Treasure Chest of Fun and Fact #1 [247]
"Patron of China… St. Joseph" introduces a quietly poignant moment in a struggling circus, where Frumson Wooters arrives hoping for work at Hornbeam's fading big top. With the circus on the brink of foreclosure and its performers losing their spark, Frumson’s failed attempt at the high striker—his determination breaking the game—hints at a deeper, more meaningful role he might play. Written by Frank Moss and illustrated by Frank Borth, the story captures a moment of quiet resilience, with Borth’s expressive art bringing the worn-down circus to life.
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Frumson Wooters shows up at Hornbeam's Circus, in the hopes of finding a job. The circus is a broken down affair that has seen better times. The clowns don't even try to be funny anymore. Unless Col. Hornbeam can pay his bills, the US Marshall will foreclose the mortgage next week. Frumson finds out they're not hiring because they're broke. He tries his luck at a high striker (use a mallet to ring the bell on top of a tower) and loses his dime. Unaware that the cable is controlled by the operator of the game, he tries again, determined to ring the bell and winds up breaking the game.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).