The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-05-24
, TIE HoME, OF A CLOWN,

| Nc " tiEuAH2AOu- gives
lengthy account Of the home of Dan Rice
the famous circus performer. It ratb e.
differs from our ideas of sue b individuals
generally:
;, Daa Rice resides in the beautiful snC
thriving village OF Girard, 10 the county
Of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, where he
has Two large farms. The fertile fields oil
The smaller one smile sunnily into the
honest faces of the worthy 6urghers of The
TOW u ;, the other is FIVE miles away, aud is
the winter home OF the famed sacred cat
tles the iucom parable equine wonder, Elk
oelsior, Jr., and the various other trained
animals which, during the summer
months, abide in tents with Dan aud his
aerobatic sons, that they may be seen OF
alipeopie-as verify they are.
The Colonel's residence stands a short
distance back of the principal village
square, modestly eWbowered in noble
shade trees, and surrounded BY acres of
park, parterres and lawns, made laby-
rinths by sinuous hedges bordering each
drive and walk. e..
The house, thus embraced by a neat
| paradise, is most noticeable as a sugges-
ton of the unostentatious and happy do.
mestic life of its celebrated owner. There
is nothing pretentious or gingsr.bre in
| its. appearance. 1t looks It's best in look.
ing just what it is-the spacious aud com.
| Portable home of hospitable country gen.
tlemau: The latch string always hangs
outside the door-let US pull il and step
across the threshold.
You may, and probably will expect tie
atmosphere of the ring to follow you, and
to be unpleassutly reminded of the show
''shop." If such is the case, a single
glance will serve to agreeably undeceive
you. You won't find a suspicion of the
'saw-dust." On the contrary it is at
once evident that you are beneath roof
where wealth aud Eefnmeut-blessiogs so
rarely united in these days of mushroom
tortunes-harmoniou reside together.
So Numerous are the works of art, rare
curiosities, and costly mementoes chal-
longing attention on. every side, that the
house would be almost domestic muse
am but for 'theintervention of exquisite
aTrangement-the work, one more than
suspects, ofgenuer hands than those of
the renowned Jester. ..-t
The walls are adorned with the works
of the masters, conspicuous among which
are two wonderful mosaic pictures, which
Swans certify date as far back as!the uatiy.
ity of the mummy with which Albert
Smith held poetic coniab, and worth a
sum far beyond an editors comprehen-
sion of the golden thousands.
The picture gallery is repository of
glorious landscapes, portraits, cunning
etchings, and proof plates, and here and
there the eye is caught by dainty bits of
sculpture. A life like marble bust of the |
colonel, the offering of the genius of Volk |
and the foundation of his fame, is worthy |
the special study Of the connoisseur.
Wisdom and Bellies Letters are costly
domiciied in study, containing one ofthe
largest and best selected libraries in the
country. You scarcely anticipated, !
scholastic reader, to meet so many OF
your old aud cherished thought acquain-
tances in the snuggery of the great disci-
pie of Momus; but there they are, never
theless, and you may perchance find them
on quite as. familiar terms with him as |
with yourself. % |
And in this delightful home surround !
ed by a charming and estimable family
the Admirable Crichtou of his profession |
enjoys a brief season. of rest, dispensing
hospitality to the great and human, alike, |
with dignifed and yet winning courtesy.
It is not too much to say of him that his
liberahty and faultless life make him the
idol of the community in which he lives
His neighbors, whose prosperity has been
enhanced by his public spirited enterprise
and sagscious council. and the citizens
generally of Western Pennsylvania, have
rePested y pressed high offices upon him.
but he has hitherto decidedly declined all
pol tical position, declaring himself to be
man of the people, and as such, not a
proper subject for party honors.
When his opinion is solicited, as it FIRE
quently is. and by those high in authority,
with reference to the great questions of
the day, he frankly expresses his views
as to what is the best for the prosperity
add haPpinessof the whole couutry, Meth
er Ingenious alignment or captious oppo.
sition can tempt or force him beyond
that.
Stake THE KHoT.-''Srike the kuotI''
said a gentleman one day to his son, who,
tired aud weary, was leaning on his axs4
over log which be bad in vain been Try |
ing TO cleaVe. Then, cooking at the log, |
the gentleman saw how the boy had hack
ed aud Clipped all round the knot without
hitting it. Taking the axe, he struck al
few sharp blows on the knot, and split the I