Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-06-30
THE AMUSEMENT REPORT
Err.
A Circus Agent Meets His Match
i'm n Frontier Newspaper Of

I
Yesterday afternoon a depper little
man, with twO-OunCe cane and half
pound cluster diamond, came into the
Chronicle office and asked ii the amuse-
mcnt reporter was in. When the man
he sought was pointed out, the stranger
grasped him warmly by the hand, re-
marking: Delighted 10 meet you, sir
really, | am I've heard of you at
every place I've stopped on my way
from New York. | had such a curiosity
To see YOU that got oil ut Reno and
took run up. But really had expect
Ell % find a much Older man, considering
the magnificent reputation your DRAM
aticand circus criticisms hayegiven you.
All of our boys told me to be sure and
see YOU, ii | didn't get aboard OF any
thing else in town
All, said the reporter, blushing in
four cOiOrs, "l'm glad TO see you. Might
| inquire your nameP'
well, here's my card, said the little
man, handing out piece OF pasteboard
about five inches square. You may
have heard of me befOre-Ciarence DE
Lacy SIocum, agent of the Sebastian
Van Buena Vista Circus and Menagerie.
This is 10y far the highest combination
of gigantic CiTCuSeS ever put on the
road. We started out about five years
ago i'm a small way, with not over 4OO,-
900 feet Oi car vas, only nine tents and
scarcely 800 animals but We gradually
absorbed all the Small-iry shows. They'd
20 into bankruptcy along the route and
we'd buy their outfits. Sebastian, our
owner, Is the most sympathetic man on
earth. He'd buy their little shows and
paw double price, just TO help the poor
devils 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
reporter.
"Oh, he knows you-that Is, by rep
utatiOn. He has got your picture set
I'm frame that cost him over 500. lie
WAS saving 10 me one night that when
ever business was dull ne just took a
look az that phiz OF yours, and it always
made him feel as happy rs II he was
Obliged 10 turn five hundred people
away at the door
How came he TO get hold OF my
picture
ooh, he begged il Of hi Murska, or
NoIipska. or Clara Morris | forgot
which. She hated like thunder 10 part
with il, but you see ne had loaned the
great actress $4,000 once in Paris to
buy a wardrobe and some jewelry for a
new piece, and rs the debt was never
cancelled She couldn't very well refuse.
But | Just come in 10 give you little
information about our show. l always
like to give q man all the points when |
know he has the talent 10 handle them
I'M the right stvIc. Some fellows down
40 Reno and Carson tried TO pump me,
but don't propose 10 let a description
Of INV show be- manglel mp by scrub
writer's Besides, Sebastian telegraph
eel me from New York last night not 10
let ANYBODY but YOU get aboard of the
first grand description. Just mention
four miles OF cages containing wild
beasts, with twelve new varieties OF
elephants, and a recently discovered
monster from Africa called the Jabber-
wuck, which weighs 5000 pounds.
"Iudced?'
eyes, sir; and a man like you, OF fine
descriptive ability and incNhaustible
command Of language, which has made
YOU famous I'm two COutincutS-'
GLOW many columns dO you want?'
cob, as many as YOU please.
"Wucu will the show be here?'
PERHAPS not for two months; Ii takes
such long time 10 move the animals
that our progress across the continent Is
slow.
"Just So. Well, our figures Tor big
rirruSrs like yours are $50 a column
cash down and thirty per cent OF the
gross receipts ii the show Is success.
The circus agent seemed greatly al
iectyd. Isn't that rather Steep he
said
at wouI be, perhaps, for a small
provincial journal like the N.ir York
SIM. or even LuuiH Times, but we cir
culJtr such q mammoth edition that the
price is comparatively trihing. Four
teen freight ears come mp every day
with paper for edition, which Is worked
oil ON five biz Walter presses lightning
.raryi. cur expenses for stem alone,
sir. are - 900 dav We have more
carriers than YOU could pack into your
LARGEST tent. Our eastern circulation
has been Increasing at the rate Ol q thou
,guI dav for the past two years. by
simply cutting down the size Of the pa
per am eighth of an inch, our proprietor
Ils saved enough money 10 build four
school houses worth $4,000 each, and
endowed an orphan asylum in each
county Inn the State lie doesn't run
tine paper Tor money, but just simply Tor
his health and because he likes the
country. our mailing and folding ma
rhiurry would remind You Of the Rls-
don Iron works
81, it in this building?
"Oh. no; this is simply the branch Of
lirr-the place where We write mp CIR,
ruses. Our principal establishment
The circus agent grOancd - II IN
1rouy and fled from the office.