Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1914-01-29
Richland Center Woman
Rises From Wheeled
Chair and Walks.

Chair and Walks.
In 1887, Mrs. II. s. Moran came to
Richland Center, bride. Six months
later, paralytic stroke made useless
her lower limb, while six years later
another stroke deprived her of all
feeling or motion in her right arm.
During all these years she has suf-
fered but held up under amazing for
tltude.
On Tuesday evening she atten lie
prayer meeting being wheeled in her
chair to the place of meeting.
She was suffering in an unus ia
manner and requested the minister to
pray for her, The minister and con-
~~~~A~@-@~-@~~~-N~~~-~
my brothers and started to give a
bIack-face show in neighboring towns.
We were hardly started when nv
good father arrived on the scene, the
second or third day, and took us home
using combination of sheer force
and persuasion of another kind. But
even though he took us home, he
couldn't get the "clrcus" out of our
systems, and in 1882 we started out in
earnest.
"'Our first performance was in the
j all yard in Baraboo. There are lots of
people who still remember that per-
formance, largely, L guess, because
the seats fell down and almost broke
up the show. OF course, it was only
small venture and had little to re-
commend it save the enthusiasm of
the performers.
" 'Oh, yes!'-he anticipated my
q 1estion-'we all performed in those
days, all five of us. One of US was
the ringmaster; another walked the
tight rope; another ate fire; one was q
clown; nay own act was Juggling and
rolling big cannon balls up and down
my arms and around nay neck. Some
say that's why I'r1 little stopped TO-
day.
".Did you have any animals then,
any menagerie?
Only three or four horses, a
monkey and O hyena-but this last
had more blood-curdling name. we
called him "grave-robbing mao-eat-
err" AS such he was a great success
and brought us lots of business.
"'This was in our "wagon-show
d8ys", he continued. 'We travelled
by wagons for six years before we be-
anne railroad show. In those times
one year was aoou9 like another, but
VIXEN we got On the railroads we be-
gan to grow rapidly
ST remarked that Mr.. Ringing
must have seen many changes take
place in the circus business.
"'Yes, indeedv he replied. and
when I think of the pioneers whose
names headed the "greatest shows on
earth" / began to feel like an old man
although I'm only sixty-four.' A
re miniscent look came into the kindly
eyes which look out from beneath
black, bushY eyebrows of marked con-
trast to the circus mans silver-gray
and close-cropped hair. 'Barnun1, of
course, has been dead a good many
years. His partner and successor,
Bailey, Is also dead, and we boys own
the Barnum & Bailey show. The
Forepaugh brothers are gone; so are
the Sells brothers. Their combined
shows belong to me individually.
There was time also when We con-
trolled the Buffalo Bill Wild West.
Come to think of 1t, I'm pretty near
the veteran Snowman today, although
I've got four younger brothers asso-
ciated with me in the business.
But Mr.. Ringing is not all business.
He has very companionable and hui
man side. He loves to fish and can
capture the most elusive bass or pick
erel when all other fishermen give
up and go home in disgust. He is a
man who loves men and whom men
love. In Baraboo, the town which
has seen him evolve from SMALL boy
holding spin shows" on a Saturday
afternoon to the greatest power in the
circus business in the world to-day.
he is universally respected. He has
built in the heart of thisl title
town a big stone mansion which
would house prince, and from this
house 10 man is ever turned away
hungry. Mr.. Ringing believes that
the toughest canvassman has helped
him make his shows a success, and
he never turns anyone away for fear
In so doing he might be guilty of
an Injustice to one of the innumer-
.r2le rous tabouts who for over 80 years
have helped make the name of Ring
liror known EhFouoboUt the world