Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1897-06-03
A Great Circus Rider.
"JIM" ROBINSON, OF BAREBACK
FAME, LIVES IN MEXICO, MO.
A Quiet Little Man of go Years Who
Looks no Older Than 40-He Could
TO Into the Ring ANY Day and
Sustain His Reputation.

Ia. m. hooges IN the kansas City star.
A "champion of the world'' in any
thing is an interesting person unde
almost any circumstances. He ma,
be the best sword swallower, the
champion egg eater or the foremost
prize fighter of his time, still tn,
crowd at large will stare at him anG
point him out to its children and fol
low him. The man who knows hin
personally speaks of him as "my
friend, the champion cigarette smok
err" or whatever he may happen tt
be, and in the light of reflected glory
is the hero of the hour. The man who
does not know him says nothing ant
turns green when his name is spoken
The man in Mexico, Mo-, who doel
not know "Jim" Robinson, the retired
champion bareback rider of the
world" is minus quantity. Likewise
the man in this broad land VINO has
not seen or heard of this wiry little
man, whose name for years was the
synonym for all the marvellous feats
that could be performed on the spinal
column of a running horse. And
though he has not ridden in public for
a number of years, he still guards the
title.
THE EX-CIRCUs MANS QUIET LIFE.
slim" Robinson, for as such he is
known to his friends, his neighbors
and his countrymen, is go years old.
He looks about 40. The daring feats
that he performed before breathless
audiences the world over have left no
traces of fear or excitement on his
face. Why should they? To him fear
was unknown, likewise excitement.
He was far more cool and collected in
the midst of double somersault off
the back of a flying horse than the
thousands who watched him and won
dered. 1t is said that once, when he
was riding before Queen Victoria, he
attempted difficult feat, new to him,
and instead of lighting on the horse's
back fell in the sawdust. Most men
would have given up. Not SO with
him. Waiting until his horse came
around again, he jumped ON and gave
such a performance as the greatest of
queens never saw before and perhaps
never will see again.
The plaudits of the populace, that
for nearly thirty years deafened him
nightly, echo only from the walls Of
the past. He now leads life of en-
joyment and ease, enviably quiet.
Liked by everyone, for his genial man
ner makes friends quite as much as
his daring feats won him admirers, he
is at once the most familiar and the
most unique figure to be seen daily on
the streets of the little city that has
produced more we'll known men than
any other of its size In the State.
STILL GOES TO cIRCUsEs.
Every morning when he is in Mexi-
CO, and that means nine months out
of the year, he walks down town and
waits for the st. Louis papers. His
favorite lettering place is shoe store
on the corner of the square. Here he
sits and smokes good cigar or two
and talks and jokes with his friends.
Once in a while some old circus story
delights those who have dropped in
to buy a pair of shoes or speak to him.
AS he tells it his sparkling eyes seem
to hold little more fire than usual,
and one can see small figure in gayly
colored tights, poised gracefully on a
beautiful horse that dashes on and on
until hearty laugh all round dispels
the vision. He never boasts of his
feats. A stranger might stay with
him a month and, unless someone
rendered the information that he was
the champion bareback rider of the
world, the stranger would never find
| it out.
But when q circus comes to townl
Well, what else could be expected
He is interested in it from the time
the first daub of paste is slapped on 6
bill board until the last tent stake il
pulled. He knows all the "boys'' an6
they know him. It's "Jim" and "Bip'
and "Bob." He goes to both perform
ances and his charming wife goes witt
him and as many others as he cares tt
| take, for the circus proprietor who
does not pass a dozen people in OF
| sJim' Robinson's face is no circus maj
/ at all.
HE MEETS OLD FRIENDS.
And how he does enjoy it! Not
continuous clapping of his hands, bu
a steady interest in everything, begin
ming with the clowns song, with cho
rus "by the entire aggregation of tai
ented artists" and ending with th'
announcement that "all who have
bought tickets for the concert viii
please take the reserved seats" jim
Robinson was circus man too long t.
stay to the "afterpiece."
The bareback riders recognize hin
and put on few fancy twirls as the.
pass his seat. Once in a while he nod
to some old friend. Once in a while b.
looks as If it were all he could do Il
keep his seat. The fickering glare o
the gasoline torches, the hum of ad
miring voices, the moaning of the ami
mails in the menagerie and the circu
music of the band, all take him bacl
to days when he rode as no one ha
| aince iared tn ride.
And could he do it again, now tina
he is so near the three score and ten
He says he could, and no man who ha
seen him doubts. bis statement.
wouldn't take many months practic
to pnt him on his throne once more.
HE DRIVES FAST TRoTTER.
OF course he is fond of horses. Sue
"auld acquaintance" could not be fol-
got, and he is the cynosure of all eye
as he rides down the street or aroun
,, the square on a spirited saddler, sii
! ting as straight as an arrow and tai
! ing the gait as il he and the horse wei
!, one. When he doesn't ride he drive
He has q 3-year-old trotter which
D the pride OF his existence. He thinl
il has the speed of Nancy Hanks
t though 1t hasn't, ,quite-and his frien'
q | delight In telling an incidsp +. ut hal