Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-01-12
STORY OF a CIRCUS RIDER.

Last evening after Nine. Dockrill
had finished her four-horse bareback
act, as she was acknowledging the ap-
pause of the audience i'll the amphlthea-
ter, the ringmaster gave an extra flourish
of his whip, which started the last horse
leaving the enclosure. He turned
quickly, fell on his side, and striking
out kicked the fair equestrienne severe
" on the shin. She fell, but was up III
a second as was the horse.
| chanced to be one of the spectators,
and il at once occurred to me that If
this woman, who nets $4,000 year
bv the skillfal use of her limbs aud feet
on her horses backs, should happen 10
break one of her legs, the public would
be interested to know it.
Fortunately, although the blow was
hard and the pain acute, no bone was
broken, and Madame was able to walk
slowly home. She is native OF French,
about thirty years old, tall, slender,
pleasant looking, domestic it tastes, and
very quiet in manner. I met her after
the performance with her husband, who
has charge of the ring during her acts,
and avai!ed myself Of the opportunity
to ask her a few questions.
She says she is extremely fond OF her
business, and could never be happy If
she were 60 leave it.
GLOW long" said !, "have You been
in the circus?'
ever since l was child My father
and all our family were circus people,
and I was about our horses from my
earliest days"
"Whcn Gid you begin 10 ride?"
81 rode when | was FIVE years old,
but l began public bareback riding
when | was thirteen.
"Was it difficult at frst?'
Every, and | had to practict so much;
but afterward it became second nature.
| train my own horses. They know
me and | them. They would allow no
one else ride them. Mr.. Slickney tried
these four, but he could DO nothing
with them"
Are they very valuably?"
ooh, yes. | wouldn't sell the one on
which l do my principal act for any
money. / was offered $4,000 for him
ir Cincinnati, but such an offer is absurd.
l have seven, all told. They work like
a charm together"
"Why is it that these bareback horses
are always gray?'
"That's because the rosin shows less
on gray horse"
"What is the rosin for?'
1t is necessary, especially if our shoes
are new or stiff.
"You formerly played in Europe'
81 have played all over the world and
before all the crowned heads. | like TO
ride in the Spanish and French rings,
but the Americans are very enceursg-
ing also. In California they are very
enthusiastic. Here in New York the
people have seen all the great artists,
and one has to be extra good to please
them, but on the road they have not
seen so many. although they seem to
be very discriminating there as well.
81 notice that in your principal act
Won use or do not use the reins, at pleas
ure, but in the four-horse act you use
them all the time. Why is that"
The single horse is trained. lie
does lust 80 with or without the reins,
but | need the reins with the four horses
to give them their cues. l regulate
their going ahead, coming back, and
forming in procession by the rein en-
tirely."
"Do Won ever feel afraid or nervous
when riding?' ;.
"Never. don't think OF myself at
all. simply say to myself, this is your
work. YOU have ii to do, and do it. |
always try to do my best, rain or shine
here where we have beautiful rlng,
for on the road with the mud in ring
six inches deep.
"Wercn't you nervous when before
the crowned heads of whom you spoke!
"Not bit. Whyl Some riders are
always nervous. It's temperament. As
for me, never once think OF myself.
'Cant you play better to a full
hOusei'