St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-01

promises-for he had told his mother
he would not injure the plates-vague
forebodings Of maternal correction not
TO be despised. lotto Ringing with
his performing goat Rainbow" was next
announced. Rainbow stood on pedes-
tai with his front feet. then knelt down.
He behaved splendIdly until his trainer
made low obeisauce to the audience,
when, taking advantage of the latter's
DEFENsELEss POSITION,
he began to make a meal of the per-
formers blue trunks. The exit was
made in this manner and was certainly
more amusing than graceful.
The next number on the programme
was clown song by six-year-old john
ME Ringing. The song was Root Hog
Or DE-" The accompaniment was played
on the Jew's-harp. and the other SIX or
seven boys chimed Justify In with the
chorus. Charley Ringing next essayed
to ride the old Mexican pony. the same
pony that had been band team aud tri-
had constructed o riding pad with
boards and old bed blankets, and this
crude affair had been placed by means
OF ropes and cid straps upon the pony's
back. John Ringing played clown with
jokes pur1oined from Dan Rice, Dan
Costello and other famous testers of the
day. while Alfred manipulated the whip
and assumed the
CHEsTERFIELDIAN AIRS
or the ringmasters of that age. The
cellar door affair on the back Of the
pony kept inclining sideways, and was
as often beneath the horse as it was
afelu va ri
pony could not move faster than walk,
being familiar with so many IS fine
bridge signs, SO the numerous falls and
slips of the rider were not attended with
any miShaps. 1t was perhaps the best
act on the programme, because it Wae
the worst, a, parodoxieal expression, yet
absolutely true, for the entire perform
ance could only be appreciated from an
utterly ridiculous standpoint, SO far as
merit was concerned, and the rio; az
WAS certainly ridiculous. There were a
few other acts on the programme. such
as hanging on the knees from trapeZ6
bar and bending through a hoop.
All the boysi thoroughly an0inted
themselves with anglewurm oil for
weeks bsfors the event, for it was a
popular superstition with boys then, as
1t is with many small boy of today,
that circus performers used
LIMBER GREASE
to make themselves supple. This timber
grease was made by indlistriously dig
ging for angie worms, and after having
collected tin can full, frying them out
secretly on the mothers cook stove.
These first attempts at public en-
Treatment Of the five brothers were
the stepping stones OF their future
greatness. They were. in fact, an indi-
cation of the energy and push which
have characterized their efforts at
amusing In later years. They were not
mere boys play altar all, for they fore
Swallowed things to come. They were, ;
compared TO future developments, par.
allels to the boyh0od days OF Isaac
New ton, Bryant and others, who have
distinguished themselves in some par
tieular branch Of endeavor. They
showed an early aptitude and an
happier. This has been. and is still, the
AMBITION OBJ THEIR LIVES,
and every day finds them individually
and collectively following this inelina-
ton, which is constantly leading them
to higher efforts and nobler conquests,
and has been the grand secret of their
success. It has taken them to the pin
naele, and their effort need no longer
be to rise above the plane Of other
shows, for they have passed this stage,
but to see how much and how far they
can outstrip themselves. Today the
Ringing Brothers past is their only
rival. and it remains for them to COM
pete with records more brilliant than
amusement caterers ever before have
made"
AS the boys got littls older they con-
cluded to try their abilities as must
clans. It was not long before three of
the boys were playing in the village
band. while all were at odd times prac-
ticing at juggling. singing, dancing and
comedian work. Things went on In
this way until the five boys ranged in
age from fourteen to twenty three
years. Their ambition had not abatsd,
but they soon realized that they could
not for some time start a circus, both
on account of the lack of means and for
the want of parental consent. The boys
figured and
sCHEMED AND sCHEMED
and figured, but it was or no avail. 1t
took money 70 start circus, and ambi-
ton was their only capital. Finally
they hit upon the plan OF starting a con-
cert or specially company, and of play
ing in halls. To do this only required
few musical instruments. some trunks,
comedian clothes, wardrobe, tickets and
some bills, Besides. the boys believed
they could induce their parents to coH-
sent TO such an arrangement, as the
elder Ringing took great pride In the
musical requirements of his boys. Ac-
coreingly the boys set to work practicing
for this style of entertainment.
Within a short time they had gotten
up programme which, In their ANA
teur opinion, was going to be erfect
revelation in the musical comedy field
Their first audiences, howev er, seemed
to differ in opinion with them on this
point, and they soon realized that the
art of entertaining was not merely COM
posed OF few old jokes. some songs,
music and common acts, but that
PEOPLE DIES IRED NOVELTY
and excellence. Country papers did
hot hesitate TO say things. and to liber-
lily tell the boys shortcomings. 1t was
i matter of great surprise to them to
see how much unfavorable com ment
could injurs them.
The story ot their first performa nee
is best tot ov one OF the broth ers.
say, he: we had associated with us
q couple Of amateur young men. making
company OF six people. one OF my