The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-11-22
John Robinson's Giant.

Uncle" John Robinson, the veteran
Snowman, died recently in Cincinnati,
over eighty years of age. he had been
in the circus business ever since he ran
away from his home it Utica, N. Y,
when boy, to follow show. He was
a brave, impetuous man, and bad
one to tackle in his days. The following
is his relation of the way he once discip.
lined the giant of his circus, as he told it
some years ago to writer 10 Teaxas
&ftingss
"He was the most shiftless giant ever
knew" said Uncle John, in taking 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
shake hands, and pat children on the
head; tell how tall be is, how much he
weighs, how much tobacker he chews,
whether he was ever in love, and all shat.
But he wouldn't. He wouldn't talk to
nobody, and the more the people crowded
round to look at him the crosser he got.
He was giant without q particle of love
for his fellow.man."
HHeld himself above them, perhaps"
"Well, yes, three or four feet above ,em
I should say. He was walking monu.
ment, and what feeder be was He got
lazy toward the close of the season, and
wouldn't come down to the canvass until
he got good an ready. This caused dis
satisfaction, and some folks said they
did't believe we had any giant, anyway
"No wonder you were put out"
"Anybody would be put out. I 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 come"
"In what way 2"
"I'll tell you. My giant took to hard
drinking finally, and slept away the after
noon instead Of exhibiting himself at the
show. One day / wasn't feeling very
good.natured, and coming down to the
canvas in the afternoon didn't see any.
thing of Hercules.
"'Here, you Rube,' I SEE to the boss
canvassman, where is that blank giant 2
Drunk and asleep up to the tavern,
sez he.
"sWell, I'll sleep him. sez I, blank
his eyes + and picking up hard wood
board stave I started for the tavern on a
run. You see I was mad, for I was card
ing him heavy and paying fifty dollars
week and found"
Drunk ?" we suggested.
"That'sit," said Uncle John, with
grin-"f found drunk more'n half the time.
I was 80 mad that I forgot he was giant;
Twas only thinking of q mans drawing
big salary from a show and not showing.
]. rushed up. to his room, and there he
lay, fast asleep and snoring like a. fog
horn"
"How tall Was this giant, Uncle
John 2"
"Nigh ten feet; but I vas 80 mad I
did not think about his size. As he ay
on the bed, face down brought that bar.
rel stave down on the broad portion of
his corporosity and yelled, you misera.
BILE, drunken, lazy, good for-nothing
blank giant you, get up here, or I'll
pound your blank cad off +
"He jumped up quicker'n any giant
you ever saw.
Now make tracks for the canvas
isez I, as gave him another ringing slap
that coald have been heard four blocks
away.
"With howl, he ran down stairs and
into the street, / close after him, fetching
him lick at ever jump he made"
e.. Get drunk, will you." said /, and
shirk your work T. and then I would lar
rup him again. Lord ! you ought to We
heard the people cheer when brought
my giant in the tent-rounded him up
as it were
"Was he subdued 2"
fSubdued2 Well, Ishould say he was
subdued. We were just in time for the
great spectacular piece entitled Samson
captured by the Philistines,' in which he
appeared az; Samson, and he took his
place meek as Moses. Before that he
had made good deal of trouble in the
piece, and once he nearly killed the
whole Philistine army before he would
surrender. We had to enlist new army
almost every night But after that we
had no further. trouble. ] tell you, my
boy, you can't do nothin' with e giant
until you have whaled him at least
once"