The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-03-26
THE CANVAsMAN,s STORY.


Nothing takes like a circus and ours
takes better than anybody's. I can tell
you. / am only an understrapper now
you know, but the guvnor did the right
hing by me, and, of course, do the
right thing by him. You see, we always
make a good fuss in the shape of well
billing the places we are going to, for it
doesn't do to be stingy In that way, and
he guvnor has some spicy affairs of
rampagjous horses and wonderful Jump
ing, and all III colors to ketch the eve
while Tor the shop windows there's some
Autographs eff the performing horse, or
the helephant, or the gutta-percha
brothers tied in a human knot, while
every one who exhibits has a ticket for
free admission.
But it's queer life, sir, and one not to
be envied-only, you see, you. must live :;
and when there's a wife and some little
uns, why they must live, too and hay
ing been III the profession all my life
why, it don't seem as if I could do any
thing out.
There, now then, them's two of mine
coming In the ring now. First ones
eleven, and t'other's nine. stThe Pipmy
Twisters, !" we call 'em IN the bill, and
they don't do arniss for their size. Pitch
a summerset easy, either of 'em. There
they go, you see and after another year
or twois eddication they'll be a great
help to the family, besides having q pro-
fession of their own to make 'em indie
pendent when they won't stop In the nest
any longer. AL they've got TO do is to
keep clear of their fathers accident-for
get hipioint put out, as I did, and
then the country doctor to say as it was
a strain, and never try to put it In till it
was too late-get in for an accident
like that through treading on piece of
Orange-peel, and slipping when running
for jump, why it's a doer-up for life,
as with me.
But it is queer life, sir. No rest, no
comfort, no peace at all. Hotel always,
and say, now here's to-day Long dis
tance to come and we had to start early
to get here in good time then there was
to dress and take part In the procession
at 1 o'clock. Two o'clock, you know,
Was the first performance. That was
over about and then, of course, there
was beginning again at half past Z. AhI
and nobody knows but them as has been
at it, what being about IN the cold, wet
canvas tent, with the wind cutting
through, then hopping over the mud to
get into the damp ring, when you're
ready to shiver as you slip about, if the
weather has been very bad. Well, you
get your part through, and then, nine
cases out of ten, what sort of place have
you to go into? Why, one where there's
no rest for you on account of its being q
busy night because of the circus, and the
house SO full So, p'raps You get an
hour or two's sleep, p'raps not, accord
ing to circumstances.
As for me, you know, I'm one of the
tent men for though one leg shorter
than the other makes me limp good
deal, I'm strong, you know, and my job
is to see the tent up. You've notice us
strike it as fast as ever we can as soon as
the performance is nearly over. Well,
there's deal to do over that, can tell
you; for look at the weight of the great
tent and its poles and ropes besides
which it's most always wet, and so ever
so much heavier than if it was dry. /
think sometimes as we have least rest of
anv one but then we take it In turns
and sleep in the wagon going from town
to town, and that's very refreshing when
one gets use to it. At first, you know,
it's decidedly rheumatic, and makes you
very queer but you soon get used It,
and I can stand anything now IN 9 tne
shape of wet and cold. The women feel
it worst, poor things but they seldom
cyrumlble. and put up with everything
most patient-no matter what 1t Is and
thev have some hard times of it when the
weather's bad.
The people come to see and be amused
and we've got to amuse you Fancy'
then. being the clown, and coming on
with q bad toothache, OF violent cold ID
the chest, or racked so with rne1lmatlc
pains at every moments agony. just
fancy all that, IN cold spring time,
: which is the time you feel the cold most.
But there. you can t fancy It, you people
who slways have comfortable homes and
fires In 'em. can, though, ah and re-
alize It, too, for I've been through 1t all.
I begun Life, with my father, IN q circus
Little slip of chap was then, ~
tights. and bit Of paint on each chalked
cheek. to make me look Like clown
and then never knew what it was to be
afraid. while he took me up ON one OF the
nd piebald horses, and held me on nus
ahonIder. or under his arm, or stood me
IN his head. or out at full length upon
his hand. and me all the time with my
little arms folded, and standing as stll
as rod. ,
.,,,--sr f;SeE,ed' Used TO like it, and
4I,;,,lr II fire fun. feeling all the while az
cI5 and deem as could be, while qu1te
l~~,Ire5 down ON boys double my age.
1T1I3en 7 WIS regularly drilled INTO HE,
zo,, Ir,,ovv. working hard every day as the
.eI,,a~zola.-ar,d very hard work 1t IS.
rye dome almost everything rom tnt
horae work 20 the trapeze. 4Ve surneo
snmnnerseta surn1 over five horses, and gons
throTch the air like ball almost. 4 g go
weIi well on with the tight rope; and nave
walked right up rope TO place nun nun
dred feet high, while the nreWuEAs nsss sn
been fizzing and sputter1ng 1oulau I ..,s, sne,
for 7 afwavs had good nerve, ana neye,
felt afraid of anything wllale, Inougn
,,avar Or,k to be regular CRACK ~ anO
ssse5 .ss 4s,;ss 80 E wss b, sure card, and use
M s1I roan usa H ! manager, for 4 J waznt
star. ". & never rnissed my tip. con co9le
aIwnvs be sure of an s...sa
-,,,ssiv - trs,,a ralary and WHIST toLowed