Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-05-11
An Old Clown on His Profession.


You ask me TO tell you about the
clowns of the present day, sir. That
easy done, in few words-there ain
any. Hanged one on the boards or
in the sawdust. l was the last OF them
all. / could 90 on again II chose; but
| won't. Authors of pantomnes inter-
tere with my written scenes, and that !
won't stand. I'll 90 to business sooner.
What is wanted il a clown is gag, and
real clown ought to be up to any amount
of improvised gag. | can't see clown,
sir, who could answer n costermonger.
What did mean by gag2 Well, | VIII
give YOU an Instance. was playing
clown at certain great circus some
thirty years ago, and we had a troupe
of young Americans, who were brought
over by long winded father. The
father came into the ring and. made a
speech, and very dul. one. All this
time | was left with hoop covered time
silver paper in my hand for one of the
young men to jump through. AL the
time the American was speaking, |
stood behind him, tanning myself with
the balloon, and initiating him in his
actions, which kept the gallery on the
l""-H az NV S'S@t "'t"St' az i"7U
wound up ny saying that hof9e-l1aer
was hasc4iur non ~ W men he sa1d
that, purst the pai1oon over ms head'
leavinA the hoop on his hips, and ran
for my life, bringing the house down
with a roar. | was fetched back, of
course. by the master of the ring, and
came back with my pockets inside out,
to show tn ! had not stolen the
American money hat do you
mean by tins conduct, slrY' says the
master, ana why dld you ruh away
ran away 10 save my character,
sad ana the American gentleman sad
that the young man was nasty ana not
nj lnascltur non MY. That's poor
lun, you say but 1t is better than you
get nowadays, ana NOT word OF IT
came INTO my NINA unul 'he american
began 81 eechiylng; not one wore was
pun Gown. Inc Governor wanted me
TO 90 1t again the day after but had
nau WORDS WIN the american ABOUT
cong III at all. ana L reused Gag is
gag sald to the Governor; 1T comes INTO
your NJ al All at once; ana the audl-
ehces then wanted real gag, and dld not
care 10 see the same thlng twice. Now,
aud enee' Will see the same thing Il
dozen ,, .lmes o'er' as they 10 Dun
orealy' ana never get tlftd, though,
hind you, slr' MT. eothern himself has
a, iresh piece OF gag on every nlsht.
n"t crown wants Is gag, ana theie
am Il Go" n on the stage now VINO Is
aT"oS WIN MS Tongue. gu remember
ION barry, slf' AT hove CIrcu9 IN Mel,
bourne. ne made to,oUo there; ana
eney tel me that some OF YOU gents rode
ooo miles TO see nm. Wen, don't e%-
Pe'' mere was a greater duiler on the
lace Oh lhe eaItl than LON Barry. 1t
seems 10 me mat Au ,trallah gentlemen
W v, STAND anything at mat Tune.
l"hl couid 90 nothing when he was
on, except play 'he 1ldnle Daaiy put
OH theie was no one IKE lom-the
", wl..Ie7' man l eyer met. ION M't-
thews was tolerable at gag, but, with
the exception OF myself and Joe Gr-
hlaIal' nave never heard clown VINO
co"1o holo his own WITHOUT ms part
STUDIED.
no" are we educated IN our profes-
sion wen, SIT, the tact is we are not
eouca,eo al all GU might as well try
10 make Il hoVellst or poet as TO make
crown. Nascltur non mt, as tue
American VINO gave me my hrst chance
as a Gown SAD. mere are men on the
stage no" WHO call themselves clowns,
ou' you doh get the real oid article
any more IMAM you get the pubic who
w, VIII appreciate hlm ana encourage MN.
Inc clowns OF the present Gay nave
mostly oeen na'le4uihs' ana mere $ a