The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-08-19
A WORLDS CHAMPION.
Jim Robinson Now Quietly Resld
inc In Mexico, Mo.

A good many people in this section
of the country will, no doubt, be in
terested to know where James Robin
son, the famous bareback riderthe
first of his kind is at the present time.
He will be remembered as the rider
with Sells Bros. show when it appear
ed in Redwood Falls the first time,
and as the person who attracted gen.
eral attention during that year as the
only bareback rider extant. The fol-
lowing newspaper clipping will give
the information wanted:
A champion of the world. in any
thing is an interesting person under
almost any circumstances, He may
be the best sword swallower, the cham
pion egg eater, or the foremost prize
fighter of his time, still the crowd at
large will stare at him and point him
out to it's children and follow him.
The man who knows him personally
speaks Of him as my friend the cham
champion" The man who does not
know him says nothing and turns
green when his name is spoken. The
man in Mexico, Mo-, who does not
know Jim Robinson, the retired
champion bareback rider of the
world" is a minus quantity. And,
though he he has not ridden in pub
lie for number of years, he still
guards the title.
Jim Robinson, for as such be 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 the breath
less audiences the world over have left
no traces af fear or excitement on his
face. Why should they? To him
fear was unknown, likewise excitement.
He now leads life of enjoyment and
ease, enviably quiet. Liked by every
one, for his genial manner 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 well-known men than any other
OF it's size in the State.
Every morning when he is in Mex
leo, 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 one corner of the square. Here he
sits and smokes a 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 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 gay
ly colored tights, poised gracefully on
beautiful horse that dashes on and
on until hearty laugh all around
dispels the vision. He never boasts
of his feats. A stranger might stay
with him month, and unless someone
rendered the information that he was
the champion bareback rider CT the
world the stranger would never find
it out But when a circus comes to
town! Well, what else could be ex-
pected? He is interested in it from
the time the first daub of paste is slap
ped on bill board until the last tent
stake is pulled. He knows all the
"boys" and they ALL know him. It's
"Jim" and "Bill'' and "Bob." He goes
to both performances, and his charm
ing wife goes with him, and as many
others as he cares to take, for the cir
Gus proprietor who would not pass a
dozen people in on Jim Robinson's
face is no circus man at all. And how
he does enjoy it! Not a continuous
clapping of his hands, but a steady
interest in everything, beginning with
the clowns song, with chorus "by the
entire aggregation of talented artists"
and ending with the announcement
that call who have bought tickets for
the concert will please take the reserv-
ed seats"
Jim Robinson was circus man too
long to stay to the "afterpiece." The
bareback riders recognize him and put
on few fancy twirls as they pass his
seat. Once in a while he mods to
some old friend. Often he looks as if
it we're all he could do to keep his
seat. The Pickering glare of the gas