Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-01
OLD CLOWNS.

An interesting Ialk with = teeeriH OF
the Ring.
''The odd Clowns Song and Joke Book !,
only ten cents!'' Who that has visited the
circus has not listened to this monotonous
cry of the peddlers ON the seats? Clowns
and all that pertain thereto are of interest
to everyone. The clown is as much mys-
tory as the Trinity or host. Gus Lee, one
of the old time clowns, and one of the best
that ever put foot on the sawdust, is now
in Chicago, and yesterday asked a Herald
scribe very foolish question. It
was, ''Wiil you take something" While
seated at the regulation table that always
does duty in one of kthese articles, Gus
wound himself up and talked freely of old
clowns and clown life, telling many a
quaint and funny story of these merry
makers. He started as clown in 1859
with the Great Western circus, small con-
Germ known as "cross roads show" They
had John Davenport, now in Toledo run
ming an equestrian training school, and
Hiram Marks, well known as SHARKS, the
clown" Gus was three years with Bar
mum. and was principal clown most of the
time. He was with L. B. Lent's New York
circus one season, and went to Europe for
Hengler, performing in England, Ireland
and Scotland. He tells some good stories
of the ways and salaries of Eng
fish clowns. j. K. Wallet is known as the
Queens Jester" He gets percentages
from circuses, but plays only with the best.
If he wants date all he does is to write
for it Should he write Hengler that he
wanted to play at his Dublin circus, and
the latter did not send an answer favora-
BILE, Wallet would bill Dublin that he
would appear there, and Hengler would be
obliged to take him or the patrons of the
cirque would create a grand disturbance.
English clowns are poorly paid, only get
ting 81 to e6 per week, while in
America the same men receive from $75 to
$3.50 per week. Holloway is one of this
class, and while here year ago he was
well paid, and proved big favorite but he
went back to the old country. He got sick
of it there, however, and last season came
back and worked for Coup. Wallet was
here some years ago for Dan Rice, but did
not take we'll at first,
Speaking of old clowns, Gus recalled
many memoirs. Dan Costello was the
best leapsr of his time. He started in
many years ago and is still at it, only bad
ly demoralized. He used to be part owner
of Barnum in 1871, '72, and '73, and was
equestrian manager, worth about $1OO,OO
He is now advance man or something of
that sort for Ravens circus. Costello took
the first tented show that ever went to
California. He and Jim Nixon. The old
clowns used to make good salary.
They were allowed the profits on the
sale of their song books for years, or until
1874, when the managers nearly cut this
out. Dan Rice made $4,000 in twenty
nine weeks at one time, this being the
largest amount ever made by clown. He,
himself had made about $4,000 in one
season. It was the usual thing to call
twenty-nine weeks a season. Patent med
icine firms published the clowns song
books mostly free for the sake of putting
in their 'ads." The clown used to count
in the song book privilege always then
with his salary. Now a great many of the
big shows, like the Inter Ocean, Fore
paugh and Barnum, sell the privilege of
selling these books to the lemonade and
candy stand people.
AS to salaries, there are only six or eight
principal clowns now in the business here.
Clowns are divided into principal clowns,
who sing in the first act, the testers, or
talking clowns, and then the "knock-
abouts," or tumblers. They rank in that
way, and are paid accordingly. The
''knockabouts'' have to be padded from
head to feet, and some have pads made
like suit of underwear, into which they
slip. Jerry Hopper, "knockabout," used
to be with Barnum. He was very lean,
and would not face an audience without
these pads. One day the boys stole them
and he refused to go on. He was the
greatest high silt performer of the ring,
and worked twelve-foot pair.
Old Sam Long is about the oldest living
clown and ranks beyond Dan Rice. Long
now keeps saloon in Philadelphia. Joe
Gosson was great favorite. There are
also pantomime clowns that were at one
time well received in rings, but who now
stick to the stage. Cha, les Abbott was
one of the famous laugh-makers of this
class. He died insane. His sister was
thrown from horse in a procession at
Rome, N. Y, and was killed. Charley
never got over the effects of the sad event
Old Joe Pentland died insane, as did also
Fox, Thurston and other clowns of note.
It seemed as though insanity preyed upon
these fun kings. Gus had heard that it
was caused by the use of bismuth. but he
did not believe this, as he had used it for
years and never felt any ill effects. Bis
muth had cured cracks of the skin and
sores for him many times. He
thought it was either drink or family
affairs that caused so many clowns to be-
come insane. Of the principal clowns now
here Ben Maginley, Billy Burke, ''Whimsi-
cal'' Walker, Billy Holloway, Ned Austin
and one or two others were the high sala-
ried men. There were Pice, Rollins and
other pantomime clowns that were good,
and there were great many that had just
started in the business in the last two or
three years. Those he mentioned were the
favorites and the kings of the ring. The
salaries now paid ranged from $75 to $50
week. All their expenses are paid when
out and some made money by advertising
something or another. One clown, Shea
ley, used to go to a merchant of town
upon arrival and get him to allow the use
of an advertising placard and ring COS.
tune made for this act alone. 1t was q
part of his contract privilege with
manager. Of course no show like
Barnum's would permit this. Many
shows will not allow their clowns to
use any local topical hits or song Bar
rum used to ''kick" against this. On one
occasion when in New York shortly altar