The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-13
CIRCUS LIFE MORE
IDEAL THAN IT WAS
An Old Time Acrobat Says
Youths Are Not So
Cruelty Driven.

pretty easy tiule Oh IL uO"audys, sdlu
an old circus acrobat sojourning in
Chicago recently. when | began my
work a boy was treated like SO much
soft metal that had to be hammered
into shape. II he missed a trick he
usually got a cuff at the side Of the
head, and II he didn't pick up after
that that he sometimes was left with
black and blue marks. This is all
changed. and I am glad of IL. Young
sters In these days are coddled and
looked after like SO many tender
plants that would wither and split un-
der n stiff lake breeze.
~ was n German turner at the age
OF five and at the age of ten the bars
and trapeze were playthings for me
that made the old folks eyes stand
out with pleasure. When "a Snowman
came along and offered TO take me
with him my head nearly spun off its
pivot. The old folks were wild at the
idea, and II took a long time to talk
them into a belief that IL would be a
good thing for me to hook up with this
Snowman. who would be responsible
for me. think the old people were
brought around more by the thought
that I would run away II they didn't
consent, and that would make the fu-
ture a whole lot worse.
Starts with Circus.
well sir, don't think my mind ev-
or had so many pleasant pictures in 1t
rs at this time, when looking ahead at
tho imagined charms OF circus per-
formers career ! took to the work
like n duck takes to water. and, al
though ! saw a good deal of the old
fashioned method OF treating show
Juveniles. ! must say that ] was treat.
ed pretty well and had no great cause
for complaint. ! grew fast and strong
and took pride in accomplishing new
tricks.
Before ] was twenty-one ] married
and before long little ones came into
my care liked the work and began
20 think of making my boys profession
al acrobats. How to do this without
any OF the harshness of which ! had
been n witness and which was ira
dition OF the business made me think
good deal. ] got the boys interested
IN their work by telling them of the
great rewards success would bring
them and by winning their confidence.
"Thc confidence OF child is a Won
derful thing and will make them for.
get all fear. BY the old way of teach
ing them when boy made a slip he
got blow with stick as we'll as a
hard fall This would take the cour.
age out of man or beast. SO what
could you expect OF child? / tooA
Just the other course and used en-
couraging words.
"Of course, the great thing was to
avoid accidents, and I watched every
move and took every precaution TO
this end. When I took the little fel'
low on my shoulders and taught him
to standcrect while I reeled around
II I felt there was going to be a fall
forgot the wheel and myself and
everything to save the child. In this
way the little fellow learns that his
protectors eye Is ever open for him.
and for him only. and he gains conf
dence with every effort.
Mechanical Devices Used.
"In these days mechanical devices
are used to prevent accident. Al
though performers say II is better not
to make use of these. as they are apt
TO make the learner lean too much up
on outside aid. they are generally
found rugged up in training quarters
One of these Is called "A mechanic II
IL abody harness. which leaves the
arms and legs free. and from which 4
rope extends to pulley on the ceiling
thence along to another pulley. ant
down into the hands of "A strong ma
nipulator.
The first public exhibition repay.
the child for all the hard work ant
encouragement of the training. TIL,
music, the light. the enormous crowds
of attentive people and the applause
which comes after the best feats. sinl
into the Juvenile neature with deligh
too sweet for words. He feels that al
ter all the many months of hard worl
and tho dangers OF 1t. he has beer
able to do something which not onl,
lifts him above all those of his owl
age. but makes the grown people mar
vel.
Starts Bank Account.
1T makes the blood Jingle and max
cs future training for him a pastim
rather than n penance. and when h
opens "a little bank account of his ow,
and feels that he Is on the high roa
10 independence, IL not wealth. he |
thankful TO those who took so muc
interest In his behalf lie shows
more and more by the zeal Of his prat
ticc. From this time on. fathe
must look out sharply lest the enthu.
iastic youngstcr overtax his strenct
and grow stale. The boy now is fu
of steam and moves around as IL tn
world were an easy thing for him. II
IL u long way from one that has to b
driven to split wood or hoe in pots
TO patch.
"Of course. boys must study som,
but that after all is not the most in
portant thing. Give the boy goo,
strong body. and the study will com
easily enough later. and he will d
his studying better. Two or thre
hcrrs .ycrv morning INV lads mr.. n,