Watch Yourself Go by

"Watch Yourself Go By" by Al G. Field is a memoir-style reminiscence of late 19th-century American show life, small-town politics, immigrant culture, and a man’s search for place and purpose. The narrative follows Alfred, a restless showman who moves from circus beginnings to a minstrel enterprise and, eventually, toward a rural life he keeps trying to make work. Set in Columbus, Ohio, with journeys through Texas, Pittsburgh, and other towns along the touring circuits, the book layers humorous anecdotes with hard-won lessons and family moments. Central figures include Uncle Henry Hunt, Uncle Tom, Uncle Madison, Lin, Pearl, and other kin who anchor domestic life amid the social webs of managers, rivals, and public figures. Plot threads cover innovations in performance, clashes with rival troupes, costly setbacks, a Texas tour, and the dream of farming life that tests endurance as much as the stage did. The volume closes with reflections on calling, responsibility, and the costs and rewards of following one’s true work.