Teacher on the High Wire

Several years ago, Marjorie Radcliffe ran away with the circus. Until then, she had been a very proper lady, a high school teacher, book shop owner, doctor's wife and member of the country club. The circus changed her life.For over five years, Marjorie lived on the circus train and traveled around the North American continent. She was "Teach" the circus schoolteacher. She rode to work on the circus bus, hung out with the clowns, the dancers, the ringmaster, performers and crew. Life...
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Several years ago, Marjorie Radcliffe ran away with the circus. Until then, she had been a very proper lady, a high school teacher, book shop owner, doctor's wife and member of the country club. The circus changed her life.For over five years, Marjorie lived on the circus train and traveled around the North American continent. She was "Teach" the circus schoolteacher. She rode to work on the circus bus, hung out with the clowns, the dancers, the ringmaster, performers and crew. Life had a color and drama seldom found in other lifestyles. Whether she was bottle feeding baby tigers or climbing a mountainside in Colorado to scatter the ashes of a beloved crew member killed during a loadout, life was intense.Marjorie's knowledge of circus life: the acts, the management, performers, concessionaires, crews and animals is considerable. But this account is not about her. The circus is the focus. She was a fascinated onlooker who soaked in the culture. The lifestyle was incredible and she describes it with insight, humor and truth. She knew where the bodies were buried and who had buried them. Of course, since this circus is the circus - a very prominent feature of our culture, some names have been changed to protect the guilty.