The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-08

,.,,,,sI 10 attend q circus! just mug
.ays the Morning Advertiser. Dan
w., NV, one of the celebrated showmen OF
.,,s n,.t generation, tells the story, and
't.d Mr., yoaches for its truth. Uncle
u y',aiaI il still left to US, and to oil ap'
oranges is Just as vigorous as when in
lnriI 1850, he appeared in the circus
=, ,irg At Washington as the great Jester
md md clown" to staTtle and delight the
assembled statesmen. :,
The day had been set aside for Rlce's
,orc6t, and something out OF the ordi-
r,,y must be done. lie did it in an
~nrxnected manner. The members OF
ra,6 houses Of Congress, the heads OF
gsnartmcnts, the President and Cabinet,
oef .rorcs OF leading people in the 30
r;,i Iiie Of the Capital received elaDor-
81. t.a inyitations printed on satin for the
lift pprformance that day. Nearly
aor@rybody accepted the invitation, and
!, was generally supposed that the DTS
nj ATTN we're free passes to the snow.
Among the first to arrive at the tent
was Henry Clay, with party OF ladies.
III w. ealeral servant was in advance,
anl Tho sl,in invitations were present.
CI ne passes OF admission. =,
"IIow many in the partyT sternly
asked the doorkceper, who had been
drilled ior his post.
Twelve" answered the great leader,
tolemnly but coniidentaly.
Twelve dollarsw exclaimed the
doorman; "buy your tickets at the box
SGica" Dan Rice was behind the cam
w. looking through peephole and en-
loving the evident agitation OF Mr..
INV when, after fumbling in his peck
DIS, he was unable to find the necessary
amount. The practical joker had pro;
yiled Tor such emergencies, and had
nearby well known Washington
tradcsman Of that period with his
Tockets stuffed with silver dollars
Henry Claws embarrassment was re-
lcyei and his party passed in. lie re-
marked: an bet this is one OF Dams
tricks 1t was. :,
Lewis Cass, who came later, was dis
posca to be ugly, but neither he nor
others OF the distinguished statesmen
Lr,itated about taking the bridesmaids
money when necessary. 1t was q great
d1v for Dan, and q big success. Presi-
dent Zach Taylor was there; SO were
Daniel Webster, John G. Calhoun,
Stephen A. Douglas and scores OF others
who we're part OF the history OF that
epoch Of national life. That Dan was q
ligh roller is eyinced by the fact that
ratified oil fifty original verses Of local
hits, and everybody was scored, from
the austere President down to the pages
in Congress.
The same Dan Rice is with us to-day.
Nrile, iun-making, and US full OF ideas
about circuses as an egg is OF meat.
When he was met with the other day
"uncIe Dan" was actually figuring with
some capitalists for the production OF n
great circus, calculated TO make even
New Workers. stare. just what the en-
tcrprise Is nobody seems to know at
present. Rice won't tell.
An elderly gentleman who, as boy,
saw Dan Rice at the old American
Museum fifty years ago playing an en-.
gagcmcnt under p. I. Barnum's man
agemcnt as the young Hercules" said
yesterday that Rice owes it to the public
t9aHch0r right here in New York and
tcylvc the time.honored circus. "You
know said the gentleman, "that there
is, or ought TO be, vast difference be-
tween the city circus and one calculated
tOpleasea rural population. l know
that RCo's ideas as to what q circus for
New York should be are about correct." "
Dan Rice was performer in the
hing, a hOrseman, clown, n trainer, q
manager and q general nll-round circus
man Of wonderful resources. With all
the years OF experience his mind is
tIpe, his ideas mature, and he still be-
lievcs i'll the glories OF the circus. Re-
member that Rentz of Berlin and Sam
ger Of London came over here especially
in 1855 to see Dan Rice's ability as q
trainer ut Niblo's Garden, and pro-
nOunced him the greatest horseman and
trainer Of his time. uncle Dan" will
90 into the ring again, in his character
as clown and yGster. He knows what
the people want to see, and he has u
very keen knowledge OF how to cater to
The public with horse drama.
II there are any grandfathers living
To-day who saw Dan Rice's performance
with bis wonderful trained rhinoceros
Ut old Niblo's Garden, they can speak
by the card Of that startling exhibition.
ihiS was thirty.ihree years ago, but the
children OF those days have VIVID rec.
election OF seeing Rice flying around
The arena mounted upon the back OF the
leroclous.ooking beast, while the audi
Cnce held its breath. II was startling
novelty which had never been seen be.
lore or since.
Then there was Dams white trick
horse Excelsior" who could pose in
,"siatuary" tNblcaux. 1t made great
hit, and no doubt in the playbills OF the
day 1t was announced US "a perform.
atisc OF the most artistic and perfect
character" This was true, as hundreds
can attest.
The elephant, Laifah Rookh, came
upon the scene little later, and, under
We guidance OF this gifted trainer, was
made to perform on the tight rope,
greatly to the delight OF thousands.
why cannot New York be entertained
Oy something similar in these degeher-
awe days? Uucle Dan is ready and
wiling to create an exhibition, a winter
circus which would rival all the shows
o. me world. All this requires capital,
oUt Dan can show that such IN enter.
prise will pay handsomely.
me old man is sprightly rs school
GOV, and all Gotham may yet have a
enance OF seeing him whirl around the
ing drawn by kangaroos taught to leap,
Uot and dance us occasion requires, Just
v he did nearly half century ago.
now many OF US are there who remem-
.II. Dan Rce's Equestrian pageant"
!, ards mission to China" dthe Eng.
n. >