatic Techniques

    • The sentimental death scene, the noble sacrifice, and the contrasting tones are classic melodrama elements, designed to elicit strong emotions from the audience.
    • The letter’s raw, unfiltered voice makes the moral lessons feel personal rather than preachy.

Conclusion: The Excerpt’s Power ​

This letter is a microcosm of Polly of the Circus—it blends pathos and humor, faith and worldliness, love and loss. Through vernacular speech and vivid imagery, it paints the circus as a place of both wonder and suffering, while Polly’s absence looms large, her influence still shaping the lives of those she left behind. The parson’s letter, the dying man’s peace, and the chaos of the circus all push Polly (and the audience) toward the play’s central question: Can one escape the past, or is redemption only found in embracing it?

The excerpt doesn’t just inform—it haunts, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of melancholy and moral urgency, hallmarks of Mayo’s melodramatic genius.