The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-14
A CLOWN FOR FIVE MINUTES.
He Made "a Big "Hit" with Audience and
Manager, and IL Cost Him sSOO.


Manager, and IL Cost Him s8OO.
There sat In fashionable restaurant
one night recently man Of iron gray hair
and dignifed bearing, who, II appearances
could be relied upon, had never In his life
done anything ridiculous. He was so dig
nified that he was almost stately. Portly,
pink Of complexion and erect, he was a
picture of the gentleman of ease. And
yet this man at one period in his life was
a circus clown. Twenty-Five years ago he
lived in Norfolk. His father, a wealthy
Virginian, owned a steamboat and steam
boat line. To Norfolk one day came a cir
Gus. When IL had closed It's business, there
It engaged steamboat to take IL farther
south. The boat stopped at several places,
but everywhere. as they would say now,
the show was frost When the end Of
the water route was reached, the circus
owed the boat $500 and had not a dollar
TO pay. On the boat, 20 look after the in
terests Of the steamship company, was the
son Of the owner Of the line. lie tele-
graphed to his father, explaining the stu
alton.
LET the circus go on, was the answer,
"but 90 with it. Collect on account when
ever you can
So the young mantle same who, 25
years later, made so good an appearance
In fashionable New York restaurant
became a stroller with circus. He was
with Il TO make collection on account,
but there was nothing TO collect. Bust
ness got worse. everybody, even the would
be collector, went broke. and still the cir
Gus wandered on.
The young Nirginian, who was at first
regarded as n prosecuting demon, to make
himself less Objectionable TO the circus peo-
pie began to offer his services in various
ways. lie collected tickets, sold them and
made himself generally agreeable. One
evening in "a little town way down south
in Dixie "A clown fell i'll. IL was necessary
90 have two clowns, for one said all his
funny things 20 n second. a circus with
out "A clown is worse than "IIamlet" with
the sweet prince eliminated and so the
manager went to the young Nirginian.
You'll have To- be second clown to
night, he said. There will be nothing
for you 20 do Wen paint you, chalk you
and make you up"
So second clown the son Of Norfolk pre-
pared Co De.
The two clowns were accustomed "a
make their entrance by turning double
somersuult of a springboard, landing In
the ring. When the time came on that
evening, the Nirgnian made a sudden re-
solve. In his boyhood he had turned hand
springs and somersaults. lie would try II
again. The first clown-the real article
made his entrance in approved style. Then
came the substitute. lie ran ont boldly
on the board and sprnnR lie was shot
high into the afr. thrown over and over
aud came down with a terrific thud Fat on
his back Slowly he arose. staggering
weakly around the ring. on his face that
look Of comical agony which a man wear.
who has bad the wind knocked out OF
him. lie was greeted with a storm Of ap
plause The spectators thought that that
was bis part-fhat be- was trick clown
They shouted. clapped their hands and
howled with delight Painfully bowling
he staggered out of the ring and then
threw himself to the ground. gasping Z,
get back his breath Outside, iu the ring
the crowd was roaring for him % appeal
again The riugmaster came Co him.
"They re- crazy over you,' be said
"YouIl have Go 90 that again for them.
"My Cod Rronucd the new clown
elaspiug his stomach. lido th1t ngain'
Seo here. you owe az $500. Let me OF
from doing that again. aud Wen call Il
square. View York Tribune.