Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-05-03
BAREBACK RIDING.
Robinson, 1.-THE Champion Of the World,
and His Heme near st. Louis.
From the ST. Louis Chronicle.

From the st. Louis Chronicle. :
"St. Louis is where / intend to live
as long as 1 live anywhere" James
Robinson, the famous bareback rider,
said as he puffed his cigar in the
dressing-room of Coles circus.
II like St. Louis, and like the
State of Missouri. This is why 1
have traded my farm in Audraln
county for the William L. Black place,
on the Hulps Ferry road, about a
mile and a half from Baden. 1t is a
beautiful place. The farm includes
sixty acres of land, and the buildings
are well suited to the best style of
farming. 1 shall have ring-house
in which to train my horses, and,
when mot on the road,' 1 shall spend
my time in training them. I was
born in Boston, forty-six years ago.
When ten years old entered the
ring, under the training of my father,
'Old John Robinson l have been
longer in the business than any other
bareback rider living. 1 have travel
ed with nearly all the companies that
have exhibited during the past forty
years, among them Bailey, Lent,
Sells Brothers and Spaulding & Rog.
ers. have just started with Coles
circus"
"How many bareback riders are
there in the United States?''
'Ahout six or eight. 1 am moi
only the oldest of these, but I ge
the highest salary paid any performer
in the ring. l am the acknowledged
champion bareback rider of the world
In 1863-twenty years ago-I receiy
ed the diamond-studded gold cham
pion belt, and 1 have had it ever since
l rode six years in Europe, and fiy'
years ago returned from a two years
round in Australia and India, comm!
back by way Of the Suez canal. Au
diences in that part of the world ar
enthusiastic. 1 was in England wit
Howe & Cushing's United States cir
Gus, and on the 14th of May, 1858,
appeared before Queen Victoria, a
the Alhambra Palace. 1 am the onl,
circus rider who ever appeared befor
her Majesty. In 1867, at the Pari
Exposition, T rode for Napoleon III.
and have exhibited before Kaise
William, of Germany, dozen times
The Germans and the English are tn
greatest people in the world for shows
But they haven't the horsemen ths
We have. The American riders ar
the best on God A'mighty's earth.
/ "Do you like the business?"
/ sit amounts to passion with me
My health is excellent. I don't kno'
what it is, to be troubled with
cough or cold. There was tim
when I suffered with rheumatism, bu
for ten years I have been in capt..
trim, and have not lost day. iii
"Have YOU ever met with any al
cidents?'
Mr.. Robinson smiled s'Did 20
ever know a man to follow any bus
ness for thirty-six years without mee1
/ ing with accidents ?',s he asked
"Certainly, I have met with acc
Edents; but, in the main, 1 have bee
very fortunate. Two years ago ha
Ea heavy fab, and twenty years agt
when with Sells Brothers, 1 Wa
thrown, and had three fingers of m
left hand broken. But break an
train my own horses, and they get
know me and their business so we
that there is comparatively httl
danger"
81 wish you would contradict,
Mr.. Robinson said, in conclusion
"any reports you may hear about m
retiring from the ring. 1 have bougl
my place in North St. Louis simpl
, for home-a place to die in. b
side, there are about four months
the year when we are idle. Thes
. months / intend to put in ON my far
. in training. l have there now
couple of young horses that l inten
TO exercise myself upon next bwinte
Next season i shall introduee ason
entirely new features.