Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-01-12

and hl-hi, too, but all the time am at
tending to my business.
you had pretty hard kick to-
night2"
Yes, was taken by surprise. was
making my compliments to the audience
when / felt the blow. | couldn't think
what it was till saw the horse on the
ground. He hurt my shin badly.
shall rub it with linimeDt, and do it up
in Ponds extract"
"Have you had many blows and
falls?"
"Oh, yes. broke my ankle twice and
my arm four times. Last season 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, | have a lovely home in Bor-
deaux, France, and three little children.
"Boys?"
Girls; all three girls; the eldest is
nine years old Ore of my babies was
born in the height of our season. | had
been riding that very day. l wish |
could see them, but it doesent do to
travel with children in this business
"Then you don't propose TO put them
in the ring?"
"Oh, yes. They are all wild about
horses already. These laws about child
performers keep us from putting them
in at once. We teach them the business
all 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 one on Long Island.
| used to go out every day and practice.
] train my own horses, and sometimes
it's very difficult to find a place where
ring can he made l let the horses rest
month, and then train them"
"Rest from what ?"
"From hard work. These acts do
not occupy much time, but they are
very exacting and the horses suffer ex-
ceedingly."
"And you? ,"
"Sometimes I am literally exhausted.
For instance, in my principal act"
"Why do you call it principal 2
"Because there are difficult things to
10 in it. It's the technical name for
the first and show act. In that act |
90 through forty or fifty balloons, jump
lug from my feet and falling on my
knees. The physical strength used up
| in that is tremendous
'In twenty years you have demolish-
ed a great many balloons, haven't you !
Counting matinees, you have averaged
sixty balloons day for six months in
every year. That would be
60 a day for 80 days 1,SOO
| 800 per month for 6 months l0,SOO
months year in 20 years 2lG,OOO
or a grand total of 216,OOO balloons. T."
"Yes," laughingly replied Madame
Dockrill, 'phat would make large pile
Of paper, wouldn't it?"
As she said this terrible scream was
heard in the direction of the monkeys
cage. Mr. Parks and the rest ran over
aud found that a 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 its owner enter
the land of Nod, and seiziug it in his
teeth, bit it through and through. Mr.
Parks struck the bitter several severe
blows with a heavy stick before he re
leased the paw, at which the sufferer
fell back in his cage and tainted dead
away.
Resuming the conversation with Ma
dame Dockril, ] asked her if she need
ed help at any time in the ring, as it
was noticed that her husband. in a dress
coat and lavender tights, was always
present.
ooh, no" said she. 81 depend on
my own nerve. / never thing of any
body or anything. / shout and hurrah,
aud all that, but keep my own head
on my business, watch my horse, and
do what | have done a thousand times
before"
"Then the attention of individuals,
the fattery of acquaintances has no ef-
feet, no stimulating boost, as it were"
Not at all. Mr. Dockrill is always
with me. He has his menage act on
horse which formerly belonged to Ma
poleon III. 1t was taken from his sta.
bles. Mr.. Dockrill bought it, and train
I'd it, and rode it i'll six weeks time.
It's a great thing to get good horse"
eyes, indeed said big Bliss. "Char-
ley Fish, the greatest male bareback ri
der in the world, has been offering big
prices for a horse this six years, aud
couldn't get one. | found him one last
week in a bakers cart. You ought to
see him; he's as tckled as Punch.
So far as my observation goes, Nine.
Dockril is the one rider who is content
ed with her profession.
All the rest are ambitious TO act
Charles w. Fish, whose riding in the
London circus is thing of beauty,
grace and skill, is crazy on the subject.
One can't be in his company ten min
utes before he pulls out play in which
he intends appearing, and in which he
believes 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.