New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-09
THE CLOWN
A Vivid Story of a Happy, Hard
working, Useful Life.

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CLOWN.
AS Told to Isaac F. Marcosson. Illus
trated. 12mO, Up. xii. 102. Moffat.
Yard & Co
This brief and uncommonly interest
ing narrative closes with a sentiment
which might we'll have been placed upon
the title page-'1t is good to be Il
clown" Nr. Marcosson's modest friend.
Jules Turnour, has hardships TO relate.
but his is happy autobiography. and
this not simply because it embraces one
specific matter Of cheerfulness or an
other, but because there shines through
1t rare sweetness OF character. The
story is told. too. with a very winning
and sometimes touching simplicity. 1t is
an honest little book. which readers
who are interested in the homely Writ
ues Of humankind will not neglect.
Mr.. Tournour was fortunate in his
birth. He first saw the light in cir
Gus wagon, the child of an acrobat and
a dancer. Thenceforth he travelled with
the show managed by his parents until
at the age Of six, his thrifty French
father took him TO London and handed
ment, of transcendent Importance in his
life, is thus tersely described:
He and my father talked a long time
Every once In while l heard my name
mentioned. Finally the man came over to
me, picked me up in one hand Che WIS a
giant in strength), and flung me up in the
air. He caught me easily, and then let
father said: Jules. henceforth you are to
live with that man; He is to be your
father and teacher. Be a good boy" Then
he told me that had been apprenticed to
the Conrads, who were a famous acrobatic
family.
The Conrads proceeded to turn him
into a good cOntortionist One took him
by the arms and another by the feet
and bent him back and forth until some
times he thought he should die from
WEAKNESS and ache. When he wept
they would teer and say, only babies
cry. Be a man." The boy had pluck
and pulled himself through. Ten years
later his apprenticeship. during which
he had received not a cent OF pay came
to an end and he was at liberty. being
by this time a clever performer. to form
an acrobatic family" Of his own. He
earned now 800 a week, but after a
year of this prosperity he collapsed.
Repeated stays in hospital only left him
in his twentieth year Il face the fact
that his career as a contortionist was
ended. There is a quiet pathos about 1t.
He had gone through title lifetime of
pain and struggle and had had to admit
defeat. But there is no self-pity in his
story. That Is one Of its charms.
Beginning over again, with only the
world of the circus to explore for liv-
ing, he was presently advised by a
friendly ringmaster 10 try clowning."
and proceeded to study what he char
acterizes as "a serious and difficult bust
ness" The true clown is born. not
made. but there is much for him to
learn. For example. the ridiculous fall
which so often makes the children laugh
requires the most elaborate kind OF
preparation. 1T may look very easy"
he says ito take a tumble in the saw
dust. but ! assure you IL is only done
after long practice. Every step of IL
must be rehearsed. Unless the funny
fall is natural. II fails utterly" How
Mr. Turnour came to Practise tumbling
as an art, how he wandered far and
wide as a circus performer. how he saw
his mother again after many years. how
he fell in love and was cured. and how
all the time the fascination OF clowning
grew upon him, we leave the reader 10
find out for himself. We would note
further only the genuineness. the force
of character, the kindly feeling and the
essential dignity belonging TO this be
getter Of innocent mirth. 1t is good, he
SAYS. to be a clown. and we believe him.
for he shows us what true and helpful
life a clown may lead.