The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-08-19

"REMINISCENCES OF THE CIRCUS
RING BY A SEPTUAGENARIAN
CLOWN.
81 was for seven years the head clown
in Dan Rice's circus, and although l am
seventy-nine years old 1 can sit down
and lay both of my heels on the back of
my neck"
Then the speaker, Abram Teitsworth,
proceeded to make his boast good. He
grasped his cowhide boot in one hand
and slowly drew his foot up and over his
head until the foot actually 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 white long beard makes him look
like patriarch, concluded to take him
down to the police station for safe keep
ing during the night. Here reporter
found the queer old character.
81 guess I've seen bout as much of
the world as the average man ever sees
in these days." said the old gentleman
reflectively after he had showed the re-
porter his acrobatic abilities. 81 was
stolen from my home by Dan Rice's
circus men and staid with him seven
years, and many time have run down
the springboard, taken leap into the air
and turned three or four somersaults
over a dozen horses placed side by
side.
Eyes, l was stolen from my home,"
continued the battered lodger. 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. was wrestling
with some of my playmates, and being
remarkably strong l 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 l acted as choreboy to Dan Rice.
l got acquainted with all his horses and
i'll the coming winter they put me into
training for the ring.
81 tell you, could keep their clowns
level when 1 went into the ring the fol-
lowing summer. Many times in my boy
hood days l used to back our old mare
up against 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 attended
the circus. 1t almost broke me up try
ing 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 rode in the ring Dan
Rice's famous horse, Philadelphia Flag
1t was the prettiest horse l 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.
rode that horse three successive years.
l enjoyed circus life immensely. When
l was not performing used to get out a
fine horse and go tearing around town to
create some excitement. | guess tits
good deal the same streak to raise muss
that the cowboy gets into. 1 used to
ride along at break-neck speed, standing
on my head on the horse, then standing
upon 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. Whenever wanted
money l could go to Dan and say, 4 want
thirty or forty dollars and with voice
like a trumpet old Dan would say, You
can have it, sir-r-r.' You could hear
him all over the circus tent. l earned
500 a month, and at the end of the
month Just as sure as l lived I'd be in
debt,
"We didn't have railroads and palace
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 even
ing."-ChicGgO NeiCS.