The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-24

= showbills; and nef 3a pnotu TO-
TWENTY-FIVE cents apiece after her act
in the ring, were signed florence De
La Vielle' in an angular. school g1rnsn
hand: but her real name was Louise
Bolton.
She Joined Maddox & Lanes circus |
vear after 1 did. and remained with II |
eight months, but she attained fame
in that brief time. Although fortune
did not come to her from the circus, 1t
did come as q direct result Of her skill
in riding.
I have said in previous article that
Hesekiah Potter's exploit with the
lions seemed to me at the moment
the bravest deed had ever seen. But
his courage was based on Ignorance.
On the other hand. Lorence's feat was
performed with full knowledge of the
peril involved, 1t was as unselfsh as
It was daring, and the hundreds VINO
saw and applauded the act fully appre-
ciated it.
We were in Kentucky. the State
most noted for it's horses and horse
manship, when Louise Joined us. She
was not Lorence then; that was the
invention of Collins, the ringmaster'
and very proud he was Of 1t.
Her family had been small farmers
for many generations-with special
love for horses. But reverses had
come; her father died after q long ILL
ness, and with an invalid mother she
had been forced to seek a home in the
family Of close-fisted uncle. The
girl, who was in her nineteenth year
and exceptionally bright, although not
exactly pretty. was hidden to seek do
nestle service in the neighborins city
Of Maysville.
Louise walked to Maysville and our
circus arrived there that same morn
ing. An inspiration came to her when
sshe saw the white tents. She sought
the proprietOrs. resolved upon securing
an engagement as bareback rider II
modest boldness and determination
could bring it about.
MY dear young lady" said Mr.. Lane,
politely but rather patronizingly, this
is a circus, not riding school. Our
performers have to spend months and
even years in learning difficult feats
before we engage them. There would
be no time to teach you on the road
"Sir." Louise replied firmly, Il, too,
have been trained, though not in rid
ing school. When I was only so high
indicating the stature appropriate to
- babe in arms-'I could ride. and 1
have ridden ever since-that ts'-and
her lip quivered-'up to last spring,
when papa died and we were sold out.
Just give me q trial; will show you
what can do"
Il have no doubt that you are an ac'
a complisled horsewoman-most Ken
tucky ladies are-but we require much
more than that. You see
But Louise cut him short. II an
much more than that" she said. "Wny
broke Black Prince, that even papt
was afraid to ride! Please let me show
youl I'm sure I have all the essen
tials; the mere tricks l can learn"
rYou haven't got to learn self-con
'fidence, anyway" said Mr.. Maddox
smiling.
'There are reasons. sir, why mus
have self-contidence," she answered
soberly. 81 will convince you that
isn't mere conceit. Everybody know
something l suppose-has some spt
cialty, mean. Well riding is mine.
A quiet old ring-horse was brougf
around 1t was late in the forenoon
just after the street parade, and til
big tent contained only u handful {
circus people.
81 like your grit" Collins, the rim
master, whispered, as he tightened II
girths of the riding-pad. This hor
is safe; do your best"
She wore an ordinary walking DIRE
of light woolen goods. and did not eve
stop to remove her sailor hat 1 dou
If she had ever seen performil
pad before, and all the conditions We
new to her. To make a good showil
In such circumstances seemed impt
sible; but only her heightened col
showed that she was embarrassed
i'll at ease.
She waved me aside when l stepp
forward and offered to take her f(
and assist her to mount. With
spring she alighted on her knees on t
pad, and there she clung somehow,
Turks sit, while the old horse star,
round the ring in the familiar swingi
Iope.
Then followed an exhibition of r
ing that, in its way, was unequal
Urging the old white horse to a fas
pace, she rose to her feet and dane
about his back, maintaining her
ance as easily as if she had been VI
floor.
Suddenly she sprang lightly to
ground. The trained animal slackel
his pace. prepared to stop. but