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

shambled off beyond the wings. If we
were suffering from stage fright while
six OF us were on the stage at one time
you can imagine how we felt when we
had to 60 out and face the audience
''single-handed and alone" as the
Thsspians say. But we did it. One by
one we appeared in our several roles.
Talk about a soldiers feelings before
battle! IL caRnGt be comparison to a
real healthy feeling of stage fright.
Why, when came off after my so-ealied
act, my tongue and throat were aetu-
ally parched from the fever of excite
ment that was raging within me, and |
knew that l was only a sample of
half-dOZen other young fellows in
similar condition"
After another three months had
passed by in this way, the boys found
themselves in possession of over Sl00.
which, at that time, was a fortune.
They invested this amount in five
reAdy-made suits Of clothes Of the
Prince Albert style, aud accompanying
silk hats. The boys had by this time
gotten over much Of their
AMATEUR WAYS AND IDEAS,
and the natural strong family resem-
biance OF the youths. together with their
similarity In dress, made a decided i'm
preston everywhere.
The story concludes with a narrative
OF their meeting with Yankee Robinson
less than ten years ago. They con-
Guided all arrangement with this vet.
er an Snowman, combining their-the
Ringling-capital, consisting OF their
little outfit, with Old Yankees reputa-
tion, making combine of resources
unparalleled in the history of tented
exhibitions" So they started in the
81 n MI no ~ p..l Of
three horses, a tent that would not seat
more than 600 people, and a dozen
lumber wagons to which hired
teams were attache d. 1t was
with the hired teams that the
hardest trials Of the young Showmen
were experienced, for every time il
rained. or the wind blsw, or the
roads were bad, or the proprietor of one
of the teams had seen enough of the
country, he would quit, and
THE AMBITIOUS SHowMEN
would have to skirmish for some other
ruralist with pair of horses and an
ambition TO travel.
Their first serious blow was the death
OF their veteran associate. Old Yankee
Robinson did not live the first season
out. He had not taken any active part
in the management OF the show, but
stood back of the boys with counsel and
advice. His name on the bills
gave an air of establishment to
the little show, and his funny speeches
IN the ring previous to each performance
did much toward mitigating the
meagerness OF the performance. He
would always wind up his speech with
the following words: Ladies and
gentlemen! | am an old man. For
forty years / have rested my head upon
a strangers pillow. l have travelled
in every state OF the Union, and have
been associated with every Snowman
OF prominsnee in America. j will soon
pass to the arena OF life that knows no
ending. and when do want to die In
harness and connected with these
boys, and il l could have my dying
wish granted it would be that my
name should remain associated with
that of the Ringing Bros, for / can
tell yen that"-and here the old mans
voice would drop to prophetic tone
''ths Ringing Brothers are the future
showmen of America.
THEY ARE THE COMING MEN"
Although poor Old Robinson did not
live to see his premise come true. the
brothers demonstrated the veterans
correctness by constantly rising until
they became what he said they would,
namely. Americas representative show
managers and proprietors of the
World's Greatest Shows.
The first season of the Ringing
Bros circus experience ended with
the prospects of the brothers greatly
augmented, and they could see the
wonderful possibilities that lay before
them. Though all of them were not
yet cut of their teens. they were no
longer boys, for they had spent num-
Der of years in travel anu active oc-
cupa,ion, and they looked upon things
with the ideas and thoughts of men.
Ambition knows no limit, and no sooner
had the brothers acquired circus until