The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-09-27
THE "POL ONAlSlEN HERCULES"
How sCncle' John Robinson Compelled
Circux Giant 20 Attend to business.


Circus Giant 10 Attend to Business.
Uncle John Robinson, the veteran
Snowman, died recently in Cincinnati.
over 80 wears of age. He had been in
the circus business ever since he ran
away from his home in Utica. n. T.,
when q boy, to follow show. He
was brave, impetuous man, and
bad one to tackle in his best days, says
Texos .Siftings The following is his
relation of how he once disciplined the
giant of his circus, as he told 1t TO the
writer some years ago:
He was the most shif'less giant l
ever knew" said Uncle John in talking
about the "Polonaisien Hercules as
the giant was called. He didn't seem
to take no interest in his business. A
giant to be useful to show must be
sociable like with folks that come to
see him. He must shake hands, and
pat children on the head, tell how tall
he is, how much he weighs, how much
tobacco he chaws. whether he ever was
in love, and all that. But he wouldn't.
He wouldn't talk to nobody, and the
more the people crowded around to
look at him the crosser he got he
was a giant without particle of love
for his fellow-man."
Held himself above them, per-
hapsP"
s.Well, yes. three or four feet above
'em, | should say. He was a walking
monument, and what a feeder he was!
He got lazy toward the close of the
season. and wouldn't come down to
the canvas until he got good an ready.
This caused dissatisfaction, and some
folks said they didn't believe we had
any giant, anyway"
mo wonder you were put out. 4"
Anybody would be put out. | felt
like giving him good licking lots of
times, but somehow man hesitates
about tacklin' teller nine or ten feet
tall. But it had to GOMEZ
I'm what way?"
"I'll tell you. Ny giant took to
hard drinking. finally, aud slept away
in the afternoon instead of exhibiting
himself at the show. One day wasn't
feeling very good-natured, and, COM
ing down to the canvas in the after
noon, didn't see anything of Her
cules.
".Here you Rube,' l SEE to the boss
canvasman. where is that blank
giant?"
Drunk and asleep, upto the tavern,
SEE he.
".Well, I'll sleep him. SEE /. blank
his eyes, and, picking up a hardwood
board stave, started for the tavern on
a run You see, | was mad, for | was
carding him heavy, and paying him
| $50 week, and found
Drunk" we suggested.
That's it," said Uncle John with a
grin-''found drunk more'n half the
time. | was so mad that | forgot he
was giant. was only thinking of a
mans drawing big salary from a
! show and then not showing. / rushed
I'D to his room, and there he lay, fast
asleep, and snoring like fog-horn.'
How tail was that giant, Uncle
Johnp"
Nigh ten feet; but / was so mad l
| didn't think about his size. As he lay
| on the bed, face down, I brought
! that barrel-stave down on the broad
| portion of his corporosity and yelled:
You miserable, drunken, lazy, good
for-nothing blank giant, you git up
here or I'll pound your blank head
| off,
He jumped up quicker'n any giant
| you ever saw.
"'Now make tracks for the canvas,
seq l, as l gave him another ringing
| slap, that could have been heard four
! blocks away.
| with howl, he ran down-stair;
and into the street, and l close after
| him, fetching him a lick at every jump
| he made.
Get drunk, will you?" said l; 'and
| shirk your work?' and then | would
larrup him again. Lord! you ought
to've heard the people cheer when
brought my giant in the tent-rounded
him up, as it We're.
WAS he subdued?"
| "Subdued? Well, should say he
| was subdued. We were lust in TING
for the great spectacular piece entitled
"Samson, Captured by the Philis-
tines. in which he appeared as Sam
son, and he took his place as meek as
Moses. Before that he had made q
great deal of trouble in the piece, and
once he nearly killed the whole Philis-
tine army before he would surrender
| We had to enlist a new army almost
every night. But after that we had
no further trouble. | tell you, my
boy, you can't do nothin' with a giant
until you have whaled him at least
| once"