Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-10

good cigar or two. and talks and jokes
with his friends. Once In awhile some
old circus story delights those who have
speak TO him. As he tells It his sparkling
eyes seem TO hold little more fire than
usual. and one can see 81 small hgurc III
gayiy colored tights, poised gracefully on
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 hin a moh,n'
and unless some one rendered inc IN
formation that he was the champion bare
back rider of the world, the. stranger
would never find 1t out. But when "A CIR
Gus comes 10 town. Well. what else
could be expected? lie is interested IN IN
is slapped on billboard until the last
tent stake Is pulled. He knows all me
boys" and they all know. him It's
Jim" and 'Bilf' and Bob ne zoe
to- both performances. and his charnins
wife goes with him. and as many others
as he cares TO take for the cile u.,
proprietor who would not pass u TO- en-
people I'm on Jim Robinsons race Is 10
circus-man at all. And how he does en-
10y H. Not continuous clapping OF ms
hands but "a steady interest IN every
thing, beginning with the clown > soI i
with chorus by the entire aggrf LIE, he
of talented artists and ending win lhe
announcement that "ali who have Doughl
tickets for the concert Will please TAKE
the reserved seats. TOO
Jim Robinson was a circus man mr.
Ions, m STAY 10 the "afterpiece." inc
bareback riders recognize him ana put
on a few fancy twirls as they pass hiS
seat. once In awhile he nods TO some oi a.
friend once in awhile ne looks % 81
were all he could do TO keep nus sSa'.
The flickering glare OF the gasolIhe
torches. the hum OF admiring voices, thc
moaning of the animals in the inendSeiiYIl
and the circus music or tne pdHu' o."
take him back to days when he rode as
no one has since dared TO ride. Ana coulu
he do IL again, now That he is so near inc
threescore and ten? lie says ne S ouie,
and no man who has seen MN uoupta
the statement. 1t wouldn't take many
months practice 10 put MN OH his 'iiio'
Mr. Robinson and his wife, who is
sister of William Gorham, one OF the
greatest riders of to-day, i've az lasn5,
iouable clearinghouse in Mexico, anu
spend their summers in the North. Mr.
Robinson rarely says anything al inc
long table, but during the recent cainpalsn
he could not always keep sun. ~ - - .
rabid gold-standard man. He cannot men,
tion Bryan's name without frownlng, anu
when he returned from the lakes aitet
the election he was so fuli OF JOY tiIa'
ne could not contain himself. HIS lIee-
silver friends hid from him when they
saw him coming for they did not WahI
TO face the teasing they knew wouid
come with him. m.
Robinson is a small man physically. His
hands are small anu - arc i4S 49,
every line of his face indicates that won
derful precision and will power that made
MIN great in his profession. a stubpy
mustache adds TO this impression he
reminds one of sinewy deer. He dresses
plainly and seldom wears any of the
splendid Jewels that were given him by
many of the crowned heads OF his day
and other admirers. dis trophies, when
are exceedingly handsome, are seldom
shown 10 any one. He cannot bear noto-
riety. In short, he is exactly the oppo-
site of what the average circus performer
wishes and strives to be. He is passion
ately fond of fishing Perhaps the bobbing
of the cork and the gay colors OF tne
fishes remind him of something now in
the past. Anyway, he is successful
angler.