The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-09
HARDERWORK FOR THECLOWNS
THEY MUST ne FUNNY ALL BY
THEMSELVES NOWADAYS.


before. When Display No. II arrives they
are compelled to do their best in the arena.
with no acTobats OF equestTians TO attract
attention from their failure to be as funny
az they would like. Tody Hamilton de-
scibes this particular episode as Where
wisdom precipitates the advocates, and
folly IL boisterously enthroned.' This
means that every clown comes out and does
his funniest without help for the first time
since the circus was organized.
In the days OF the old fashioned one ring
circus the lady who jumIed through the
hoops rested while her painting fat backed
steed walked slowly around the ring TO get
hls breath back. II was then that the old
fashioned clown INDUCED in his quips with
the ringmaster until both the horse and the
lady were ready for further stunts. Then
with a sharp crack Of his whip the ring
master simultaneously ended the clowns
interlude and started up the refreshed
steed
The change is thus described in Tody
Hamilton's expressive phrases:
The Fools Paradlse-So much rivalry has
hitherto existed among the clowns OF the
show as TO which among them was endowed
With the least sense that the management
has kindly consented TO permit them TO take
entire possession OF the amphtheatre them
selves for a few minutes and has excluded all
other acts during the period the clowns are
IN view Of the spectators This s done in
ordlr that each and all OF the merry madoaps
may do just what he or they please. and the
only condition imposed upon them Is that
they get busy and do not delay the per-
foTmances. The question as TO which country
furnished the biggest fool among the motley
international gathering may be decided BY
the spectators themselves.
It Ia this new act which distresses the
clown 20 much. for these funny fellows
are as sensitiNe 10 the attitude Of the public
as II they we're prima donnas. When their
efforts are only moderately applauded they
are downcast enough TO weep; and the ne
cessity Of performing all by themselves
makes them doubly keen to please and get
the most applause.
There are thirty OF these fellows in the
circus this year and nearly every nation Is
represented. English and Americans pre-
dominate. because they seem to understand
best how to appeal TO American humor.
The effort Of every one Of these men il to
create some act which shall be as funny Is
Sam Watson and his bull fighting dog OF
Harry Wentworth with Buster Brown.
The winter task Of all the clowns IL to
think out something new for the ensuing
seabon. The circus mover reengages them
unleSs they have a new act.
The clowns are usually engaged in Au-
gust 10 begin work with the circus at the
opening Of the seaeon IN the following
spring. Their engagement requires them
10 arrange some new act.
al vIvho nd most
in demand are those who are able TO invent
ingenious stunts Most frequently.
somStiues their best laid plans 60 en-
taely awry Two men who work together
may think that they have planned something
which 10 going 10 be a roaring success.
They show It first when the circus opens
and II falls fat. Then they have TO begin
work again and invent something that will
smuss the public and incidentally show
the mana gers that they did not make a
mistake in engaging them.
There are various things that they must
take into consideration in making up an
act Of which the general public has no idea
For one thing. no single act in the circus
b allowed 10 last moro than eight minutes
Two years ago a clown who was engaged in
Europe for $50 a week explained over here
that his act took twenty minutes and could
not possibly be done in less time. His
expenses were paid back, and he drew
his salary for all the time he was over here.
Often the simplest acts create the greatest
amusement. Nothing causes more laughter
now than the dude with the camera who
stands in the arena during that period
between the time the SPECTATOR Wow the
freaks and the animals and the beginning
Of the circus performance. Most New
Workers are too blase 10 care about these
preliminary features Of the show, so they
miss this funny fellow.
He stands in the ring, and when he sees
. young man and his girl approaching
motions to them to pose while he makes q
picture He directs them 10 pose in diff
herent ways until ultimately they botf
stand with their heads away from the
to The other side Of the building TO foo
another couple In just the same way, while
the spectators roar with delight.
Another hit In a double sense was made
,bV the clown who used 10 hit his side partner
On the shoulder with an axe, driving m
Weapon down with such force that the
spectators almost shuddered. The ak
stuck In the mans shoulder, and the spec
tators reared. and even II everybody die
not know that there was a thick piece o.
wood there 10 receive the axe, there was a
least the satisfaction that nothing hap
Another successful act this year Ia th'
clown with his trained goose and the cbaJ
who, riding on a bicycle TO meet his col
leagues, takea a violent header while abou
thirty feet away from them, turns thre'
somersaults and lands smilingly in IN.
Oentre Of the group 10 shake hands with al
Of them.
The clowns never lack employment
When the season closes in December the,
can 20 to Mexico OF Central America VIII
a circus, or % ke 10 variety theatres, wher
their acts which are sometimes overlooke'
In the magnitude Of a circus programme
attract much more attention.
Some clowns earn enough 20 spend w
winter In retirement and few. OF then
always gather at Bridgeport, where the.
are able 20 practise every day In the grea
circus arena. Every year the personne
OF the clown army u changed BY the man
aEement IN order 10 insure novelty.
Experiments with women clowns Ie'
years ago did not prove success In
circus had three women Glow ne IN on
year and one Gfter the other gave up "
job In disgust. When finally Il was oe
cided TO give up the women clowns alto
getkeT the mana cement felt relief
Whether be aeens 10 be especially or
ferrous OF not, the average clown has 70 tax
lot Of puInmel ing and must throw ~
self about In very unrestratned tashl
Thia was quite impossible to women, 2