The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-07-22
CIRCUS LIFE.
How sensatIons are Developed by En-
terpristng sa wdust hah.gers. a

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%terprising sa wdust nansgers. %
In reviewing a book on this subject,
by Thomas Frost, the Academy picks
ont these facts about English circus
performers Circus life is not very diff
ferent from the larger life outside, and
these versatile individuals often lead
but o sorry existence until they rise out
of the ruck and do something different
from their companions. They must as
tonish in order to live, and those that
astonish the most will make the best
living so it has been with Van AM
bu,gh. Garter, and other "lion kings"
with Leotard, Blondin, and other gym;
nasts. Managers are sometimes hard
put to it for h novelty, and their at
tempts to obtain one are often laughable
enough. Wallet, the clown, and Pablo
Fanque, the negro rope dancer (other'
wise William Darby, when in partner
ship together at Glasgow, hit on the
expcdient of turning an Irish posturer
in their company, whose nom d'arena
was Vilderini, into a Chinese. The
freshman was shaved, stained, and
dressed in Chinese costume, and had
the name of Ki-hi-chin-fan.foo conferred
upon him. His appearance was so far
a success that two veritable Cinnamon,
who had Witnessed his performances,
took him for a co%untryman of theirs,
but each time they inquired for him at
the stage door they were told he could
not be seen. These repeated rebulfs
made the honest "Celestials' suspic-
ious-not of his reality but of his treat
ment by his employers. Thinking that
he was held in durance and only re-
leased in order to appear in the ring,
they went to the police court and made
an affidavit to that effect. The unfortu-
nate radio Fanque, therefore, was called
upon for an explanation, and was obliged
to put the Irish posturer into the wit
ness-box to declare that he could not
speak a word OF Chinese, and had never
been in China in his life.
Circus performers congregate togeth-
or and speak a language of their own.
Mr.. Frost marks off a large district on
the south side Of the river as the pro-
fessional quarter of London. He says
At least three fourths of what | have
termed the amusing. CLASSES, whether
connected with circnses, theaters, pub
lie gardens, or music illustrators,
singers, dancers, eauestrians. clowns,
gymnasts, acrobats, iugglers, posturers
may be found in the day time at least,
within the area bounded by a line drawn
from Waterloo bridge to the Victoria
Theater, and thence all along Gibson
street and Oakley street, down Kenning.
ton road as far as the Cross. and thence
to Vanxhall bridge.
In a morning walk from Westminster
bridge to Waterloo road the acrobats
md rope dancers OF the circnses and
music halls NAV be easily recognized by
their dress and a visit to Barnardis
tavern, oppo lite Astley's, or the Pleas
ant. in tho rear of the theater. will show
a large percentage OF circus "artistes"
before the bar.
The author gives some specimens of
the circus slang, which seems to have
% uaan nay quarSeIs. q
omn nthas 80, .har Iaam In
~ ouI;ua. LII "o o.1o ]
tosa;nn onsa 60 'ne'e
To BAKE A JONI OF MEAT.-A Joint
to be properly Baked should be lifted
above the water in the baking pin by
muffin rings or something equivalent.
No more water shouBf In put inthe nan
than will boil outby The time tue Joint
done. When the meat and rings have
been removed from the pan. turn off