The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-07-29
THE SAWDUsT RING.
How Children are Trained to BE
come Bareback Riders--The
Leading Circus Riders Of the
World.
from the San Francisco Chronicle.

ptOEfus
from the San Francisco Chronicle.]
Visitors to the circus now performing
on the Jackson street lot cannot fail to
have been struck with the excellence OF
the juggling feats on horseback of Harry
Welby Cooke, who for six years has had
a challenge out to all corners to compete
with him in this class of acts for $4,000
Mr.. Cooke who is the leading bareback
rider in the campany, and among the
foremost in the world, in the course OF
conversation made some interesting
statements in regard to early training OF
riders. His own experience will serve
as an example Of
THE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION
Pursued by nearly all successful riders.
At the age of three and a half years he
put on the spangles and entered the saw
dust ring for his first lesson. 1t consis-
ted merely in riding pony around the
ring barebacked, in order to get conf
dcnce and the art of balancing-two es-
sentials in the art of bareback riding
If the child is possessed of sufficient
GOODNESS and courage to warrant the
hope that he will become successful ri
der with sufficient practice, after g mum
Der of such lessons, he is taught to ride
two ponies, galloping around the ring,
standing with one foot on the back of
each pony, and holding the reins in his
hand, while his tutor holds a cord at
tached to the child's waist and passing
through ring in the saddle. This is
used TO prevent the ch:ld's falling under
the horses feet, in case of his losing his
balance. The lesson will be illustrated
this evening, when three year old sor
of Mr.. Cook will ride the dancing pony
1t is much easier to balance with one
foot Oh each horse than to ride single
animal. After the pupil is able to ride
two ponies, and has some idea of the
balance required, he is then placed or
the pad or equestrian saddle. An expe
rienced rider sits behind, and the pupil
performs in front within reach of the
tutors arms. Every precaution is taker
to preserve the child from falling, as 6
fall destroys confidence, and often un
does months of patient instruction. In
stead Of using severity it is the aim o.
the tutor to make the pupil feel addi
tional confidence and pleasure in the per
formance every time it is repeated.
THE NEXT STEP
Is allowing the child to ride alone on th,
pad, if he has sufficient confidence in
himself and a good idea of preserving
his balance. The cord attached to the
child's waist is still held by the tutor tc
prevent accident. After he has learned
10 stand on one foot, and jump from hi
knee to his feet, the bareback horse il
introduced, and the routine of introduc
ton is repeated with additional precau
tions. Then the "leaping Objects arr
brought in. The first lesson is leapins
the banner. which requires some time tt
accomplish. At this stage Of the in
struction if the boy does not display
promising proficiency he soon drops on
of the list of riders, and becomes an oh
ject holder The pupil next tries hoo
Jumping, and when he is well up in thes
he tries the "cross tricks" which con
sists of somersaults, pirouetting, stand
ing with the face to the horses head
jumping half way, and lighting with hi.
face to the horses tail. These trick
otter require years of patient practice
supplemented with great GOODNESS an(
Judgment.
JUGGLING ON HORSEBACK
Is another branch of bareback perform
ance, which is studied after the pupil be
comes master of the foregoing accom-
plishments. He commences with th
balls. the globe, spinning the basin, etc
on the ground, and when he become
proficient attempts the same feats OF
horseback. AS the rider keeps his eye
on the balls or basin all the time, thes
feats become doubly difficult and daring
The most difficult Of all is the trio
which Mr. Cooke performs-jumpin
through the paper hoop, throwing tn
basin over the top and catching it afte
alighting on the other side. This re
quires years of practice and an extraol
dinary amount of precision. Femal
bareback riders are put through the sam
course of training.
THE FOREMOST BAREBACK RIDERS
In the world are James Robinson, Joh
Henry Cooke, H. Welby Cooke, Charlie
Fish, Donald Melville, William Bel
Madame Caroline Roland and Madam
Dockrill. The average salaries of bare
back riders are from $175 to 5000 pc
week. James Robinson who has bee
thirty-two years in the business, and i
regarded as the best in the world, has re
fused 500 per week in Germany, Will
filling another more lucrative engage
ment. Madame Roland and Madam
Dockrill each command about S400 pc
week and expenses.
The total cost of the Thirteenth Cor
gress (Robert G. Winthrop, Speaker,
was: For the per diem of Senators ant
Representatives, $75S,4l6; mileage
S355,7S7. That was after the Thirteentl
Congress had done all its work. Th
Forty third Congress, before it had begu
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