Watch Yourself Go By

In Short

This warm, episodic memoir chronicles the life of Alfred Griffith Field, a pioneer of American minstrelsy, as he reflects on his journey from a boisterous Pennsylvania boyhood to the helm of a famous touring show. Written near the end of his career, the narrative moves between small-town pranks, backstage chaos, and the colorful rogues of the late nineteenth-century entertainment world. Rather than presenting a polished self-portrait, Field uses humor and sharp observation to examine his own shortcomings alongside those of the era. The book has endured as an authentic slice of Americana, preserving the vernacular, social customs, and forgotten show-business traditions of a rapidly changing nation with unpretentious charm and deep affection for human imperfection.

The Story

The narrative opens in the historic river town of Brownsville, Pennsylvania, situated along the Monongahela River and the old National Road. Here, young Alfred grows up in a lively community shaped by English settlers, Dutch travelers, and the bustling traffic of stagecoaches and steamboats. His boyhood is defined by small-town adventures, energetic boyhood rivalries, and an early fascination with the circus. Whether watching local heroes perform athletic feats in the neighborhood tan-yard or scheming to attend the big tent show, Alfred’s imagination remains firmly captivated by the world of performers and itinerant entertainers.

As he grows, Alfred's penchant for mischief meets the hard realities of earning a living. He attempts various trades, from working in a newspaper office to trying his hand in a tannery, but the lure of the stage proves irresistible. Despite the strong objections of his family—particularly his father, who views show business as a dishonorable path leading straight to ruin—Alfred takes his first steps into the entertainment world. He joins amateur minstrel troupes, travels with unreliable promoters, and learns the harsh realities of the road. An early venture with an unscrupulous manager named Palmer, who operates a traveling panorama show while fleeing debts and landlord keys thrown down wells, exposes Alfred to the trickery and financial instability of life on the margin.

Undeterred by failed tours, unpaid bills, and family admonitions, Alfred perseveres. He works his way through various corners of the industry, eventually securing employment with major circus enterprises, including the famous Sells Brothers. In these years, he experiences the raw, unpredictable life of the road: torrential rainstorms in Nashville that wash cheap calico decorations into rivers of red dye, grueling travel schedules, and the relentless demands of managing performers and props. Through trial and error, he learns the mechanics of the business from the ground up, honing his comic timing, stage management, and financial instincts.

Eventually, he establishes the Al. G. Field Greater Minstrels, taking full control of his artistic and commercial destiny. As the head of his own company, Alfred navigates the hazards of small-town venues—where local managers present bare halls without stages or seat sales—and slowly builds a nationally recognized brand. Success brings a measure of financial security and allows him to fulfill a long-cherished dream: buying a farm in Ohio and settling into the life of a country gentleman. Yet even in success, he remains an outsider among the respectable establishment. He engages in spirited debates with family members and local clergy over the morality of show folk, saloons, and modern society, defending the honest, hard-working people who populate the fringes of American life.

In his final chapters, Field looks back over his long career with nostalgic affection and gentle self-mockery. He accepts that the world of his youth has given way to a newer, faster era of automobiles and sprawling rail networks. Having realized his ambitions to own land, raise fine stock, and entertain millions across the country, he concludes his recollections not with boastful pride, but with a plea for tolerance, self-scrutiny, and a quiet acceptance of life's passing spectacle.

How It Unfolds

Small-town roots and early ambitions Growing up in Brownsville along the National Road, young Alfred observes the colorful local characters and absorbs the excitement of passing stagecoaches. He becomes obsessed with circus performers and strives to master acrobatic tricks in local yards.

Misadventures on the road Alfred's early attempts at minstrel shows result in unpaid debts, blackface ink stuck to his skin, and harsh reprimands from his father. Despite his family's insistence that he pursue a steady trade, his desire for the stage only deepens.

The rogue promoter Joining forces with Palmer, a scheming manager running a traveling panorama show, Alfred witnesses the underhanded tricks of small-time showmanship. He endures late-night escapes from hotels, unpaid wages, and constant deception before breaking free.

Circus life and trial by fire Working with major traveling circuses, Alfred confronts the unpredictable physical realities of the profession. Rainstorms, ruined props, and grueling logistics test his resolve, but he gains essential experience in show management.

Building the minstrel empire Taking a leap of faith, he launches the Al. G. Field Minstrels against the advice of friends and family. Navigating late trains, unfinished theaters, and tight budgets, he steadily builds the troupe into a widespread success.

The farm and looking back With his earnings, Field secures a farm near Columbus, Ohio, balancing his life as a proprietor with rural pursuits. In his later years, he reflects on his journey, offering philosophical musings on friendship, human flaws, and the virtue of dogs.

The People

Alfred Griffith Field The narrator and central figure, whose lifelong ambition is to succeed as an entertainer and ultimately purchase a farm. Driven by a love of performance and a desire for independence, he repeatedly risks financial security and family approval to pursue show business, gradually evolving from a naive small-town boy into a seasoned, practical manager.

Lin A sharp-tongued, deeply supportive domestic figure in Alfred's childhood home. She acts as his primary confidante, encouraging his acrobatic stunts, shielding him from his father's wrath, and offering shrewd, humorous commentary on the community's affairs.

Alfred's Father A stern, traditional man who firmly opposes show business, viewing it as a path to disgrace and financial ruin. His strict discipline and persistent criticism create a constant friction that drives Alfred to prove himself through commercial success.

Uncle Joe A colorful, morally flexible relative whose fondness for drink and elaborate excuses provides young Alfred with an early lesson in human weakness and persuasive charm.

Palmer An unprincipled, smooth-talking promoter of a traveling panorama show. He uses trickery, bad contracts, and hasty late-night departures to evade debts, serving as a cautionary example of the darker side of itinerant entertainment.

Jake A pragmatic, plain-spoken teamster associated with Palmer's show who eventually rebels against Palmer's dishonesty, forming a brief, practical alliance with young Alfred.

In Its Own Voice

When reflecting on the impulse to criticize others while ignoring one's own shortcomings, the book opens with a verse on self-scrutiny:

"Stand aside and view your own life like a passing parade, judging every defect with unsparing honesty and finding a deeper charity for all others.

In Short

This warm, episodic autobiography records the life and career of Al. G. Field, a veteran American minstrel showman and circus entertainer who rose from a restless small-town boy to the leader of a renowned traveling troupe. Field traces his path from his boyhood in 1850s Brownsville, Pennsylvania, through decades of barnstorming, failed theatrical ventures, carnival scams, and circus tours across the United States. Written with rustic humor and straightforward candor, the book preserves a bygone era of American popular entertainment, early rail travel, and small-town life. It has lasted because Field looks back on his own stumbles without self-pity, offering an authentic, eyewitness account of nineteenth-century American showmanship and the colorful, working-class communities that sustained it.

The Story

The narrative begins in the mid-nineteenth century along the Monongahela River in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, a bustling hub on the old National Road. Growing up in a town transitioning from stagecoach glory to the era of steam and rail, young Alfred Field is consumed by a desire for showmanship and adventure. Encouraged by local characters and his indulgent family helper, Lin, Alfred practices tumbling in tan-yards, attempts to build flying machines out of turkey feathers and stolen peacock dusters, and organizes amateur minstrel shows that collapse in hilarious financial ruin.

His passion for performance quickly collides with the strict propriety of his community and the scoldings of his father, who regards show business as a path to disgrace. Undeterred by early disasters—including a night spent sleeping in blackface to avoid washing with freezing water, which leaves his family convinced a stranger is in his bed—Alfred seeks every opportunity to join traveling troupes. He encounters colorful figures like Ben Lusbie, the lightning ticket seller, and Doctor Bob Playford, a generous local doctor who rescues penniless boys at the circus gate.

As he matures, Alfred leaves Brownsville to make his way in the broader theatrical landscape. He joins forces with a scheming traveling promoter named Palmer, who drags him across Pennsylvania and Maryland selling cheap prints, devotional books, and a dubious moving panorama show. The journey is defined by unpaid debts, midnight escapes from town landlords, and physical brawls with Palmer, who tries to cheat both Alfred and his father out of their earnings. Despite these early hardships, Alfred studies the logistics of the road, observing the sharp practices of side-show operators, sure-thing gamblers, and circus managers.

Gradually, Alfred establishes himself in the professional circus and minstrel worlds. He secures work with major operations like the Sells Brothers Circus, where he manages logistics and witnesses the chaotic realities of touring—such as an October rainstorm in Nashville that washes cheap red calico decorations off the tent poles, staining the surrounding hills blood-red and terrifying the local population. He calculates the financial promise of being a professional clown, aiming to earn enough over a decade to buy a farm, breed fine stock, and live close to nature.

Eventually, Field establishes his own troupe, the Al. G. Field Greater Minstrels. Operating out of his adopted home of Columbus, Ohio, he builds a successful touring company that travels the country despite the skepticism of his family and early venue mishaps, such as arriving in small towns that lack actual stages or seating. In his later years, Field divides his time between managing his troupe and running Maple Villa Farm. He defends his profession and his personal philosophy against narrow-minded critics, engaging in sharp debates with clergymen over morality and temperance while insisting that integrity is found in every walk of life. The story concludes with Field reflecting on his life's journey, offering a quiet prayer for self-reliance, tolerance, and the grace to be a good loser.

How It Unfolds

Life along the National Road Alfred grows up in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, absorbing the rich folklore, riverboat culture, and stagecoach history of the busy Monongahela navigation head. He discovers a passion for acrobatic feats and theatrical impersonations, practicing hand-springs in local tan-yards despite his father's stern disapproval.

Disaster at the circus grounds A childhood visit to the circus ends in heartbreak when Alfred's cousin gambles away their ticket money on side-show novelties. Alfred is saved from missing the show by Doctor Bob Playford, a whole-souled town benefactor who routinely buys tickets for stranded, penniless boys.

The amateur minstrel debacle Alfred organizes an amateur minstrel performance in a nearby town, only to end up hopelessly in debt when the receipts total a meager sixteen dollars. He creeps home exhausted, sleeping in his stage makeup, and wakes to discover his family terrified by his unwashed blackface.

Disastrous flights and backyard theatricals Driven by an obsessive desire to perform, Alfred constructs a crude flying machine for a friend using chicken feathers and a stolen peacock-feather fly brush. The flight ends in immediate failure, followed shortly by a near-fatal accident on a high swing that knocks Alfred unconscious.

On the road with Palmer Alfred leaves home to work for Palmer, an unprincipled soldier of fortune who travels with a moving panorama. Alfred endures midnight getaways, dishonest book-selling schemes, and physical fights with his employer while learning the rough, predatory reality of nineteenth-century touring life.

Life in the circus ring Gradually working his way into major outfits like the Sells Brothers Circus, Alfred takes on management tasks and clowning duties. He witnesses the bizarre mishaps of the road, including a torrential storm in Nashville that bleeds calico dye into the mud, causing a public panic.

Establishing the minstrel empire Settling his headquarters in the South End of Columbus, Ohio, Alfred launches the Al. G. Field Greater Minstrels. He overcomes logistical disasters in small towns, uncooperative venue owners, and family opposition to build a lasting, profitable theatrical enterprise.

The old showman at Maple Villa In his final years, Field enjoys his success on his Ohio farm, trading banter with newspaper writers and debating ethics with his uncle. He reflects on human nature, defending honest working people across all trades and concluding his memoirs with a plea for self-respect and tolerance.

The People

Alfred "Al. G." Field (Alfred Griffith Hatfield) The author and protagonist, who begins as a mischievous, ambitious boy in western Pennsylvania and grows into a prominent American showman. Driven by a desire for independence and a dream of owning a farm, he survives scams, theatrical failures, and physical mishaps. He emerges as a pragmatic, clear-eyed observer of human nature who values fair dealing, courage, and simple loyalties.

Lin The devoted, sharp-tongued family helper in the Hatfield household who serves as Alfred's constant ally and appreciative audience. She encourages his early acrobatic stunts, cushions his conflicts with his father, and offers shrewd, humorous commentary on town gossip and business ventures.

Uncle Joe Alfred's colorful, booze-loving uncle whose periodic bouts of heavy drinking lead to elaborate, dramatic deathbed scenes. He expertly manipulates family sympathy to secure hot toddies while loudly repenting his sins and wishing for every distillery in Fayette County to burn.

Cousin Charley Alfred's easily distracted companion who repeatedly loses their money to side-show swindlers and runs a suspicious trade in stolen hounds. He frequently sells the same pair of hunting dogs back to local neighbors whenever he needs quick cash.

Doctor Bob Playford A large-hearted, popular Brownsville doctor who acts as a savior to the town's children. He steps in to buy circus tickets for boys who cannot afford admission and good-naturedly tolerates Charley's hound-selling schemes.

Palmer A scheming, jack-of-all-trades promoter who hires Alfred to travel with a panorama show. Stiff in his opinions and perpetually in debt, he relies on trickery, unpaid bills, and midnight escapes, serving as Alfred's primary example of dishonesty in the entertainment business.

Jake The long-suffering teamster who drives Palmer's panorama wagon. Though initially loyal, he eventually rebels against Palmer's fraud, demanding his fair share of the profits at gunpoint if necessary, and forming a quiet alliance with Alfred.

Sammy Steele The dignified, hard-working tanner of Brownsville who allows local boys to practice gymnastics on his soft tan bark. His strict honesty and insistence on fair dealing make a lifelong impression on Alfred.

Uncle Thomas Alfred's pious minister uncle who holds rigid views on morality and the show business. He engages Alfred in debates over the temperance movement and the character of saloon keepers, providing a sounding board for Alfred's broader, more tolerant view of humanity.

In Its Own Voice

"Just stand aside and watch yourself go by; / Think of yourself as 'he' instead of 'I.' / Note closely, as in other men you note, / The bag-kneed trousers and the seedy coat."

These opening lines of the introductory poem frame Field's autobiographical mission: to inspect his own life with unsparing clarity and a complete absence of vanity.

"The more I see of dogs, the better I like dogs."

Field writes this in his opening dedication, choosing to offer his memoirs to his dog Court because the animal's devotion will remain unshaken even if the book fails completely.

"Yes, yes," answered the tanner, "God made all men upright but a murn hide will warp most of them."

Old Sammy Steele offers this trade wisdom to young Alfred after detecting a diseased hide, creating a phrase that Field adopts for the rest of his life to describe a crooked business deal.

"O Powers that be, make me sufficient to my own occasions. Teach me to know and to observe the Rules of the Game."

Field includes this passage from "A Good Indian's Prayer" at the very end of his book, encapsulating his lifelong desire for self-reliance, fair play, and stoic endurance.

What It's Really About

Beneath its anecdotal humor, Watch Yourself Go By is an examination of self-knowledge, personal integrity, and the gap between moral appearance and actual character. Field uses the metaphor of "watching yourself go by" to argue for a detachment that allows a person to judge their own faults honestly without falling into hypocrisy.

The book actively challenges rigid nineteenth-century prejudices, particularly the religious condemnation of show people and working-class amusements. Field repeatedly contrasts the posturing of self-righteous authority figures with the genuine integrity found among tanners, circus drivers, and small-town benefactors. He argues that decency is defined by how one treats others—especially children, animals, and the vulnerable—rather than by social standing or professional respectability.

Additionally, the text serves as a meditation on the transformation of rural and small-town America. By contrasting the slow, stagecoach-centered world of his youth along the National Road with the rapid, industrialized era of steam and automobiles, Field records the passing of a distinct, unhurried way of life.

Why Read It Today

Watch Yourself Go By offers modern readers a vivid, first-person entry point into the lost world of nineteenth-century American popular culture. It will appeal to readers interested in circus history, early theatrical touring, and regional Americana, as well as those who enjoy candid, voice-driven memoirs. Reading Field's prose feels like sitting on a porch with an old showman who has seen every scam, failure, and triumph the road has to offer, yet has retained a sharp wit and a generous heart.

The book is not without its historical frictions. Readers must navigate period-specific dialects, old-fashioned colloquialisms, and casual references to nineteenth-century racial caricatures inherent to the history of minstrelsy. The narrative relies on a episodic structure that moves freely between local lore, childhood antics, and professional anecdotes rather than following a tight, modern dramatic arc.

What stays with the reader is Field's fundamental warmth and lack of pretension. He never presents himself as a hero or a genius; instead, he chronicles his boyhood blunders, failed flying machines, and early business disasters with the same dry clarity he applies to his later success. His conviction that true morality consists of self-examination, kindness to others, and a refusal to complain makes the book a surprisingly refreshing work of American autobiography.