The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1892-08-13
THE CIRCUS IN ITS INFANCY.
"Reminiscences of the Circus Ring by v
Septuagenarian Clown.

Septuagenarian Clown.
Il was for seven years the head
clown in Dan Rice's circus, and al
though I am se%venty-nine years old
| 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 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 long white beard
makes him look like a patriarch, con-
cluded 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 ref1ectively after he had
showed the reporter his acrobatic
abilities. II was stolen from my
home by Dan Rice's circus men and
staid with him seven years, and many
a time have l run down the spring
board, taken a leap into the air and
turned three OF four somersaults
over a dozen horses placed side by
side.
Eyes, Twas stolen from my home, "
continued the battered ledger. Gone
day l was playing by the roadside at
my fathers house in MarstOwn, N.
j. Looking down the road I saw, to
my surprise, a tremendous string OF
wagons and horses and animals.
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 tC
Dan Rice. | got acquainted with al
his horses and in the coming winter
they put me into training for the
ring.
Il tell you, l could keep THEN
clowns level when l went into the
ring the following summer. Many
times in my boyhood days used t.
back our old mare up against a stone
wall and practice jumping on and of
her back. We clowns used to hun
for dear life for all the odd storle:
and Jokes going, SO we could guy
the boys and girls who always at
tended the circus. 1t almost brok'
me up trying to keep my stock O
Jokes and stories ready to use on thu
spur of the moment, twas SO hard t.
recOllect them all.
For three years | rode i'll the rim:
Dan Rice's famous horse, 'Philadel
phia Flag 1t was the prettiest hors'
[ ever saw, and so strong and ugl1
n o one could handle him but myself
But I've ridden that horse in the rim:
and run him and licked him so hare
he'd actually squeal. | rode tina
horse three successive years. | Ell
loved circus life immensely. Whel
| was not performing | used to &c
out fine horse and 90 tearing arOun'
town to create some excitement.
guess It's a good deal the same streal
to raise a muss that the cowboy get
into. | used to ride along at break
neck speed, standing On my head o.
the horse, then standing up on hi
bare back OF letting him go slowe
and turn somersaults right up in tn
air, and come down and light on hi
back amid the yells of the delighte
= villagers.
Dan Rice was one Of the mos
liberal men that eve vas WheI
, ever / wanted money | could go t
, Dan and say, I want thirty or.fort
, dollars and with a voice like a trun
l pet old Dan woua say, You ca
9 have it, sir-r-r.' You could hear hi1
all over the circus tent. | earne
=: 500 a month, and at the end Of tn
month just as sure as l lived I'd b
; in debt.
!, we didn't have railroads and pa
ace cars in those days. We just ha
to travel by night over muddy road
t from town to town. Travel all nigh
e in the mud and rain, exhibit in tn
afternoon and "--Chicag
News.