The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-19
OLD DAN RICE.
The Veteran Circus Clown Tells of His Elk
perlences.

/ The Veteran Circus Clown Tells of His Elk
/ perlences.
New York Telegram.
Audiences are now different from what they
Mr. Dan Rice. the veteran circus clown and now
lecturer.
what is the principal diffsrencelv
1.-The chief difference il that in those days all
| that IN the advertisements had to be con-
] scien tiously gone through. Now, Droprietors of
shows labor hard to advertise what they haven't
/ got and people don't mind it
why" ne exclaimed 'swhen 1 first became
/ connected with circuses if pronrietors of shows
hadn't given their audiences all they advertised.
| they would have been arrested for obtaining
money under false preten ses. case of that
| kind happened TO me once. It was in Ellicots-
vile, village of this State.
81 was connected with circus and advertis-
/ ed that female elephant that had would
!! stand on her head during the performance. She
failed to do so during the matinee performance
| and DIR. Goerum and young lawyer had me
| arrested for receiving money under false pre-
| lenses.
Il was duly brought before justice of the
| peace and a jury and defended my own case /
| said that the elephant would only stand on her
head during the evening performances, and
| that did not advertise that she would do it
twice day. The lawyer and doctor said they
| had paid specially to see that very thing, and
came to the show to see it alone, but the Judge
| gave the verdict to me with costs. which the
other side had to pay"
'How did you first become clown. Mr. Rice7"
II first exhibited in feats of strength, but mad
always an ambition to become circus clown.
was engaged in the livery business In Pitts
burg prior TO 1912, when saw two Frenchmen,
Monsieur Guilio.and Monsieur Paul. do some
feats of strength which were thought to be
wonderful l thought myself as strong as they
were and started educated pig show with
man named Hayes in the spring of AZ, and be-
sides gave feats of strength. came over the
Aleghenies from Pittsburg TO Philadelphia,
where / sold nv interest in the show.
my first engagements was at the Walnut
street Theater, Philadelphia 1t was within a
III or fUuo IF = al nf md fha
managers were looking for extra attractions.
Among my feats 1 could lift the weight of $500
pounds on my back and 500 pounds by my hair.
/ asked $3.50 week, not expecting 70 get it.
ard, TO my surprise, did get it / with
that company two weeks.
.In the winter of 1923 Mr.. Taylor, uncle of
Phineas T. Barnum, engaged me to perform in
the American Museum, where the Telegram
building now stands. l performed two weeks
at the American Museum, and went West and
exhibited feats of strength with Spalding's Ma
tionai American Circus at Galena, Ill
My debut clown was made at this time.
undertook to perform a clown, do feats of
strength. give sketches of negro character, sing
comic songs, drive four horse team and whip
three men dav average For all this l
was to receive $l5 month. This was very
little. but was SO delighted at the chance of
making my debut clown-which was my
! browning ambition-thatI would have done it
for nothing.
II continued there until the fall, my wages
rising progressed I arrived in Albany in
the fall of 1913. and performed in the old AM
phitheater there for $500 week.
SAT that time the late Hugh Hastings of the
Knickerbocker, made prediction that would
become the greatest clown in the world per-
formed in the Bowery Amphitheater with John
Tryon an old newspaper man. became engaged
by S. B. Howell. the richest circus in the
world, and gave performances in Palmer's
OperA-house, Ia Chambers street. aftarward
Burton's Theater. as the original clown with
Shaksperiau gestures
Several years ago gave MP the clownng
business and have been giving lectures. most 70
which for charity.
'sMy present business in New York is to con-
suit with my biograph er Myron j. Clark. who
is preparing history of my experiences. I
shall after short stay here go TO Mexico, where
have large landed estate and live there"
What do you think the b@st exercise for
the development Of your musclesa" the reporter
asked.
1.-THE best exercise is the horizontal bar. It
develops the entire physique and brings into
play every muscle Of the body. It combines
the best elements of all the exercises of the
present day.