The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-21

score or more OF men, lHpsL VI 'i'S'''
with boys OF their own are about 10
realize an ambition which no doubt fired
their hearts when they themselves had
much the Same aspirations as they ina
manifested in the youthful minds of the
lads who form part, OF their house
hold. In other words, the tables are to
he turned, and the fathers will dress IN
The garb of the clown and caper IN the
sawdust ring, while their sons, with envy
IN their hearts, sit on the benches and
witness the antics OF the respected head
Of the family. .
II was Mark Twain who said, speaking
~ .be bovs who lived In the quiet little
lown of st. Petersburg: When a circus
camc and went. It left us all burning TO
become clowns" There is no man living
toSdav nrobably who knows the boy, the
world over. as does the anthor ol 'n nr,
Juvenile classics. Tom sawyer anu
iJuckleberry Finn The boys love for the
c,rcus is almost second nature with
him. with some 1t fingers until the gray
hairs begin to tell that, except In their
hearts. they are boys no longer. EVeh
then the old love Is not altogether oeau.
and the brass band of the circus WI. W!
cause his pulse to quicken ana ne wiz
catch n little OF the fever that once
,hrobbed fl his veins. as tho white tents
with their gay banners flying IN the
breeze appear in the distance,
AZ the amateur circus to be given N
The Horse Show building on the after
noon and evening OF July 4th, the clown
Is to be given an opportunity TO regain
some of his lost glory. The features
ar thc old-time one-ring circus and those
~ tho modern three-ring show will be
pleasingly combined In the two exhfbi-
lions to be given on the national holiday.
When the big three-ring circus, With It's
elevated stage and hippodrome races
superseded the show which contented
itself with a single arena. and the in
PRODUCTION OF one act at time, the clown
ceased to be the parsonage who com
manded the most respect OF ms 1e,oM
performers, by reason Of the big salary
attached to his position and the prom1-
hence which was given him In the eXhibl-
tion, 1t was a lament of the closing
DAYS of the late Dan Rice that the pro-
fession of clownins wasn't what 1t used
TO be-" lot of beardless youths, he
said, whose hands and feet We're more
nimble than their tongues. had usurpea
the place once occupied by the clown
who could talk. and upon whose words
the whole audience hung.
The acrobatic clown and the talking
clown will each have an opportunity IN
the amateur circus. There are a score OF
the former and several of the latter,
The entertainment promises to be rs
clever as 1t will be unique, and as re-
MITE with acts that are really creditable
exhibitions as it will be with those which
: BRUCE cHEsTERMAN.
The Giffen Company Is dead:
after TIN performance last night, and
there will be no more Giffen companies
In Richmond henceforth forever.
Manager Gttfen pursued some very hish
ideals and IN the SPACE. OF -FOUR seasons
he lost IN the neghborhood of $4,000.
The energetic and enterprising young
city viii remember his achievements. and
the Giffen standard in theatrical affairs
will not soon be forgotten.
done 1 Gre' w vtr ' have nothing but The
best. His companions were always made up
of capable actors, and inhis productions he
went miles ahead of anything that had
been attempted before, He outrivaled and
outshone his competitors Mt every turn.
hut he poured money out like water, and
tho income was as nothing compared with
n larger field. The play-going public OF
this city Is too contracted an element or
too Indifferent an element, to warrant
any such expense as he undertook.
1t was a charming bit OF sentiment that
induced Mr.. Gffen to come to Richmond.
He has been, the pioneer in the stock COM
Denver. while demonstrating its feast
hility and It's worth, an example that
other managers were not slow to follow.
1t Is a fact that may or may not be
generally known: that Richmond, in the
good, old DAYS that the. old actors tell
us about, Nhasted..une of the best stock
companies in' america. Mr.. Glffen came
here to revive the stock company spirit,
and to. revive It on a scale of magnif-
oence that our forefathers never dreamed.
And he has, failed The fault was not
with Mr. Giffen, He did his best. and
ggaatyve US the best that was possible.
that he made. however Insignificant it
might have seemed that did not occupy
his most careful attention. People who
do. not understand the theatrical business
VIII be Very ready with suggestions that
might have made Mr.. Giffen's fortune,
but the young managers ideas, f they
were idealistic, were always artistic and
beautiful.
Tho king is dead: long 1--we the king"
and for Giffen desarted we have n
Dalton on the spot. The Dalton Stock
Company will fill out the summor at the
Academy. opening next Thursday night
with. East Lynne and following this
up the Monday afterwards with re-
ylyal OF Caste"