The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1879-07-30
MISCELLANY.
A CIRCUS AGENT MEETS HIS MATCH
IN A FRONTIER NE WSPAPER OF
NCE.

Yesterday afternoon, dapper little fellow,
with two ounce cane and half-pound
cluster diamond pin; came into the Chronicle
office, and asked if the amusement reporter
was in. When the man he sought was point
ed out, the stranger grasped him warmly by
the hand, remarking Delighted to meet
you, sir--really, am. I've stopped on my
way from New York. l had such a curiosity
to see you that got off at Reno and took
run up. But really had expected to find a
much older man, considering the magnificent
ropsstasion your dramatic and circns criti0isns
have given you. All of our boys told me to
be sure and see you, if didn't get aboard of
anything else in the town."
All" said the reporter, blnshing in four
colors 'I'm glad to see you. Might in
quire you name
"Well, here is my card" said the little
man, handing out a parcel Of pasteboard
about five inches square. " You may have
heard of me before-Clarence De Lacy Slo-
cum, agent Of Sebastian Van Buen Vista Cir
Gus and Menagerie. This is by far the hugest
combination of gigantic ciicuses ever put on
ago, in a small way, with not over 400 900 IT.
of canvas, only nine tents and scarcely 1900
animals but we gradually absorbed all the
small fly shows. They'd 60 into bankruptcy
along the route and we would buy their out
fits. Sebastian, our owner, is the most SYM
pathetic man on earth. He'd buy their little
shows and pay double price just to help the
poor fellows along. Money is OF no account
to him. He's travelling simply for pleasure
and a desire to see the great West"
I'D like to know him." remarked the re-
porter.
"Oh, he knows you-that is, by reputation.
He has your picture set in frame that cost
him over 500. He was saying 10 me one
night that whenever business was dull he just
took look at that phiz of yours, and it al
ways made him feel as happy as If he was
obliged to turn five hundred people away at
the door,"
How came he to get hold of my picture ?
jeska, or Clara Morris-I forget which. She
hated to part with it, but you see he had loan
ed the great actress $4,000 once in Paris to
buy wardrobe and some jewelry for new
piece, and as the debt was never cancelled she
couldn't very well refuse. But just came in
to give you little information about our
show. / always like to give man all the
points when know be possesses the talent to
handle them in the right style. Some fellows
down at Reno and Carson tried to pump me,
but do not propose to let description of
my show be mangled up by scrub writer's
Besides, Sebastian telegraphed me from New
York last night not 10 let anybody get aboard
of the fist grand description. just mention
four miles of cages containing wild beasts,
with twelve new varieties of elephants, and a
recently discovered monster from Africa, call
ed the Jabberwock. which weighs, $1,000"
Indeed !"
eyes, sir and man like you, with fine
descriptive ability and inexhaustible COM
mand of language which has made you fam
GUS ia two continents -
elbow many columns do you want?"
ooh, as many as you please"
"When will the show be here :"
"Perhaps not in two months it takes
such long time to move the animals that
our progress across the country is slow"
+" Just So Well, our figures for big circus
! es like yours are $3.50 column cash down,
and thirty per cent. Of the gross receipts il
the show is a success
The circus agent seemed greatly Affected
81 Isn't that rather steep?" he said.
" Ii would be, perhaps, for small provincial
journals like the New York Sun and the Lon
don Times, but we circulate such mammoth