Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1904-07-21
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furnish the thrills in CIR.
cuses. In this unique institution con-
tortionists are kept in training and
taught new tricks to make the public
hold its breath. Daring bareback
riders are put through their PAGES and
taught to do hair-raising turns. and
slack-wire and trapeze performers as
we'll As clowns and tumblers, are kept
in practice.
And the strangest part Of the whole
thing Is that the school is conducted
by woman. This woman is Mrs
Linda Jeal Julian. a bareback rider
and woman who has been in the cir.
Gus business for the past thirty.three
years. She has ridden around circus
rings in every country on the globe.
When she began her riding. nearly a
half century ago. the circus business
was not at its present height. 1t was
then sort of strolling business. sud
the people who followed it were for
the most part shiftless. and were
looked upon as people Of very little
account. But as other things began to
develop ana change for the better the
circus also became more important and
In many respects more respectable.
LINDA Jeal, as she is billed on the
Naming circus posters. has taught
many people how to ride i'm her time
and has amused thousands by her
1ests OF riding. And she still amuses
the people with her feats. for she has
gone out with Campbell Brothers show
this year and began riding recently
in Fairbury. Neb.
This school. which is presided over
by this quick-witted and businesslike
woman. Is unique. The average circus
performer is improvident. He is all
right when the sun shines the birds
sing and the sound Of the caIliope is I'm
the land.
de Is well fed. housed and happy
When the parades are winding through
the streets or the cities and towns and
the sound Of the brass bands is heard
IN the land. but when the cold blasts
biow. when the snow impedes the
progress Of the glittering wagons and
the animals are in winter quarters.
then the poor circus man is cb;,Iv
cold. comfortless and hungry.
ms hme or The year fnar ne
turns longing eye in the direction of
the Julian winter circus i'm Havana.
and IL he Is able to get transportation
he comes and spends the winter. Mrs.
Julian. who. by the way, is a widow.
runs big boarding house. Here.
about the long table in her dining
room. the contortionists. tumblers.
bareback riders. clowns and trapeze
performers gather at meal times TO
discuss what they have planned for the
future. talk over their new turns and
tell tales Of circus life.
Near the centre Of the town Mrs.
Julian has what is called the winter
CIRCUS. 1t Is big, red, barnlike struc.
ture. The inside Of this corrugated
iron building presents a sight to
gladden. the heart OF the average boy
and stir the blood Of the jaded amuse-
ment lover. There in the middle of the
place Is padded circus ring. Above
are all sorts OF trapeze bars. slack.
wires and all the paraphernalia used in
the most approved circus.
To one side there is a fine. comforta.
bic stable, i'm which live the seven
handsome horses belonging to Mrs.
Julian. Three nights each week dur
ing the winter months this place Is
filled with people from the town. tray-
eiing men and visitors. who go to look
on while the circus people try their
new tricks. The practice thus given
them before the public keeps them
in good shape. and Mrs. Julian is en-.
abled to pay expenses and keep her bic
family from want and the cold.
The big family disbands when sn-;no
hA
up their summer work. This year
some went away with Ringing Broth.
ers' show. some with Barnum. others
with Sells-Forepaugh. some with the
Gollmar Brothers circus and still 9th.
ers with the Robinson and the Camn.
bell aggregations. Next fall when the
circus days are over many Of them
VIII flock back TO Havana 10 find .
comfortable home.
With Mrs. Julian this year will III
three children known as tho JuIio,
children on the bill boards. Dajev
Chuckle and Fritz are the three. and
they are aged ten. nine and ceycn RI.
spectively. Fritz. the diminutive aero.
bat. Is a clown. I-c will mike r.,
and promises to become famors in t,,,s
line. Daley and Chuckic are acrobats.
They have been In the business FOR
four years. and are proficient. They
do some very clever and Caring tricks
and are great favorites.
Cne Of Mrs. Julian's nest famous
pupils ie Dallie Julian. now Mrs DaIIe
Ledeett. who was tho idol OF New
York circus lovers II Madison sauare
Garden year or 50 ego, where s.,e
did the daring fac.: somersault O,
horseback. there being but orc ether
woman In the world WIZ ever dared DO
this feat. Mrs. Lcdgett practIced her
famous trick here In Havana under tic
direction OF her au, Z. Mrs. Julian.
speaking OF her WORK. Mrs. Julian
says Il think tie work fascinating.
have been In II 50 long that IL reems