The record-union., 1898-06-09

dent of the United States, and since
he was qualified to swear allegiance
to "Old Glory" he has been citizen
He is as thorough and typical an Amer
lean as if he had not been born just
over the cousin line.'
From his earliest years he was an
athlete. In mere babyhood he had
athletic vigor, an athlete born, as 1t
We're, born into love for athletics and
equipped by nature with a constitution
and physique that fitted to the calling.
While yet beardless he became noted
for his strength and skill as a GYM
mast and attracted the attention of
New York managers. He was the first
American gymnast to do the double
sOmersault from the horizontal bars.
AS an all around performer in ath-
letics and gymnastics he was always in
demand, and never saw the day or the
hour when he could not command
lucrative engagement. The thirst for
travel was upon him as a boy, and it
enabled him as boy and man to see a
goodly part of the Western Hemis-
phere, and crafty a taste for lands
strange and new. But wherever he
went he wore the American colors, and
never for an instant failed to make his
intense patriotism and love for the
starry banner manifest. This earnest,
profound admiration for this country
was such as to distinguish him as the
American gymnast."
His first appearance was with the
Amory Bruce Company, a small affair
which he soon found too limited for his
work, and SO he took place with mana
gers who could crafty to the full his
highest athletic ambitions. He thus be-
came star" under some of the most
noted managers of the country, and as
an expert gymnast had the pick and
choice of the best engagements Offer
| ing. He won especial honors under the
Langrishe & Glenn Black Crook Com
pany, in which he was the star gym
mast and athlete.
He made his first appearance on the
Pacific Coast with that company, COM
ing to San Francisco and being billed
as the only man living who could do
the double piroutte. While in San
Francisco he created such a sensation
with this act that the Olympic Club of
that city paid him the exceptional COM
pliment of attending one of his per-
formances in a body out of especial ad
miration for the splendid feat He
went with Montgomery Queens circus
throughout Mexico South America and
Cuba. He visited Mexico also with Or
rim Bros circus as it's star gymnast.
He was identified at various times with
Sells Brothers and Adam Forpaugh's
establishments, and all other prominent
ring companies.
In 1874 he played first in Sacramento,
with Sells Brothers, we believe. His
many visits to California so impressed
him with the country that he resolved
to make this State his home, and he
settled in San Francisco permanently
in 1856. But he still adhered to his
line of business, and was four years
successful as Business Manager of Nc
Mahon'S circus, and went with that or
ganiZation to British Honduras and
, other distant parts. Returning finally
to his California home he resolved to
cease roaming. He fell in with Gus
tave Walter when he first started the
Orpheum business, and was engaged
by that far-seeing manager as his as
sistant in his expanding business IN
til this time he has been with the Or
pheum circuit always in the capacity
of manager When it was resolved to
add Sacramento to the circuit he was
chosen to manage here.
Now for the first time he proposes to
apply his experience and skill on his
own account, content to take what
comes and do all that can be done by
! one thoroughly familiar with mana
gerial tactics and difficulties, and per-
fectly at home in handling people of
the stage, whose peculiar and variable
moods he understands to perfection.
-ioh
tation for fair dealing. promptness,
openness of conduct, uprightness of
living, and strict business methods. He
is we'll liked here and has the confidence
and esteem of the business community,
while theater-goers of the city are pro-
fuse in their compliments upon his
methods and his labors to deserve COM
mendation.
He is the one manager of all we have
had who lives to the letter of the man
agerial maxim: That management is
best which is least seen in the aei of
| managing" Mr.. Clifton believes in this
as a gospel, and he is right. No one
who in the past year has attended at
| the Opera house but has noted the alb
| sence Of any appearance of manage
ment. The manager himself has never
| been pretentiouSly to the fore. Things
went on smoothly. orderly, with clock
work precision, but few could discover
| the hand upon the tller or were ever
! able to speak of the management as in
! front of the curtain.
Ii remains to be seen how Mr. Clifton
| Will succeed as manager of 'combi-
| nation house" here. If his scheme does
not work, it can be confidently set down
as truth that it will not be because of
| the man or for lack of skill or hard
| work. 1t will be because the city will
not support dramatic establishment,
and that we do not for one moment
| believe
TERRIBLY BURNED.