Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-29
Ir,A GAZETTE & VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.
The Circus Ring.

from the SaQ FRANCISCO CuFO0lcle.
Visitors to the circus now performing on the
lacksou-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 challenge out to all comers
- comnete with him in this class of acts for
- 900 MIR. Cooke, who is the leading bare
ba,k rider in the company, and among the
foremost in the world, 10 the course of conver-
sa;on made some interesting statements 10 re-
gard TO early training of riders. His own ex-
nerience will serve as an example Of the course
of instruction pursued by nearly all successful
riders. At the age of three and ahat years he
nut on the spaDges and entered the saw-dust
ring for his first lesson. 1t consisted Of merely
riding popy around the ring bare backed, in
order to get confidence and the art Of balancing
two essentials in bareback riding. II the
child is possessed of sufficient coolness and
courage to warrant the hope that he will be-
come successful rider, with sufficient practice
after pumber Of such lessons he is taught to
ride two ponies, glliopplng around the ring,
standing with one foot on the back OF each p0-
ny, aud holding the reins in his hand, while
his tutor holds cord attached to the child
waist and passing through ring 10 the saddle
This is used to keep the child from falling un-
der the horses feet, in the case of his losing his
balance. The lessoh will be eillustrated this even
ing, when three year old son of Mr.. Cooke
will ride the dancing pony. 1t is much
easier to balance with one foot on 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
an the pad, or equestrian saddle. An expe-
rienced rider sits behind, and the pupil per.
forms in front withio reach of the tutors S arms.
Every precaution is taken to preserve the child
from falling as fall destroys confidence and
often undoes months Of patient instruction.
Iustead of using severity it is the care OF the
tutor to make the pupil feel additional conf
deuce and pleasure in the performance every
time it is repeated. The next step is allowing
the child 10 ride alone on the pad, it he has
sufficient confidence in himself and good idea
of preserving his balance. The cord attached
10 the child waist is still held by the tutor to
prevent accidents. After he is allowed to stand
on one foot and jump from his knees to his
feet the bareback horse is introduced, and the
routine Of instruction is repeated with addition
al precautions Then the "eapiug objects
are brought in. The first lesson is leaplng the
banner which takes some time to perfectly
accomplish If at this stage ofthe instructions
the boy does not display promising. prohcen-
cv, he soon drops out Of the list of riders and
becomes au otject-hoder. The pupil next
tries hoop jun ping, and when he is well up IN
these he tries the "cross tricks" which consist
olsomcrsaults, pirouetting, staudiog face to
the horses head, jumping half way and light
ing with face to the horses tail. These tricks
often require years Of patient practice, supple
mented with great GOODNESS and Judgment,
Juggling on horseback is another branch OF
bareback performance, which is studied after
the pupil becomes master of the foregoing ac-
T., ,th t,n hDlt
the globe, spinning the basin, ETC., on the
ground, and when he becomes proficient at
tempts the same teats on horseback As the
rider keeps his eyes on the balls or basin all
the time, these feats become doubly difficult
and daring The most difficult of all is the
trick which Mr.. Cooke Performs jumping
through the paper hoop, throwing the basin
over the top and catching it after alighting on
the other side. This requires years of practice
and an extraordinary amount Of precision. Fe-
male bareback riders are put through the same
course oftraining.
lhe foremost bareback riders in the world
are James Robinson, j John Henry Cooke, Ii.
Weby Cooke, Chas Fish, Donald Melville
William Bell, Madame Coroline Roland, aud
Madame Dockrill. The average salaries Of
bareback riders are from $l7j to 5000 per
week James Robinson, who has been thirty
the best bareback rider 10 the world, has re-
fused 500 per week in Germany, while filing
another more lucrative engagement. Madame
Roland and Madame Doclrill each command
about S4OU per week and expenses.
HERE IS A STORY, for the truth of which we
vouch from personal knowledge, and which we
commend to Mr. Darwin. 1t concerns terrier
and cat. The dog part was chiefly passive,
but he must have possessed remarkable quail
ties to awaken the affection which the cat had
nr him; SO we record with honor the name OF
mp. We do not know the cats name which
Is pity, for she deserves whatever immortal
tya newspaper can bestow Thus, then, it fell
out-Pip fell sick, and for several days lay Ian
gudly In one place, eating nothing. Again and
again the cat brought to him bits of the food
gwen to her, and tried to coax him to eat, but
III vain. At last one day, woman, sitting IN
the room where they we're, saw the cat, who
had been watching Pip with evident anxiety,
dart suddenly out of the window, and rush
across the street. La moment she came back
carrying something in her mouth, which she
oroug ht to Pip, and laid it down. Pip got up,
smiled at it, then turned away and lay down
agaln. The Cat dragged it close to him, and
.nfust It under his nose. Thus persuaded, he
tasted Led 1t, and ate half of it. Puss then carried
.ne remainder to the grassplot, and herself fell
~ Work on it with good appetite. 1t proved,
vi examination, to be hot mutton chop The
person who had watched the affair went to the
HouSe across the way, and asked in the kitchen
H. 'hey had had mutton chops that day Yes, !"
was W the answer; land as the dish stood before
sne ilre, IN rushed your cat, and before we
YOU'D stop her she carried off one ofthe chops"
fTe we are happy to add that Pip got WE'LL
thrtaiuu Union.
bEEcHER ON CRoQUET Henry Ward
heechcr's paper has a department devoted TO
answering ''iuquiriug friends" To a cores,
poudent, who asked the editor opinion of cro-
4uet playing, was returned "We think it is
amusing to womep agreeable to men, and fas.
chatting to ministers. For all persons who need