New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-09-23
Il PEERLESS RIDER.
aew he Demonstrated the Superiority Of
American Workmanship.


Hav he Demonstrated the Superiority o.
| American HorsemanshiP.
James Robinson was probably the
king Of the trade. Joseph Wheelock,
the actor, who was the boon compan-
ion of the rider, once told me the incl
dents in the career of his friend during
a.visit he paid to England about fiji
teen years ago. Robinson had been
engaged at a salary OF $4,000 week
to ride in Astley's royal amphitheater
in London. For four weeks before he
arrived he was heralded as the great
est bareback equestrian of the age. To
amuse himself he took over with HIM
a team OF American trot-
ting horses and light buggy,
but neglected to bring such
horses as he would need to ride. The
oversight rather astonished the English
managers, who thought their contract
of course included the furnishing OF
horses. Robinson made light OF the
matter. and said he could break the
animals to his liking m the fortnight
intervening between his arrival and the
date of his debut. There was nothing
left for the managers to do than to
swallow their disappointment and pro-
vide him with horses. These he re-
hearsed day after day at the circus
with skill and assiduity, but to find at
last that they were beasts far inferior
in intelligence to the Kentucky
thoroughbreds with which he was ac-
customed to deal. The night OF the first
appearance of the American champion
arrived. The great building bearing
the historical name Of Ashley was
| packed to suffocation to see the per-
Torrance of the reckless rider from
over the sea. Robinson had, how
ever, in the short time allowed been
| utterly unable to train the English
! horses to his acts, and as a conse.
quence was at a sad disadvantage in
what he attempted. The best features
of the acts, including the vaulting, he
failed in The audience hurried his
exit from the ring with Kisses. Amore
dismal fasco could not have awaited
an artist The Engishmen naturally
| took keen delight in the failure of the
American, whom it was announced
would eclipse the best exploits in
English and French riders. The
disgrace Inundated Robinson to the
dust. That very night he went to the
| manager of the circus to release him
from his contract. "All l ASK he
said, sis that may be retained in the
establishment on the salary OF the
tumblers with whom l will appear at
each performance unannounced. Then
want the privilege OF practicing in
the morning" The manager, glad
enough to be relieved from the heavy
cost Of the bargain, accepted the con
ditions. The next day Robinson had
disposed OF his trottlng horses and
vehicle, as well as other traps and
jewelry, until he had enough to pur-
chase six horses. OF the best blood at
tainable, none of which had ever been
! ridden IN ring. The selection OF the
animals occupied some time. When
at last the troupe was completed he
began breaking them to his business,
a task which required great patience
| and an absolute insight into the
nature of the beast. Weeks passed.
James Robinson, who hadin the mean
time been the butt OF ridicule, was for
gotten. Nightly he was turning flip
fops in sawdust with a pack ofmounte-
banks, some of whom did not know
that among their number was the best
rider in the world About the time
that the menials about the circus es-
tablishment began to whisper that
they guessed that "blarsted Yankee
could ride little bit after ali, Robin.
son called on the manager. 81 wish,''
he said, ''that you would bill me to
reappear next Monday night. Ii l
on'tsucceed I'll packup and go home
With more than misgiving the
posters were pasted up over
London's dead walls. Again there
was an unusual throng to have their
sheer at the presumptuousf fellow whom
everybody thought had long before
gone back. But the American made
them laugh on the other side of their
mouths. Thedisplay of equestrianism
which he gave threw the house into
an ecstacy of delight. The way he
vaulted on and off the backs of the f1y-
ing steeds electrified the frigid hearts
before him. Recall after recall made
him famous IN London town. The
newspapers rang with his praise and
spoke Of his previous failure as re-
markable Renaissance. The Ashley
people were glad enough to renew the
original contract to retain the Amer.
lean rider, who returned home two
years later, with a European reputa.
ton and fifty thousand dollars to boot.
| Syracuse Standard.
Development of the Trotter.
N