Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-11-12
A PEERLESS RIDER
How he Demonstrated the sup.,,.u.
American Horseman.h,. V u

How hs Demonstrated the sup.,,...-
American Horseman.h,a u
James Robinson was proh.h,.
king OF the trade. Joseph wh.s. @s
the actor, who was the boon CO.
ion of the rider, once told me- \.
dents in the career OF his friend /, a
a visit he paid to England abou. y
teen years ago. Robinson had
engaged at a salary of $4,000 q s's
to ride in Astley's royal ampb,tb..s
in London. For four weeks beto,s
arrived he was heralded as thu
est bareback equestrian ofthe aos :
amuse himself he took over viii
n team OF American ha
ting horses and a l;ght uOt
but neglected to bring ssg'
horses as he would need to riSe s y
oversight rather astonished the pr re
managers, who thought their car41
of course included the furn;sSi"alaa
horses. Robinson made lioht - q
matter, and said he could brass ne
animals to his liking in the iortn;Ias
intervening between his arrival ANY,
date OF his debut. There was nntisA
left for the managers to do tbsn
swallow their disappointment and
vide him with horses. Thess NV
hearsed day after day at the ~sa
with skill aud sssiduity, but to SnS...
last that they We're beasts far ints.:a.
in intelligence to the Kentnsls
thoroughbreds with which he wsS
cust "ned 10 deal. Thenight of thss...
F. rance OF the American chamn;o'
8 we'd. TIE great building bear..
the historical name Of Ashley Nv
packed to sutfocation to see the -.
Torrance of the reckless rider ~.
over the sea. Robinson had b0~
ever, in the short time allowed h.,
utterly unable to train the EncE.s
horses to his acts, and as A CON-
quenCe was at a sad ~disadyaptao
what he attempted. The bestieaturs
OF the acts, including the vaultiDo h
failed in. The audience hurried X
exit from the ring with Kisses. Amos
dismal fiasco could not have await
an artist. The Englshmen naturair
took keen delight IN the failure ol h,
American, whom it was announe4i
would eclipse the best exploits 4
horsemanship as illustrated r.
English and French riders. IN
disgrace Inundated Robinson to ~
dust. That very night he went to h
manager OF the circus to release HIM
from his contract. "All | ask," h
said, sis that | may be retained M
establishment on the salary Of d.
tumblers with whom | will appear 4
each performance unannOunced Ths
| want the privilege OF practicine 7,
the morning" The manager, ga
enough to be relieved from the hsayv |
cost of the bargain, accepted the con-
ditions. The next day Robinson had
disposed of his trottIng horses sa
vehicle, as well rs other traps sui |
jewelry, until he had enough TO pR
chase six horses OF the best blood 1. |
tainable, none of which had ever bs
ridden in airing. The selection Of 1.
animals occupied some time. VIA
at last the troupe was completed h
began breaking them to his bushes
a task which required great patias
and an absolute insight into th
nature OF the beast. Weeks passed !
James Robinson, who had in themesa
time been the butt of ridicule, was iW |
gotten. Nightly he was turning aB
fiops in sawdust with a pack ofmOuns
banks, some of whom did not knou
that among their number was thebs:
rider in the world. About the TIM
that the menials about the circus . |
tablishment began to whisper that
they guessed that "blarsted ianks
could ride a little bit after all, ROBIN
son called on the manager. II wish
he said, chat you would bill me =
reappear next Monday night. I
don't succeed i'llpack and 90 hons
With more than a mlsgiying tsl
posters were pasted up osI
London's dead walls. Again thar
was an unusual throng to have tha
sneer at the presumptuousf fellow who's
everybody thought had long bdoa
gone back. But the American MAJ
them laugh on the other side Of tAsI
mouths. The display OF equeStrlahsA
which he gave threw the house Eis
an ecstacy of delight. The wa
vaulted on and off the backsof tbeis
ing steeds electrified the frigid bear
before him. Recall after recall mad
him famous in London town Is
newspapers rang with his praise az
spoke of his previous failure as ar
markahlc reminiscence. The AstaI
people We're glad enough to renew "a
original contract to retain the ame
lean rider, who returned homt Fsa
years later, with q European reputs
tion and fifty Observation-Disclosures
Syracuse Standard.