The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-03-03
DAN RICE THE CLOWN.
Career Of the Famous Ring Joker Who
Began Life as a Stable Boy and Made
and Lost Three Fortunes.

NAAN -~'N SO ~
Dan Rice, the veteran clown, is dead
after lingering illness. He was -
years old.
Dan Rice's real name was Daniel
McLarin He was born in New York
city. His father, Daniel McLarin,
nicknamed the boy Dan Rice, after a
famous clown in Ireland After his
fathers death Dan. struck out for him.
self and made his way to Pittsburg,
where he was successfully stable boy,
race rider and hack driver. After
little time, under the name Of Dan Rice,
he achieved prominence, il not exactly
fame, as the owner and exhibitor Of a
learned pig, with which he and man
named Lindsay travelled through Penn
sylyania and neighboriug States. Rice
and Lindsay sang songs and danced,
but the pig was the principal attraction.
The death OF the star performer broke
up that show and he drifted out TO
Nauvoo, Ill where the Mormons then
were under Joseph Smiths leadership,
and remained with them for a time.
He returned to Pittsburg and went to
hack driving again He married there
his first wife, and went 20 New York
Ia 1874. making there his first appear
ance as a clown and negro song and
dance performer.
In the season of 1915 Dan travelled
with Seth B. Howes's circus Howes
billed and advertised Dan Rice more
extensively than any clown ever was
advertised before In this country. One
Of his advertising dodgers was to sup
ply Dan with a special carriage and
horses to take him through the country.
Az that time he was simply a good
trough knock about clown" in the
phraseology Of the ring, not quick to
catch points on the audience from the
ringmaster. and innocent Of any know
ledge OF Shakespeare.
During the summer Of 1S46 Rice was
a clown with Weloh's travelling sht W
in Canada, and in the succeeding year
he went to New Orleans, with his first
manager DR. Spaulding. At this time.
il is said. Mr.. Van Orden, a brother
in law Of DR.. Spaulding, took liking
to Dan and urged him to much-ueeded
mental improvement, supplying him
with Shakespeare, Byron and other
dramatic aud poetic works, aiding him
in making from them the selections on
which. he subsequently became known
as a "Shakespearean clown" and en-
couraging him in study. not only for
his professional purposes but for the
acquisition of general knowledge. After
a season or two Rice obtained an inter-
est with DR.. Spaulding and that CON-
nection was kept up until about 1850.
when they separated. In 1853 in con.
sequence of some legal proceedings in
stituted by Spaulding for recovery Of
payment for a show with which ne had
fitted Rice out couple Of years before.
Rice lost handsome farm which be
had acquired in Columbia county. N.
Y. Shortly after that Dan bought a
homestead in Girard, Pa.
By 1856 he had 80 far recovered from
the disaster which followed the sever
ance of his connection with Spaulding
that he was deemed wealthy man and
certainly was popular one wherever
he travelled. For he was a genial,
whole.souled fellow, kind and generous,
seeming to think nothing Of riches
more than as means to promote 6 o
happiness of all around him. Fortune
smiled upon him steadily up to 1860,
when there was separation between
him and his wife. Old shownmen said