The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-22
Circas Clown.


a reporter of a Cincinnati paper
] entered the dressing-room Of a cir
Gus tent, the other day, and inter
viewed Lowlow the celebrated
, clown.
Rather a rough life this, Mr.
! Lowlow," began the scribe.
yes, sir; at times it is. The
j, wearer Of the motley, like his broth
ers Of the arena, undergoes many
hardships. But like Joey Bagstock,
/ we are dcyilish tough, S ir, and we
/ last you many 3 day. I, myself,
have been in the ring fourteen
years"
How about wardrobe? Isa clown
at very great expense in this direc-
ton ?"
/ well, / individually have about
/ $500 invested in dresses, but some
carry three and four times that
value Of stuff. [ wear what is call
ed loose dresses, noreo the Hump
ty-Dumpty order, Wholesome clowns,
( who aspire to be testers, use tight
or body dresses, some OF which arc
/ very expensive.
Then there is 4 difference even
in ciowns?"
~oh, assuredly. There is the
first talking clown and the panto-
mine or stage clown; the Snakes
pearian Jester, an imitation Of the
old-time court fool, and the extem-
7 IporaneoUs clown. 4 man may be
an extremely funny pantominist,
but the moment he gets into q ring
/ and begins to talk he fails utterly:
/ he doesn't know how to tell a story
or crack y joke, and in circus par
lance the MANAGER tells him to wash
up and go home. Is to testers, I
have learned that the circus can
never be elevated to the dignity Of
the platform. and aspire to nothing
higher than my limited sphere win
allow.
Like comedians, clowns are ex-
/ pected to be funny at all times,
which undoubtedly must prove very
/ trying at times, Mr.. Lowlow?'
True sir, it is at time almost inn
possible. Upon one occasion, II
I well remember, Z was notified By
1 telegram while in the ring of the Sc
we're illness OF, at that time, my only
child, and before half en- hour had
transpired another despatch was re-
eeiyed telling of It's death. But the
5000 present knew nothing oft II
was paid to be funny; u circus
could rot 90 on without clown, |
and ] was compelled to proceed. |
How l got through / can scarcely |
say | heard the people laugh, that |
was all. | hastened home by rail af- |
ter the performance, buried my little
one. and The next night danced and |
laughed and joked to the delight Of |
another immense audience; proba-
bly, WITH as heavy a heart as was |
ever found in circus ring. Your /
shortcomings arc not always notic- /
ed. 4 man has q reputation for be-
ing ilnny, and there is always I
some one to start the laugh every /
time he opens his mouth. As an I
instance / can recall my FIRST appear
ancc as clown. 1t was with Elder
circus in Memphis, in go. Jimmy
Reynolds, the then famous clown,
had jumped the show without no.
tice, and as the only alternative, 4
then a lad, was thrown in q cast-ofi'
suit of Reynolds red and blue, and
bounced into the ring. Everything
went on splendidiy. / knew most of
the formers jokes, and ratified them
off quite merrilv, and the people,
not knowing the difference, were
loud in their applause. By-and-by I
Mr. Elder told me to announce the
sudden disappearance Of Reynolds
and apologize for my assumption of
his role. That let the cat out of the
bag, and sir, they Kissed me out of
the ring Oh, they wouldn't have
it. Every time I put my nose out /
of the dressing room they hooted /
me back. Crushed? Why, l was
the worst crushed boy you ever saw.
Many Of the old-time clowns
have died in the ditch, for in those
days drinking and gambling were
more prevalent among profession
ais, but nowadays circus people
have, as class, improved. No
matter how small their salaries may
be, nearly all contrive to save enough /
money to winter themselves with, T
and among the more celebrated !
ones many have accumulated com
Portable fortunes. Salaries rangei
from $50 on up to $50 per week,
while Dan Rice at one time received
81 600 q week fcT q season Of .26
weeks.
As the reporter listened there was
q call for Lowlow, and the polite little
man frisked away and was soon
turning over and saying, How are
YOU"