Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-06-05
THE sAWDUST ARENA.
James Robinson. OF Mexico,
tise Bare Back Rider, Among
Ezis EsOrses--G0ssip About
the Circus.

From the Chicago Daily News.
Il don't believe l will peel for any
work to-day said James Robinson,
the world renowned bareback rider
to a Daily News reporter yesterday
afternoon. "It's too cold" Mr.. |
and Mrs. Robinson and their 15-
ycar-old boy, Clarence, have just
reached this city from Missouri, TO
open summer engagement with the
"Great Chicago Circus" show
just organized here by Dalton &
Smith, under the management of
George DcHaven. Robinson and son
stood in the ring, under the canvas
temporarily tented on Halsted street,
near Harrison, watching Charles
Lowry, The hurdle-rider, exercising
on the back of 4 cantering white
horse, out the elder freely entered
into conversation. 'IOu express .
little SURPRISE" he said, cat not see
inc me with some of the big SHOVE,
but I'm just as well satisfied with a
little fellow if l get my prIce. L
wasn't intending to go out this sum-
mer. I meant to spend it down at
Mexico, Missouri, on my farm, but
the boys urged me pretty strong to
help 'em out, 50 | join>d in. They
give me $500 Il week here, with ten
weeks paid in advance. | wouldn't t
60 with any show under any other
arrangement "
That's one of my horses" as the
animal was halted to have a fresh
supply Of powdered rosin busted on
his back from Il Dig tin box, 50 that
Mr.. Lowry's feet wouldn't slip.
Hes a 9-year-old Californian l
picked UP out there five years ago
and there's good stuff i'll him. l
cali him Figaro. Lowry hasn't any
horse here, SO he's usin. him for
practice. | have three more at the
Twelfth street stables. Walk down
aud I'll show you something hand
some"
Sauntcring along, Mr.. Robinson
went on in Il voice partic ularly gen
tie and pleasant, Il don't know
when my horses have wintered so
well; they will go into their work in
good coalition. 1t wouldn't be any
use t. talk about money for them.
1 am IS years old, and have been
wlndin. sawdust the best part of my
life. | don't feel natural without my
horses, and they know every act as
we'll as do. 1t looks easy, but oul
lives hang on hair when we are in
a horse is liable to fall at any mo-
ment, and roll on you. I've met with
lots of accidents, but L am always
watching, and have been lucky.
We're all anxious to get through, and
it's a big strain to slip. Ihave made
it science to fall off easy, but
there's many guy who never stud
les that part oft"
Here the stable was entered, and
leading the way to a "box," tn.
blanket was turned up on a snow.
white beauty; the horse that has
borne Mr.. Robinson and his little
GhIld sately through many a double
been all over the world. "He's IA
: but I've had him since he was a suck
| ting, and have rode him eight years
He is as frcsE to-day as when frs
got over him. Whip him? No, h'
has never been struck q blow tha
would hurt child, and was neve
harnessed. Now here's a six-year
/ old strawberry roam with black mani
and tail, I've been working in grad
t ual for three years to take 'BnlPs $
, place when he peters out one of thes
days. And this is 'Desdemonia,
thoroughbred mare, Clarence doe
a hurdle act on. She's a keener."
See him." pointing to httl
, man putting an extra blanket o
.Captain, the strawberry roam
That's Oliver Dodge, and we'v
, been together for thirty years. II
use to ride race horses for Ger
:, Wade Hampton. ] don't believe i
tie whipping business. Barnum'
! stations have had it whanged rigl
into 'cm, though. They're onl
mongreIs and when the
are broken there are men enough
hand to take one right along. IC
bet, they just lift 'em with whip.
=, "Yes, | have had a varied exper
2, ence. / had all the incidents
~ ~ twenty-three years together at oil
: time, but lost them by che tir
y Money could not replace them. Mr.
~ Robinson goes with me everywher
i MY other little boy is at school. /
n likes to ride, and wanted to go o
this summer, but l coaxed him
"a take Jump at his books. L new
~ y, think of the crowd when he is WI
y me. and when standing on my hea
~ he is as safe As in my arms. VIII
= we went to California some years ae
. there ,ras so ne kicking at first agail
~ the risk he run. Once in VIII
It some guy there would try doub
80 and halt kill child, but l sent
IN something they hadn't seen. And
.le Australia, there wasn't sound
,lf we'd finished the act-where Euge
70. stands on my head-when the ga
as just stood up and hollered. In G
no na, they called the circus some che
= stick name that meant horse con
W. dy,' but notice We conceded ST.
it 900 out of them in two weeks.
ha all the countries there is none Ii
,at America. have been in all wEer,
to circus could go, and old Bull the
ny is the only horse ever doing sucl
all round. L guess this show will
I we'll. They are all good people
,w ring show, and will try hard. L
il. the business hasn't the tar in it
he used to have, and the wax figg
If, ard old trap wagons are goi
to 'wolving.' I've watched the crow
he and they slide by for the ring-te
Sc The rest is only hauled around
n give religious people an excuse
AN 60"
hit "Dan Rice is down Texas W.
,rs and he's down low. Drinking hs
ICE and quitting. Lots of the peo
he diving off this winter. Jimmie G
he sim, one of the London's Glow
ng was wiped out by an engine the o
,rd er day down in Pennsylvania.
is was mighty nice boy, and funn
He was always terribly scared OF