The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-06-08
DAN RICE INTERVIEWED.
A PLEASURE TOUR OF TEXAS.
Not Dead, But "Just as Young as He Used
to Be''-Interesting "Reminiscences
of the Famous Clown Who
Delighted Our Daddies.

Dan Rice, the worlds famous jester,
orator, statesman and benefactor, has
been visiting Dallas in the flesh for a
few days, Notwithstanding the many re-
ports of his death. He is fresh and robust
in appearance, full of the genial humor
Of his youth and stories of other days,
and it has been the frequent remark of
many friends he met here: "Why,
Uncle Dan, you don't look bit older
than you did % years ago." In CONVEX
sation with HERALD reporter, relative
to the reports of his death, he jocu-
larly remarked: "Well, | guess
am about the Invest dead man
you ever saw; although l was once
asked to accept coffin. 1t was at Mead
vile, Pennsylvania. / had partially
broken down from exhaustive labors in
the ring ana taken q short season OF
rest, after which l rejoined the show at
Mesdville. / received the congratula-
tions of quite number OF prominent
citiZons upon my restoration TO health,
and was finally approached by long,
lank funeral-visaged individual, who
tried very hard to look pleasant, and
warmly shook my hand.
"Eou don't know me-" said he, "but
1'll meyer forget you, Dan. My name is
jonathan Long, andl You gave mo q
pony when was boy, Pm in the un-
dertaking business and rich now, Dan,
and / want TO do something for you.
You are always travelling, and like as
not, you'll get away down in
Arkansas, Texas or some other
benighted country and die. Here's my
card, and if you will hand it to a friend
at your bedside and have him telegraph
me, I'll send you frat class coffin to
remember me by"
i thanked him kindly, and told him |
would try to remember his instructions.
"What is your principal object in Wis
iting Texas?"
ooh, to see the country, renew old
Friendships, and attend 60 little busi-
ness by the way. have large tract OF
land in southwest Texas which 1 will
look after, and may possibly become a
citizen of the State. What kind Of "a
cowboy would make, eh?'
The reporter thought he would do, and
ventured another inquiry:
"What do you Lhink Of tho Statew
"Grand, sir, grand. Finest country |
ever saw. The crops look magnificent.
Why, If some of these old Croakors who
think Texas Wild, unoiyilized c0un-
try could take q peep at it to-day they
would DO actually paralyzed with aston
ishment. | have always ouiOyGd Nysolf
everywhere, but | think the most iuu /
ever had in a snort time was in Texas.
Several years ago q lrienu Of mine got
into trouble with his circus in southern
Texas and telegraph0d me TO come on
aud help him out. | ran the show for
six weeks and got him clear. / stood
I'M with the cowboys and had moro fun
than you eau count on your fingers.
Some of them followed the show Tor
weeks. Great boys, they are"
"H0u haye undoubtedly been a gyost
traveller"
eyes, sir, have Travelled more
miles than any other man
living. During Pierce's administration
was the bearer of foreign dispatches,
in which capacity ] visited tho principal
courts Of the old world. As q Snowman
l have rensaCkod the ut.armost parts
Of the earth in search OF novelties and
met with many adventures. ] was
twice and endured vicissi-
tudes that volumes alone could OK
press"
"YOur name has been mentioned in
connection with high political offices
several times, has IL nOt2n
yes was nominated in 1865 by the
soldiers and people TO reprenst In Con-
gross tho Nineteenth District of Penn
sylvauia. ] withdrew in favor of my
Glenhido W. Sch0deld. In
my letter OF withdrawal TO my
friends, after thanking
them for the honor conferred upon
me, / stated my reasons, rs follows:
First, felt myself totally inadequte
to discharge tine duties of so important q
trust; and secondly, had labored for
years TO establish good reputation and
did not want TO lose it by going to CON
gross. But the most important consid-
Grafton, which did not mention,Wag the
sum Of $4,000 pain to nae by Schoield's
friends, sub rosa"
"What about the discussion OF your
name IN connection with the prssl-
dencyW
"At the Democratic convention that
nominated Seymour, held at Tammanv
Hall, New York city, q werfully-writ-
ton document WAS laid on
the desks of the delegates, entitled
"The Path to Conservative Triumph
and urged my nomination. was then
IN the zenith of fame and power, and
all plans were skillfully arranged aud
schemes concocted for Grants defeat
by the mos able men of the country,
by the johnson admiuistra.
ton, such "a Hon, Pinckney White, of
Mary lsnd; General Francis Z. Blair, Of
Missouri; Hon. Ben, Hill, Of Georgia:
General Reynolds, and many other
prominent citizens and soldiers. Over
400 Democratic and conservative Repub-
licen papers bore my namo at their
On tho night following the
Oh the convention, in a prl.
yate caucus, Hon. Pinckney White pre-
'ente3 his choice in an able speech, paint.
Ing the conservative triumph, and
urging that the individual who should
represent the Democratic party was
a man more extensively and favorably
known than any man in the United
States man OF the people and for the
people and who understood their ne
,essitios. They seemingly agreed that
was the character Of man 70 be their
standard bearer, and called TO the
speaker 70 name his man, whom he an.
nouuced in stentorian tones AS Colonel
Dan Rice, the famous circus man. Au-
gust Belmont and MGnton Marble, of
Inc New York World, declared il to be
IN insult to the Democratic party.
strong arguments followed on both
sides and finally they adjourned
The following day received a telegram
rom the chairman OF the Dan Rice dele
cation, in the upper part of New York
state, whom | was travelling with
arge show, receiving $1,000 week for
my name and services, which / was
paid for nine years, stating that tho
could be made for 100000
)r 500 ,OOO Tho Inference was that
he delegates not In sympathy with
he movement could DO bought for that
My answer was: "Millions
.or defense, but not one penny for tri.
butte" Despite the indignity offered me
IN the caucus by Marble and Belmont,
whoae virtuous indignatloa was
aroused by tho mention of my
name for 80 exalted n
position, could have bought their fol.
lowing for that amount OF money. Con-
thou art a Jewell"
Colonel Rice has consented to deliver
one Of his interesting and humorous adj
dresses at Mayors Garden, Tuesday
evening, when the capacity of that beau
iiful and cool retreat will no doubt be
taxed 10 Its utmost. He will visit the
principal cities of Texas previous TO his
departure for the north.
~
Every hrst-olass dealer sells Opera
NaaNN"