The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-29

travel with chilnreu IN this business.
"Then you don't propose to put then
in the ring?'
"Oh, yes. They are sll wild abost
horses already. These laws about child
performers keep us from putting them in
at once. We teach them the bus
mess sll the same, and some day Will
bring them out"
What do you and the horses do at
the close OF the season"
REST and practice"
"Where?'
"Well, there are two places, one IN
New Jersey, and Que on Long Island.
l used to go out every day and practice.
| train my own horses, and sometimes
it's very difficult to find place where a
| ring can be made. / let the horses rest
month, and then train them"
REST from whst?"
"From hard work. These acts do not
occupy much time, but they are very
exactiRg and the horses suffer exceed
! ingly."
"AEd your"
sometimes l am literally exhausted.
For instance, IN my principal act"
"Why do you call it principal?'
Because there are difficult things 10 do
in it, It's the technical name for the
first and show act. In that act l go
through forty or fifty balloons, jumping
from my feet and falling on my knees.
The physical strength used up IN that
Is tremendous"
"In twenty years you have demolished
a great many balloons, haven't your
Counting matinees, you have averaged
sixty balloons day for six months IN
every year. That would be
1900 per month for 6months......."'' iU,oV0
months year in ~ years............... Zlo,OO
or a grand total OF 2l6,0O0 balloons"
"Yes," laughingly replied Madame
Dockril!, "thag would make large pile
Of paper, wouldn't II!
As she said this II terrible scream WAS
heard in the direction OF the monkeys
cage. Mr.. Parks anG the rest ran over
and found that venerable monkey had
inadvertently pushed his paw through
the bars OF the next cage, after which he
fell asleep. A mischievous monkey
watched the paw, saw It's owner enter the
land OF Nod, and, Selling it IN his teeth,
bit it through and through. Mr. Parks
struck the bitter several severe blows
with heavy stick before he released the
paw, at which the sufferer fell back In
his cage and tainted dead away.
Resuming the conversation with Mad
sme Dgckriil | asked her if she needed
hep vt any time in the ring, rs 1t WAS
noticed that her usbaud, i'll dress coat
and lavender tights, was always present.
"Oh, no" SAID she. 81 depend on my
own nerve. never think OF anybody
or anything. | shout and hurrah, and
all that. but l keep my own head Oh my
business, watch my horse, and do what l
have done thousand times before
Then the attention oil individuals, the
hattery OF acquaintance has no effect, no
stimulating boost, rs Il wercE
"Not at all. Mr. Dockrlll Is always
with me. He has his menage act on n
horse which formerly belonged TO Napo-
! leon Ill. 1t was taken from his stables.
| Mr. Dockriil bought it, and trained IT.,
and rode It in six weeks time. It's u
great thing to get n good horse"
Yes. indeed" said big Bliss. "Charley
| Fish, The creates! male bareback rider
in the world, hiss been Offering big prices
tor Il horse this six years, and couldn't
get one. found him one last week IN a
| bakers cart You ought to see him; he's
as tickled as Punch
| So far ms my observation goes, Nine.
! DOckrillls the one rider VINO Is contented
with her profession.
All the rest are ambitious to act.
Charles w. Fish, whose riding in the
London circus is a thing OF beauty, grace
and skill, is crazy on the subject. One
can't b. in his company ten minutes be-
tore he pulls cut play IN which he IN
tends appearing, and IN which he be-
lcVeS he will make hit.
Miss Watson, another bareback rider,
is affected with the same complaint.
They all belong to the profession"
and expect sooner or later to shine upon
the mimic stage.
1t IS notorious that all the clowns be.
lieve themselves actors already. Like
the minstrels, they abhor original jokes,
and stick to the same old Joe Mlllers
That their predecessors used. "Ihls Is my
finger and this is my thumb" says the
clown Us he punches TWO holes IN u
balloon. And as no audience WAS ever
known to decline TO laugh at 1t, the IN
ference is that it is funny.
The clowns in the London Circus say
it with conscientious regularity.
Nine. Dockrlll Is beyond the help o.:
snybodv's praise. For years she has
drawn n weekly salary of $500. She
now has 1850. ard next season will re-
ceive S4OO. In ADDITION to this large
sum, she has the care and feed OF seven
horses and two grooms. 1t is estimated
that her horses, costumes, and general
| furnishing for her business are worth
from $4,000 to $4,000. | am unable to
understand why the lrst act should be
called the "principaL' In the second
she drives four horses, manipulating and
directing them In surprising msh~uvers,
and part of the time straddles all four OF
them. one foot resting on the outer flank
Of the horse At the extreme right, the
other on the flank Of the one NJ the ex-
treme left.
| asked her If she tound it difficult to
do that.
"No,' said she, practice has made it
all easy; but / must practice"
"Dces Dir. Dockrill get your horses
under control for you before you train
! them?'
mir. DockriIl attends to his horses,
and | to mine"
Mr.. Dockrill is, believe, partner IN
the London Circus. lie WAS once bare
/ back rider, too, but now manages the
ring and looks out for Madame. He Is
a Frenchman, perhaps thirty-fve or for
ty years os age, very petite, and sppa-
rently candid His admiration OF Ma
dame Is something pleasant to see.
He never leaves her alone with
others. She is valuable prop
ertv, and he takes the best
of care of her l should judge, in spite
of the denunclations OF Brother Tslmsge,
that Mr.. and Mrs DockIlll are more quiet
in their manner and more devoted IN
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