The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-22
I'm A CIRCUS SCHOOL.
A College for the Education of Tumblergs
Bareback Riders and Jugglers.

A College for the Education of Tumblerss
Bareback Riders and Jugglers.
New York sun
Near Van Nest station, on the Harlem river
branch of the New York, New Haven 81 Hart
ford railroad there is an educational institution
studious pupils every winter. While possessing
varied curriculum and an able fac
ulty, the school grants no degrees and
has no distinctive classes. 1t is peculiar
in other respects. No instruction whatever is
given in the classics or the sciences, and moral
philosophy history, and mathematics have no
standing there, and even reading and writing
are absent from the list of studies. Yet it has q
reputation second to none in this country as an
institution for the education of young men and
women in its speciality, which is the art of circus
performing
A reporter the other day visited the school.
which is located IN round building whose in
terror resembles the familiar circus perform
ing ring. young woman was taking a first
lesson in riding a bare backed horse. She wore
jacket, short skirt, aud boomers, and stood
upon the galioplng horse in her stockings. In
the center of the ring was a grizzled man of
about sixty five with brown overals tucked in the
| tops of cowhide boots, whose enormous mouth
| full of tobacco made him appear to have chronic
elepnantiass of one cheek. This was Pop Car
roll, the proprietor of the institute dean of the
| faculty, and head professor Another member
| of the faculty was pushing around the ring in
| time with the horses gait beam attached TO a
sort of derrick, from which depended rope and
| a contriyance called mechanic the latter being
| fastened beneath the performers arms to save
her from injury in case of a fall from the horse.
Prof Carroll cracked his whip at the trained
steed and hurried instructive remarks at the
performer between expectoratons of tobacco
juice.
LEFT arm -graceful-so-easy nova
leetle further for'ard-right leg out--keep hop
PIN on yer left leg--glang there Beppo! Now
left leg right arm up-graceful, tell ye-you
amt no windmill-left for'ard, right back--left
| foot crostways-keep hoppin, or yell fall--there
ye go, dammitall; didn't / tell yea Whoa, Bep-
pop The performer, having lost her balance,
was hung In midair by the mechanic, but was
straightway lowered to the ground by the assoc
ciate professor, and, mounting again, continued
her lesson.
While this was in progress the reporter dig
covered a network of trapezes, flying and sta
tionary; horizontal bars, vaulting poles, and
springboards, and a mass of circus properties
in general juggling tools, clown costumes,
tights, trunks and shoes. While poking about
in an adjoining stable for further information
he was startled by an ugly growl, and saw i'm a
dark recess a troupe of a dozen performing
dogs that were being educated by Prof. Carroll,
whose pedagogic attainments are as varied az
they are remarkable. Standing in stalls were
several wellkept horses trained for the ring.
and a herd of diminutlye ponies frolicked In an
open field.
I4ater in the day a number of young men
lage, and some male performers essayed trick
pad riding and the management of four horses
bareback. At in the afternoon the dinner bell
was rung, and all, male and female, repaired to
the Carroll residence, near by, where most of tho
pupils board.
Pop Carroll is one of the oldest and best
known circus men living. He took Dan Rice
from the takers stand in front of side show,
and gave him his first start as clown. His
wife, now matron of near his own age, was the
first female circus rider to discard the pad and
ride galloping horse bareback. She is yet we'll
preserved and jolly, although extremely deaf.
CAROLS eldest daughter married Ben Magin-
ley when that gentleman had not.
yet relinquished the cap of the clown to-
become leading heavy old man for
the Madison-square theatre, and his youngest
daughter, Annie, is Barnums leading lady bare
back rider, and the wife of Eddie Snow, tuna
bier. Carroll himself has been performer in
every branch OF the profession, the manager OF
several excuses, and has conducted his school in
Westchester for nearly dozen years. He has
turned out hosts of finished acrobats, clowna,
tumblers. jugglers and riders, and has trained
half the educated dogs, horses, pigs and other
accomplished animals that have appeared before
the public Of late years. His place is the resort
of all circus people who winter in the neighhor-s
hood of New York