Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-17
Gales ano Sketlbes.
TRAINING A CIRCUS RIDER.
REMINIscENcEs OF A VETERAN IN THE
RING.
Continued from Yesterday

of the arm. then through pulley down TO
the ambitious youth who wants To be a ri
der, and fastened to the belt around his
waist. The other end is held by man at
the centre pole. 80, you see, the boy cam
not fall to the ground if he misses his foot
ing or loses his equilibrium and so falls off
his horse. The man-who was giving
him plenty Of rope to dance about-simply
brings him up with short turn. and he
swings around in mid-air until he catches
up with his horse and gets another foot
hold. The mechanic you know. goes
around the ring at the same speed that the
horse keeps up. But when the aspirant
gets 50 far advanced that he can do with
out the mechanic and pads, and ride a lit
tie on bare back. and when he commences
his somersaulfs, vaulting through paper
balloons &c. he gets many hard knock
I tell you. There are not very great
number Of riders who get that tar ahead
in the profession. First. the bareback
rider must find the centre OF gravity OF the
circle. and then. and most important of all.
he must know how to fall. The shaking
Of a paper. child's cry or many other lit
tie trihes may distract a horses attention
for second, but short as that time is +
the performer happens to be in the air it
means a fall. If he is too long coming
down to catch the horse. why all right.
but If he can only touch him with his foot
he gives himself push toward the centre
Of the ring, rolls himself up in ball as
quickly as possible, tries not to strike on
his head or spine. and the very instant he
feels the earth to let everything 60 relax
all muscles, and tall well as near as
can describe it. fall as nearly like druk-
en- man as he can"
"But have you not in your daring and
seemingly reckless riding received some
serious iniuries?"
"Oh, yes. have broken that arm twice.
but it Is just as good "a new now. ] had
that ankle knocked out of joint. which laid
me up for weeks; have sprained my legs
ankles, and wrists when didn't fall just
exactly right, and have got more dents
in my head than "a skillet has holes. but
man must not mind little things like those
if he expects to be a champion. Look at
my boy, Frank Melville. who is now so
great a favorite why. he was the most
reckless. daring young rider you ever
heard of and he got lots of hard knocks.
but he didn't scare a Bit and now for him
TO fall or be thrown from his horse is
very rare thing.
''Yes was the first bare back rider
ever seen in Australia. and no one there
has vet performed the feats that did. that
is where gained tine title of champion
had then a magnificent gray mare,
thoroughbred Arabian, one of the best
ever imported to this country. Many OF
the old theatre-goers, will remember her
with pleasure | brought her to this
country, and made my first appearance in
New York on her back in the old Broad
way Theatre in 1853. Then the old vcte-
ran James Nixon. who is now out in Chi
cago-I think giving temperance show
was manager and we had such men in
the company as Eaton Stone. Van Amburgh
Dick Hemmins. and others. and the roll
licking Sam Lathrop rs clown. travelled
too. with dear old Pop Whitaker in
California in 1916. He is one of the most
popular and best men in the profession.
and am rejoiced to hear that he is likely
soon to be ont and around with us again.
! was the first man, too. who ever carried
a living boy. and a hearty chunk at that.
at arms length while dashing around the
ring. bare back at the full speed of nv
glorious old Arabian. The picture of that
feat, taken at the time is now hanging in
John Germans old iavorite resort for
circus men during the idle Winter menths
and is much commented on.
The old grey lasted until she was 81 years
old, and for the last year or two. when
she commenced to get a little stiff. kept
her in clover. She is buried in plot.
and has nice little tombstone over her
have another old mare who has served
,,,., h,,f bo L. too .,1I ~, 10,
more. and she is now spending her last
days up on the Lorillard estates. carefully
attended to. She is 80 years old. So you
see ring horses live to good old age and
are carefully cared for until the end.
MY treatment for performing horses is
simply kindness and rewards. II horse
is afraid of his master he is unreliable.
and il the horse knows that, as he has
performed his part well. he is sure of "A
good hearty meal and little of some
thing he is particularly fond of. and knows
Just rs well that If he does his work in
careless or slovcnly way. he will not get
It. he will do his act the best he knows
how. you may be sure. 1t don't make
him feel happy to see his companions en-
joying some little luxury. while he has to
content himself with simply good square
feed. Horses are very f nd of sugar.
tell YOU. | remember perfectly well the
old DAYS. when circuses were dragged
from town to town in wagons. drawn by
pretty well fagged-out horses. and re
member. too. when steam ears were in
troduced. Then the advance agents of
the horse-wagon companies tried to get
up cry that the ear companies could not
be worth much. for the owners had not
money enough to buy horses. hut it didn't
work. and the wagon shows have about
died out. Yes. | have had ssme curious
experiences. too. but l cannot think o.
them all now. remember the first time
| was in Chilli | had n fine show. The
Archbishop of the place. whom went
in advance to see. was very much
pleased. and advised all his peo-
pie to attend. AMI they did. too. but
they evidently had no use tor the ticket Of
flee. They marched in like a solid army.
but no money. not n cent. In my dispair. |
for had spent my last dollar in getting
up the show. and did not know how to |
get out of town. posted off to see the |
Archbishop again. and told him all about |
it. Wasn't he mad. and din'nt he get |
down TO that show in hurry? Why. he |
had hardly got in sight OF the people and |
hardly spoken dozen words. when the |
men went down into their pockets and |
paid their admissions in hurry. Many |
IL \