The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-12-25
Up TN THE AIR.

Some few months back was called in Ct
am surgeon by profession) to attend Sc
nor Tornados, who, despite his name, was as
trle an Englisman by birth and parentage as
the parish Of Lambeth ever bred and reared.
| found him suffering Gom extreme debility
and nervousness, brought on by the over
strained tension Of the mu scles and sinews.
lctold me that he was rope dancer, slack
and tight; q tunh!cr, stiff and loose sprite,
acrobat, and b,ttle cquilbrist and many
other things which have escaped my mem
ory.
His family consisted of bis wife, pale,
sickly woman, somewhat older than himself.
and a very handsome little girl Accustom.
cd ~ was to witness the devotion of woman
hy sick bedside, and the irritahi!ty oe male
patients, the self-sacrifice OF Madam lorna.
dos, and the demonstrative gratitude of her
husband for each act OF attention, surprised
ME Hewas under my care for some months,
and, as he recovered, grew talkative and IA
milisr. One evening, as he sat in an easy
chair, propped up by pillows, he favored me
with the following narrative.
"You see, s,r," he began, my father was
hawker over in Lambeth Marsh. never
knew my mother, because she died Ahcn
was quite young. don't know how il was
learned tumbling. The first thing can
remember is standing on my head close to
Westminster Bridge, and gentleman going
by giving me q shilling. Now, my boy
the gentleman said, do that again. which
did. Now. said he, spring 7 which did,
and came on my feet again. Good boy :
said he, and he patted me on the head. That
gentleman, sir, was the great Mr.. Ducrow.
Well, sir, OF course, after such encourage
mcnt from such man, tumbler became
spared neither pains nor trouble, and prac
tieedi tall became master Of my art and
head Of my profession.
About seven years ago--I was Just TWEEN.
ty three-I first met with James Renford,
who was also in my line, and he proposed
that we should work together. consented
and We travelled about and exhibited at town.
halls, and assembly rooms, and large rooms
ut inns; but we did very badly. Renford
had wife and child, SO it fell harder upon
Inn. was forced to lend him what little l
could spare, for could not see Young
woman and little baby go without while /
had it, could Is
well, sir, things got from bad to worse !;
and my partner, being q man ofviolent tenn
per, took to drink was always given
that way-and, am sorry to say, he used
TO beat his wife. Sometimes my blood has
boiled, and have walked away for fear that
! should interfere. However, 1 used to
cheer up missus as well as could, and nurse
the little girl, and they both grew to like me
vcry much. s~@Nt- 7s@
'Onc night, at = little place called Peddie.
thorpe, We had no audience at oil. We were
without money. and were asking each oiher
what We should do, when the sqnair's son
and lot Of young gentlemen came in and
asked US to perform for them. which we did
and they gave US acouplc Of soverpigns, and
more than that, asked us to supper at the
hotel. After supper, the squair looked at
one Of our bills the day, and said Hello!
why, ! sec you call yourselves Messrs. J
Kaniord and W. Kerr. No wonder you get
no audiences. suppose those are your real
nameAf We answered that they were /