New-York tribune., 1903-04-20
4 CLOWN OF ESTATE.
Contract Will Keep Him in Sawdust De-
spite Calls of Ancestral Halls.

To inherit fortune. yet TO be forced 10 per
form arduous labor, in the course OF Whlch marc
knocks must become food for laughter; 10 eat
o. the hash of the multitude when one might dine
IN +he lamphrevs Of the few play the buffoon
TO dsport the motley to strain TO the utmost brain
and muscle in effort be ridiculous; TO be aughed
ct for being able TO do that which should cause
laughter-in short. to be clown Jester, in that
court OF the multitude. the circus, when one might
be prince Of his own household. waited on by
lackeys: even have, by right Of hire, clown OF
one own-for with sl50,00o one may have small
retfnUe-does it not indicate the double dealing. the
irony OF gifts from Pandora's box? inquiries and
answers with emphatic yes, Spader Johnson, clown
fl ordinary and Barnum & Bailey's circus.
Yes 10 call Spader a spader. he is a mirth-
ma ker for others while himself he sorrows. He
can see no fun in life. Vet must he be funny; a
pessiInst at neart, he must show a face of optim-
fsr7-nay more act that part. For, thinks he. as a
cornrade clown lambasts him with bladder or slap
stick as the sawdust Of the circus ring parches
his throat he offers his body to a donkey 5
kicks: Behold who am possessed Of Sl50,Oo0
and an estate in England, fool, who pranceth
after little dog whereon are stuck horns, shaking
a bandanna to his growls. in parody of bullfght
CORY. that children. young and grown up, may
laugh
why? wherefore?" he is asked. and his an
swer is. Contract"
Johnson. like clowns and many others, had a
grandfa ther resident in Hereford England. Thither
1ourneved the circus in 1899 and between perform
parent The chronicler who made known 70 the
press the glad tidings of Johnson's mingled good
and evil fortune does mention il, but is it pass
ing the realms OF probability to suppose that
spader did round dozen OF his funniest turns. and
so tfckIed and warmed the cookies of thar rela-
tive's heart that he said himself, He shall be
my heir?
Re that as IL may. last February while johnson
was Glowing In winter quarters at Bridgeport he
received from an English firm Of solicitors word
that he was legatee under the will OF Luke
Weathersby Of Hereford, and a request for proofs
oF his identity That il were difficult 10 do, for
Snader the clown, has Identities as many as his
Garments and By turns lean and fat. long and
short butcher, baker candlestick maker lawyer
doctor Indian chief and all the other ngures IN the
horoscope contained in the buttons OF child s
Jacket.
Nevertheless he sent proofs that he was Spader
Johnson clown legally and duly born Of legally and
S1[- ms rried parents one Of whom was the sOh oL
Luke Weathersby, of Hereford ,.,. s-o-
This being satisfactory, the solcltoIs Hlo4 - ~
The sole legatee; that the estate was VhIuec q
ga os0 exclusive of the personal properly "hoso
1-aiue was as a certain algebralc quantity -,
Legal difficulties being settled, they tolo nm,
.t1 setafa would be delivered to him, in one or
several lots whichever he wished. on MS dr'IFaA
il" Pat spaGer Johnson squire by right OF estate;
he's an ulexpred contract TO rum. or ron 70 ~
fniI in the sawdust ring. and he needs 1nust Ton
tIIi the contract expires and, Ike the gFahopaie''
in expiring leave legacy to MIN. =, o.. 90
Hence tears course down the panied Lace ,,ch ~
snader Johnson causing overtime work and S1uch
70 eVery bundle" says spader, In an out-of-
tbe-ring epigram ''is q string"