Omaha daily bee., 1908-04-05
GLOWING NOT WHAT IT WAS
Modern Circus Ring Entirely Too Big
to Talk In.
NEW METHODS ARE NOW USED
Must He Action, Hard and Quick, IL
You Are Going TO Make People
LauEh-Interview with a
Bunch of Clowns.

buhch ol NAoWhbs
NEW YORK, April 4.-Many of the cos
tunes that the Barnum & Bailey clowns
offer for the inspection of the people who
come to them are worthy of special
mention. They are the very last cry in
things sartoral, and II Broadway does not
copy then, WELL it's loss to the world of
the Great White Way, that is ALL Here's
a chance to get away from the rule Of the
conventional.
One of these outfits has a waistcoat of
large plaids. 1t is worn with a coat of
elephants breath that has short bobby
tails wired to give the required nonchalant
air. The trousers are modestly high and
only exhibit four inches of snow white hose.
A long, light wig lends distinction. The
shoes are of the flapping kind. Color, hay.
frock coat of the vintage of 1912 is
worn with dark red sweater, champagne
colored stockings and no shoes. mule,
heavily beled. should accompany wearer.
With a swallowtail cut to half the usual
length at the back, a bright red necktie
with flowing ends is very effective This
should enclose collar with six inch points.
built so as to hold the head very erect
Large loose shoes that beat time with the
walk and visible stockings are worn.
Thin white batste with many frills Red
belt drawn taut over expansive waist girth,
black stockings, flap shoes, small linen
cap set flrtatiously on the side of riotous
yellow curls.
policeman's coat is worn over tip
tilted hustle and shoulder pads. 1t has
three rows of buttons down the front the
middle row very small blase flower on
left breast gives a Paquinlke air. A clay
pipe and whskers are absolutely indes-
pensible.
With the radiance of this accumulation
of fashions and folly in the eyes, It is hard
to realize that the rows of men who sit
silently in the press room after the circus
is over are the very ones who few min
utes before Haunted their magnificence be-
fore thousands of spectators All the white
zinc and grease paint has been washed
OFT, and the prismatic attire replaced by
the common, ordinary Madison Square Gar
den kind of business suit, little the worse
for wear in few instances showing the
storm and stress of life on the road
There is not the slightest attempt to get
away from the current mode. Everything
is rigidly conventional and correct. Each
one of them has clean shave a shoe
shine and immaculate linen
There are fat men and thin men old
men and young, those experienced in circus
ways and those to whom life has still
something to offer besides weekly salary
and problematic engagement for next
season. But the cheerful ease of the ring
Is replaced by what in circus talk is called
sawdust fright.
1t is caused by the unusual experience
of being interviewed. All the merry ouins
and cranks with which people ordinarily
associate the genus clown are gone. They
sit on the extreme edges of their chairs
and wait for each other TO speak When
one ventures, after explanatory cough. the
rest admire and envy his eIoquence and
self-possession.
IF we'd only known about it two days
ago" one of them confesses. wed had a
chance to think up something to say. Lord,
lady, we've got stories enough Some of
uss been more'n forty years in the clown
ing business. But you can't think of stories
right off the bat, begging your pardon. this
way"
Then they introduce themselves and each
other
Lady, I'm the policeman, the jockey and
the ballet girl
I'm the man with the long rope and the
short dog. My! but / thought he'd bite
my ankles today, exposed as they be-"
I'm the one whose feet flap the most"
I'm Foolish Ford In my contract it
says that can come and go ad lib"
Il call myself the most absurd, ridiculous
individual in the world. abounding in
melody, mirth and madness. Then when
people say rm so bad I'm good 1 don't
have to make apologies. / just point to
my explanation that's written in the
posters"
I'm the man that's got sort OF cousin
on Park Row who gets all his funny ideas
from me-"
Others content themselves with merely
saying names, Austin Walsh, Arthur Bo
rella, Fred Egener. Stanley. Baker, Gerome
Bannack, Aclley, Clemens.
The tall man who is looking for some
pictures of himself In the press album con-
tinues the apologies for being unprepared
I'VE ought to have written the story
ourselves" he adds. land given il to Won
to fix 1t up II you think it needed it, We're
great on monologues. We could have done
you some corNin' ones II we'd only known.
Next year il we're with the show and YOU
want us to-"
The rows nod approval.
lis Il to be a long story" another ven
lures, "Or a short one?" They all lean
forward for the reply.
'oh, long one with pictures"
They are visibly more interested. One or
two prod the others to speak 60 long.
Ford; you Oughter TO have a heap o. things
a say"
What's the matter with you, Arthur
Borella2 Tight as a wad."
Look at Freddie Egener over there.
eanah : a clam. He's got enough to CAB
about IN the Clowns alley when we waot
HIM to shut un"
~oh. Austin's going TO chirp Don't be
afraid Welsh It's all right Lady won't