Taken from Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable:

"THE CLOWN OF CIRCUS AND PANTOMIME, IN HIS BAGGY COSTUME, WHITENED FACE, GROTESQUE RED LIPS, AND ODD LITTLE TUFT OF HAIR, IS PROBABLY A RELIC OF THE DEVIL AS HE APPEARED IN MEDIEVAL MIRACLE PLAYS."

There are people in this world who dress up and act like clowns; I don't like these people. I am not clownophobic (or to be politically /scientifically correct, coulrophobic). I do not fear clowns. Really. I don't. They are just not nice people. They scare little kids, they cause neurosis in some adults, they have big floppy feet, they try to fit too many of their kind in a car, I could go on and on.

Let the record be known: i hate mimes too! Now, my problem with mimes isn't as terrifying or as hate-filled as the problem with clowns. I really don't think their is a fear of mimes that is as prevelant as the widespread fear of clowns. mimes offer more of a steady annoyance by their lack of sound, lack of color and their obvious lack of imagination.

The difference between Clowns and Mimes is also striking, in that each seem to have an archetype that they imitate to the letter; Clowns being at least to some extent obese, while mimes are universally rail-thin, anorexic. The reason for this remains unclear thus far, to the League, but it has been posed by some of our members that mimes are vegetarians and Clowns are almost pure carnivores

A strange symbiotic relationship exists between what in the animal world would equal a predator-prey situation. The rotundity of the Clown is also thought to be at least a partial defense against the weather, storing up to fifteen pounds of food and three liters of water in his specialized stomach, allowing him to go for weeks without external sustenance and stalk his prey patiently.

Mimes on the other hand, seem to require water all the time, usually bottled French water, and also are hypothesized to have a rare type of exzema or other skin condition, accounting for the rarity of hairy Mimes. The most common areas for a Clown to frequent, identified by his candy-like spoor, are habitats in suburban areas with lots of children. Circuses and fairs and charity events are also regular hang-outs and covers for these creatures, but they are more likely to have more opportunity to spread their evil in a more private environment, say a neighborhood street.

God have mercy on us all.
I need sleep...