The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1871-08-19
MLCELLANY.
Circus Riders and How They
Live

Live.
"Wel, its q city hard life at first,
but after you get used to it all goes easy
enough"
The speaker VS. Mr.. Orlando Henry
Harrison, 'the dashing rider of the
plains" and ''unsurpassible hurdle leap
er, as he was described in the gorgeous
" flaming posters literally distributed
throughout the village. | had just been
introduced to him in the Office of the
local newspaper, his particular business
of the moment being to dead head the
editor and his family.
Eyes. but the getting used to 1t cannot
be very agreeable.
"Is isn't so hard as you think. Them
big pads we stand on amt much trouble.
Walk over to the tent with me, and L ii
tell you about IL.
Ny meeting him in the newspaper
saactum-as country editors invariably
style that part of the common room oe
cupied By their desk-had given me a
kind of privileged character in his eyes.
aud he consequently interposed no OBJ
lection between ne and the secrets OF
what may call his trade.
We walked together along the single
street, Mr.. Harrison an object of admir-.
ing attention slightly tinetured with awe
TO the juvenile rural mind, and at length
came to the tent standing In the centre
of large open lot-hired for the day.
1t was constructed in the usual style, OF
canvas, kept in place by poles, with top
Of the same material, whose middle was
affixed to the summit of the tall center
pole. Over all floated the American
Hag Near By the small tents devoted
10 "side-shows" were rapidly erecting
and already the peanut and cheap cigar
vendors we're in position. The beneTo-
lent gentleman who gives every one
spin ct his golden arrow with the chance
Of having whatever it stops at for the
disgracefully insignificant sum of i've
cents, was busily occupied in putting mp
his booth and displaying his entieing
wares. /.
Entering the tent we found number
Of men engaged In arranging the toun-
dations for the amphitheateT OF seats,
while in the center of the inciosure
slight circular barricade of turf, with
stakes and circumseribing rope on top,
showed the ring.
You seem to have good many hands
here; l count twenty men fixing the
seats"
"Iost of them belong to accompany;
but in every village or Gown we come 70
we always engage few of the ioaiers to
help in liking things. They'll do pretty
much all We want for a couple OF tickets
apiece"
DO not any Of the performers assist
IN these duties ?"
Not often ypless We happen to be
short Of hsnds-J Won see it's about
enough work for them to tumble and ride.
A performer has altogether near five
hours muscular work every day except
Sunday, of Ourse.) aud he don't feel
much like nammering nails and lift
ing heavy posts and boards between
times"
Il suppose you live pretty well 2"
"About the same as other people, only
we can't smoke when travelling and can't
drink anything stronger than a glass OF
ale now and then. 1t wouldn't do to be
shsky in the least. Why, L knew a.
trapeze fellow once that used to do the
-.lea.-fsr Life business. Well, one night
q l.s...s before coming into the ring.
He thought that it would steady his
nerves and do him good, as he'd been
kidd of out o. sorts. The time came for
him TO make his jump, and away he went.
But his hand shook little just at the
wrong time, and down he came 70 the
ground with an awful thump. The
audience holloed, cause they thought he
vas dead. But be picked himself up
and bowed and walked out just as cool as
you ever seet But that cup of tea cost
him two broken ribs, and he coulGn dc
anything for FIVE months.
How large is your company
ave have fftee2 performers and eight
cen other men-rnirty three altogether.
That's quite a large number; some cir
euses don have more than twenty, and
hardly Que has more than twenty-five
that's about the highest"
81 should ike very much to see some
Of your horses"
'Ill show you the best we've got-my
own; wait moment"
He went in the temporary stable at
the back, and in few moments returned
with his horse. It was dark bay, OF
fifteen hands, beautifully shaped, and
with kind of intelligent eye.
"There," said Mr. Harrison, pointing
10 him with pride. Il raised him my
self from the time Le was foaled; he's
rising niue now, and just as good an
animal as he ever was He slime $500
at first but / wouldn't take three thou
eand for him; no, nor three times that.
I
up to him, and stood looking at me,
with his head over his masters left
shoulder.
.'Is he trick horse 2"
eyes, but | don't often use him for
that. He can walk on his hind legs, and
dance, and drink out of bottle but
that's always empty. l usually do only
the Arab and his dying steed ! you've
seen that suppose p
Several times. How did you train
him 2"
"By kindness-that's the only way
TO be sure. OF course you can make any
animal obey by leathering him, enough;
but then some time when you amt look
ing out he'll play you an ugly trick
baulk when you're jumping to let you
tumble on the ground, or rear and fall
backwards on yon. They're cunning
about that sort of thing. I've seen
eplendidly educated horse come into the
ring aud just stand still, not do a single
trick, and seem to enjoy seeing his owner
hooted at
''Do you never punish him ?"
Certainly; but always do it so that
ne understands what am whipping him
for. When he's done wrong he knows
it just as we'll as do, and knows also
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