National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-07-16
THE CIRCUS AGEYT FoILED.
He Meets His Match in Frontier News
paper OHicc.


tFrom the Virginia City Chroniclc
Yesterday afternoon, dapper little man,
with two.ounce cane aud half pound cluster
diamond, came into the Chronicle Office aud
asked If the amusement reporter was in.
When the man he sought was pointed out, tho
stranger grasped him warmly by the hand, re-
marking delighted to meet you, sir-really
l am. I've heard of you at every place I've
stopped on my way from New York. | had
such curiosity to see you that got off at
Reno and took a run up. But really had cx-
pected TO find much older man, considering
the magnificent reputation your dramatic and
circus criticisms have given you All of our
boys told me to be sure and sec you, If didn't
get aboard Of anything else in the town"
"Ah" said the reporter blushing in four
colors, Pm glad to see you. Might inquire
of your name p
well, here's my card" said the little man,
handing out piece of pastcboard about Ave
inches square. "You may have heard of me
beforc-Clarence De Lacy Slocum, agent Of the
Sebastian Van Buena Vista Circus and Menag-
eric. This is by far the lugcst combination Of
gigantic circuses ever put on the road. Wo
started out about five years ago In small way,
with not over 100000 feet of canvas only niue
tents, aud scarcely 800 animals, but we grad
ually absorbed all the small-fry shows. They'd
90 into bankruptcy along the route, aud we
would buy their outfits. Sebastian our owner,
is the most sympathetic man on earth. He'd
buy their little shows and pay double price
just 20 help the poor devils along. Money is of
no account to him. He's travelling simply for
pleasure aud n desire to see the great West"
I'd like to know him." remarked the re-
porter. ... .H .
"Oh, he knows you-that is, by reputation.
He has your picture set in frame that cost
him over 800 He was saying TO me one night
that whenever business was dull he just took q
look ut that phiz of yours and 1t always made
him feel rs happy as If lie was obliged TO turn
500 people away at the door,"
allow came ho to get hold Of my picture 2"
ooh, lie begged II of De Murska or Modeska
or Clara Morris-I forget which. She hated
like thunder to part with It, but you see he had
loaned the great actress $4,000 once in Paris
to buy wardrobe and some jcwelry for new
piece, and as the debt was never cancelled sha
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 he possesses the talent to handle them
in the right style. Some fellows down at Reno
and Carson tried TO pump Inc, but didn't pro-
pose to let description of my show be man
gled up by scrub writers. Besides, Sebastian
telegraphed me from New York last night not
to 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 u recently discov-
cred monster from Africa called the Jabber-
wock, which weighs 5000 pounds"
Indeed !"
"Yes, sir! and man like you, with fine
descriptive ability and inexhaustible command
of language, which has made you famous in
two continents"
" How many columns do you want?'
"Oh, as many as you please"
"Whcn will the show be here?'
perhaps not for two months IL takes such
n long time to move the animals that our pro-
grcss across the country is slow"
" Just so. Well, our figures for big circuses
like yours are $3.50 column, cash down, aud
30 per cent of the gross receipts If the show is
u success"
The circus agent seemed greatly affected.
Isn't that rather steepy said lie.
" 1t would be. perhaps, for small provincial
journal like the New York Sm,, or even the
London Times, but we circulate such mann
moth edition that the price is comparatively
| trihng. Fourteen freight cars come up every
day with paper for our edition, which is worked
off ON five big Walter presses, lightning gcarcd.
Our expenses for steam alone, SIR are 50, 600 u
day. We have more carriers than you could
pack into your largest tent. Our Eastern cir
culation has been increasing ut the rate of
! 1000 Il day for the last two years. BY simply
cutting down the size of the paper an eighth
of an inch our proprietor has saved money
enough to build four school-houscs worth
100000 and endowed an orphan asylum in
each county in the State. lie doesn't run tho
paper for money, hut just simply for his health
| and because he likes the country. Our mail
ing and folding machinery would remind you
of the Risdon iron works"
lis il in this buildings"
"Oh, no. this is simply the branch Office
the place where we write up circuses OuI
principal establishment"
Tho circus agent groauGd MS If in agony and
fled from the Office.