The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-29
STORY OF A CIRCUS RIDER.
WHO R0DEIN THE CIRCUS ON
WHEELING ISLAND LAST
SUMNER.
How woman Learned the Bare
back Tricks Twenty Years on
HOrseback-TwO Broken an
kIes, Four Broken Arms-A
Severe Kick from y Trick
Horse-S2O 900 year.
THROUGH 100000 BAL
Looms.
From the New York sun.

From the New York sun.
Last evening after Nine. DockriIl had
finished her four-horse bareback act, US
she WIS acknowledging the applause OF
the audience in the amphlthester, the
ringmaster gave an extra flourish
of his whip, which started the last
horse leaving the enclosure. lie
turned quickly, Tell on his side, and stink
ing out kicked the fair equestrienne Sc
vere!y on the SHIN. She tell, but was up
in second, as was the horse.
CHANGED to be one Of the spectators,
and it at once occurred to me that II TINS
woman, who nets $4,000 year by the
skillful use OF her limbs and feet on her
horses backs, should happen to break
one OF her legs, the public would be IN
terested to know it.
Fortunately, although the blow was
hard and the pain acute, no bone was bro
ken, and Madame was able 10 wa!k..slowly
home. She is a native OF France, about
thirty years old, tail, slender, PHEASANT
locking, domestic in tastes, and very
quiet in manner. | met her after the
performance with her husband, who has
charge of the ring during her acts, and
awaited myself of the opportunity to ask
her few questions.
She SAYS che is extremely fond of her
business, and could never te happy II she
were TO leave 1t.
GLOW long" said l, "have you been in
the circus2"
Over since [ was child. Ny father
and all our family were circus people,
and was about our horses from my
earliest days"
when did you begin to rlde?'
81 rode when l was five years old, but
| began public bareback riding when /
wss thirteen"
WAS it difficult ri first?'
"Verv, and had TO practice 50 much;
bat atterward 1t became second nature
| train my own horses. They know me
and them. They would allow no one
else to ride them. Mr.. SticKney tried
these four, but he could do nothing with
them"
"Are they very valuable?'
"Oh, YES. | wouldn't sell the one on
which i do my principal act for any
money. was offered $4,000 Tor him In
Cincinnati, but such an offer is absurd.
| have seven, all told. They work like
q charm together"
"Why is it that these bareback horses
are always grsy|
That's because the rosin shows less on
. gray horse"
~ no. 10 tho rpsiu tDrY'
"Il is necessary, especially If. our shoes
are new or stiff"
"You formerly played in EuropeT
II have played all over the world ard
before all the crowned heads. | ike to
ride in the Spanish and French rings,
but the Americans are very encouraging,
also. In California they are very en-
tbusisstic. Here in New York the pee
ple have seen all the great arts and
one has to be extra good 20 please them,
but on the road they have nos seen so
many, although they seen to be very
discriminating there as we'll"
81 notice that IN your principal act
YOU use or do not use the rclns, at pleas
ure. but in the four-horse act you use
them Ill the Lllue. WY 20 H"'''
The single horse is trained. DE does
lust so with or without the reins, but l
need the reins with the four horses to
Give them their cues regulate their
going ahead, coming back, and forming
in procession by the rein entirely
"Do YOU ever feel alaid or nervous
when ridingP
"Never. don't think of myself at
all. simply say to myself, this is your
work. YOU have it to do, and do It, l
ALWAYS try to do my best, rain or shine
here where we have beautiful ring, 'or
on the road with the mud III the ring
SIX inches deep"
weren't you nervous when before
the crowned heads OF whom you spoke7
Not bit. Why? Some riders are
sIvsvs nervous. It's temperament. AZ
for me, never once think of myself. =,
Cant you play better to a Jul
house?" sr
NO, sir 1t is pleasant to see s full
house fer the sake of the manager, but
il makes no difference"
"Do YOU become excited BY the noise
and hi-nisT
"Not in the least. l make noise snd
hi.hi too, but all the time l am attend
ing to my business.
@You had pretty hard kick to-
night?'
eyes, | was taken by surprise. | was
making my compliments to the audience
when | felt the blow. | couldn't THINK
what it WAS till saw the hors. on the
ground. He hurt my shin badly.
shall rub it with linIment, and do 1t up
IN Ponds extract"
"Hsve you had many blows ana
islls?"
"Oh, YES. / broke my ankle twice
and my arm four times. Last season 1
lay in the ring unconscious long time
but those things are to be expected"
"How long have you been married.
Twelve years"
Fortunately your husband is in the
business, too, or you wouldn't have much
domestic life"
"Oh, l have lovely home IN Dor
desux, France, snd,three little children.
"Boysr"
Girls; all three girls; the eldest Is
nine wears old. One of my babies was
born in the height of our season. had
haan riding that very daV. | wish l