St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-08-11
THE CIRCUS IN ITS INFANCY.
"Reminiscences of the Circus Ring by a
Septuagenarian Clown.

I can sit down and lay both of my
heels on the back of my neck"
Then the speaker, Abram Tets
worth, proceeded to make his boast
good. He grasped his cowh1de boot
in one hand and slowly drew his foot
up and over his head until the foot
Ictually rested on the back of his
neck
An officer, noticing the condition
and the venerable appearance of the
tall old man, whose hair is white as
Snow and whose long white beard
makes him look like patriarch, con-
Guided to take him down to the po-
lice station for safe keeping during
the night. Here a reporter found
the queer old character
Il guess I've seen bout as much of
the world as the average man ever
sees in these days." said the old gen
tleman refectively after he had
showed the reporter his acrobatic
abilities. Il was stolen from my
home by Dan Rice's circus men and
staid with him seven years, and many
a time have [ run down the spring
board, taken a leap into the air and
turned three or four somersaults
over dozen horses placed side by
side.
Yes, l was stolen from my home,
continued the battered LOGGER Zone
day was playing by the roadside at
my fathers house in Marstown, n.
J. Looking down the road saw, to
my surprise, a tremendous string of
wagons and horses and animals. l
was wrestling with some of my
playmates, and being remarkably
strong I could toss them about like
puppets Well, the circus fellows
noticed it, and one of them got down
off the wagon, grabbed me and took
me right along with them. During
that summer [ acted as choreboy to
Dan Rice. [ got acquainted with all
his horses and in the coming winter
they put me into training for the
ring.
Il tell you, I could keep their
clowns level when I went into the
ring the following summer Many
times in my boyhood days used to
back our old mare up against a stone
wall and practice jumping on and off
her back. We clowns used to hunt
for dear life for all the odd stories
and jokes going, SO we could guy
the boys and girls who always at
tended the circus. It almost broke
me up trying to keep my stock Of
jokes and stories ready to use on the
spur Of the moment, twas so hard to
recollect them all.
For three years I rode in the ring
Dan Rice's famous horse, 'Philadel-
phia Flag 1t was the prettiest horse
1 ever saw, and SO strong and ugly
no one could handle him but myself.
But I've ridden that horse in the ring
and run him and licked him so hard
he'd actually squeal. I rode that
horse three successive years. l en-
joyed circus life immensely. When
was not performing I used to get
out a fine horse and go tearing around
town to create some excitement.
guess It's a good deal the same streak
to raise a muss that the cowboy gets
into. 1 used to ride along at break
neck speed, standing on my head on
the horse, then standing up on his
bare back or letting him go slower
and turn somersaults right up in the
air, and come down and light on his
back amid the yells of the delighted
villagers.
Dan Rice was one of the most
liberal men that ever was. When
ever wanted money 1 could go to
Dan and say, I want thirty or forty
dollars, and with voice like trum-
pet old Dan would say, You can
have it, sir-r-r' You could hear him
all over the circus tent. l earned
800 month, and at the end of the
month just as sure as lived I'd be
in debt
I'VE didn't have railroads and pal
ace cars in those days. We just had
to travel by night over muddy roads
from town to town. Travel all night
in the mud and rain, exhibit in the
afternoon and evening. Chicago
News.