The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-03-28
CIRCUS RIDERS.

l-E-sT WIN 10 oAo
CIRCUS RIDERS.
Accidents to Acrobats mi Com
cazning Old Time salaries.
Philadelphia Press. 5sfi
Formerly children were regularly
apprenticed to learn riding Just AS they
We're to learn shoemaking or any other
tratle,s said Richard Hemming, the old
circus manager, abut now in many of
onr States there are laws prohibiting
the employment of minors under fifteen.
years Of age in hazardous performances,
and these have had the effect of doing
awaysto u very great extent with the
thorough and systematic course of train
ing which children designed for riders
were formerly obliged to commence
when about five years old,
and which must be com-
menced ut that early age and steadily
pursued i'll order to attain the highest
degree of artistic perfection. Nearly
all the great riders we now have began
their career before the enactment of
these laws, and, consequently, served a
thorough apprenticeship to their pro-
~fession, but when they shall have passed
away who viii fill their places??s There,
will certainly be no American riders
who can do so satisfactorily, and our
public will have to look for its eques-
eri in fola,,f nr,c, Az, ,,,o%a,. -
called societies for the prevention of
cruelty to children are not SO efficient
in securing the passage and enforce-
ment of unjust and injudicious laws.
"Have there been many fntal accidents
among circus performers? 2"
Very few considering the manyh az-
ardous feats performed. Within later
years can recall only three OF four.
William Kincade, an acrobat. broke his
neck in the summer of 1881 while doing
q double somefsault over a number of
elephants with the Forepaugh show.
Johnny Aymar, II of the best of all
tumblerss broke hissneck in the island
ofJersess some Years ago, while trying
TO throw a triple somersnult, which is
meant revolving in the air three times
before alighting. Every performerwho
has attempted this feat has been killed
by it sooaer orrlater, and it is a mooted
question whether it ever has been or
ever can be successfully accomplished.
Little Miss Dayenee was killed bv
alighting on her neck and spine after
being thrown from a catupult with the
Barnum-Iondon show in 1861. What
are called the ;leaps'-that is, throwing
somersaults over elephants and horses
have been productive of q greater
number of serious accidents than anv
other feat attempted n the ring. The
most frequent and annoying accidents
which occur to riders are injurious TO
the knee joint. There is no part of the
body more easily displaced or harder to
put in order again, and alighting on the
horse after going through hoop or
oves, q banner, o%rjumping to the ground
to avoid q fall, is very apt to throw the
joint out of place. Katie Stokes, a
very talented young bareback rider who
gave promise OF attaining the very
highest eminence in her profession, sus-
tainel an injury of this kind in the sum
mer of 1882, and it is doubtful if she
will ever ride again. My wife, AIRS.
Richard Hemming, who before our mar
rage was Miss Whitby, well-knowpn as
an accomplished pad and manege rider,
has been obliged to retire from the pro-
fession permanently in consequence Of
q similar accident.
II must not forgetto tell you of a
great remedy we circus peoplehaye for
sprains. 1t is n mixture Of NORWOOD,
vinegar and salt. Take ten cents worth
of wormwood, coverit we'll with vines
gar, put j n a handful of salt and let the
mixture come to the boil; battle the
affected part with IL as hot as you
can bear it and it will effect q cure
more quickly than anything else I have
ever seen tried
"DoScircns performers often live to, a
good old age??s
Very often, and Think that in point
Of longevity they far excel the members
of any profession. In England and on
the ~eontenent of Europe especially,
they usually live to be very old. In
European countries, too, it is 'remnrk-
ableihow many families there are whose
very member, both male and female,
for many generations, has been in the
profession. Among these families may
be mentioned the Rentzs, Samweus,t
Cookies and Bridges. The health of
circus people is almost invariably ex-
eellent.y
How do you think the performers
of America compare with those of
Europe??"
THE Americans have q great deal
more reckless dash and daring and are
willing to incur more risk. When they
want to do = feat they go right ahead
sndstry it, whereas q European artist
would first undergo y long and careful
training for it. The American per-
formers idea seems to be that it is no
matter whether the feat is done grace
fully or the reverse 50 long as. it is
boldly accomplished, and this seems to
be the idea of American audiences also;
but with the European, artistic grace
and finish count for more than all else,
and # afeat-nom matter how difficult or
.daring--be performed without these,
the achieyemept, 10 him, ID wholly de.
void OF merits
How do salaries at the PRESENT. dry