davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22
Where the Small Town Puts
New York to Shame

New York City has the honor Of having, in
Madison Square Garden, the worlds worst
dressing room accommodations. The circus peo-
pie that / met told me that they were all long
ing for the time when they would get out on the
road and play the small towns, where they
could have their comparatively commodious and
convenient tent in which to dress.
In the Garden they dress in large rooms
which are divided up into so many square
inches of floor space for each man. Whatever
room is left over after he has put his trunk
down, he is free TO stand on. As he usually
sits on his trunk, however, those extra three
square inches of floor space are just so much
velvet, and he may either use them for a garden
or rent them out to a neighbor.
And, incidentally, circus folk are just what
circus folk ought TO be. There was time, long
ago, when every one supposed that clown,
when he was not Glowing, was a merry, smil-
ing sort Of person, who tried to make things as
pleasant for his friends as he did for the audi
ence- And then some psycho-analyst came
along and said that clowns of-stage were very
gloomy, that they talked Ibsen, and that
clown, to be really clown, had to have nine or
ten children starving at home so that he could
be very detected just as soon as he came out of
the ring And every one proceeded to take up
with this theory, until it has become almost
truism that clown is a serious minded, dreary
sort of person in private life.
Such may be the case, but all the clowns that
l met struck me as being exceptionally CHEEKY
and just what you would want clown to be.
Buck Baker has chuckle and collection Of
personal anecdotes in which Ibsen or Maeter-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22
UNEASY IIFS THE HEAD THAT PLAYS A CLOWN
If You Can Jump Quick Enough and High Enough
1t Isn't Any More Hazardous than the Life ofa
SteebLejack Otherzvise You Had Better Go In for
Lion Tamiug, Where Your Feet Are ON the Ground
All the Time and You Can See Where You're Going

the stage door into Fourth Avenue when III.
reckless driver in question signaled 10 me.
IAN right" he said "Hop in, and rem.n.
Der all you have to do is hang on to the wheel
Well, hung on to the wheel Out Of u.
doors we shot, Baker and another clown IN
the front seat with me, and two others IN The
false tonneau, all shouting and waving at The
audience-except me. hung onto the wheel
and tried to act as if l thought was driving
the thing backward. hope that Mr.. Dillins-
ham or any other producer did not happen to
he there that night | wasn't up to my usual
form as an actor.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22
How a Narrow Stairway ma!
Have Saved a Valuable Life

It was too late, however. The time bad come
TO 90, for the band had changed its tune anu
by the music that the band is playing the per,
formers know at what stage the show Is an'
from that judge their cues.
"Come ahead!" he shouted, and dashed COW"
the stairs.
I pulled my tam-o' shanter close down over
nv head and followed. An explosion Is on'
an explosion, and, after all, perhaps mign' v
able to jump quick and high enough.
But as | reached the stairway l rean'''
that was exempted from service. Inerc' v
his ponderous way down, only two steps
front of me, was the Fat Man in pink usns'
The stairway to the dressing rooms IN w
Garden is wide enough only to let an enseiS'''
bow through comfortably, going one way
time. It was question whether or not - -
Fat Man could negotiate the passage ninse--'
to say nothing of my trying TO pass him. wv.
another step he went, and followed neA'
knows, did my best to make the act ! W.
as far as | could down the stairs NO i'-
could do more. ,.
heard the gong on the jitney-bus eians'
Some one yelled my name. But tnere az
waits in a circus. II you are not tnefe' y
act goes on without you. / was coanuns
that. And by the time my fat benefae'ol -.
had reached the third and fourth steps i, 80
the bottom respectively, had the disrn.' -.
of seeing the whole equipage rattle OUT - ~
doors. crash down the track, and nnal,
Mode with all the clowns jumping qu'eA
high. They did it very well, too. .n
NV explanations were accepted, but -.
guilty as accepted the solicitous suss mbi,e
of the rest Of the crew in cleaning 'ns 100.
from my face wouldn't have got II on, IA
ever. If hadn't accepted their sugges'iOAs .,;ll
fact | haven't got it all of yet. MY e'''
look pale.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22

inck are not once featured, and from Al Fer
rell and Harry Rose Zone of whom is dragged
IN a bathtub around the ring by a motorcycle,
both being known as "the speed kings of
cycling comedy, ! got several stories with
happy endings, quantity of laughs, and very
gracious attention in the matter of getting my
makeup off. They may have secret sorrows,
but they are not getting any pleasure out OF
them. They are most all of them athletes and
are in it because they like it.. You have to be
an athlete and you have to like it, to jump
quick and high from an exploding jitney-'bus.
In that one room there were enough nation
alities represented TO start peace conference
on the spot. German, French, Italian, all
blended in together in one conversational
chorus. The Spanish clown showed his neutral
ity by playing a mandolin to a guitar accom-
paniment while waiting for his act. Over in
another corner there was a photograph helping
the neighbors in that section to pass the hours
away until it should come time for them to take
part in the Greatest Show on Earth, which was
then going on below them.
Making up as a clown is easy enough when
there is little worry about the fit of the clothes.
did object to the, false feet, especially as they
laced up the back, but there wasn't much else
| could wear. AS Terrell remarked, being in
in another mans feet was something else. 1t
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22

gave two short, sharp laughs and licked my
lips, getting my mouth full of grease paint.
"Tet's see" said the newcomer, as he tied
back his hair so that it wouldn't get into MS
makeup. wasn't it that other fellow that came
in with us for one night that got his arm
broker"
| omitted the laugh this time, and simply
licked my lips, with the same result as before
Then. feeling that must show that / appre-
cated the humor of the thing, said something
very fiat, which, as remember it now, made
no sense was getting so that didn't give
darn lchat the audience at the circus looked
like from the ring. And my mouth was full OF
grease paint.
Then the Big Spectacular Parade was on and
the building resounded with the blare OF trum-
pets and the thunderous trampng OF elephants
and prancing horses. We went downstairs to
watch it.
As YOU sit in the circus and see these caval-
cades disappear between the doors under the
end of the arena you imagine place into which
they 90 which is at least as large as the Garden
itself. Anything smaller would seem to be I'M
possible as an anteroom. And yet it is room
about the size of a small hotel lobby and is
apparentlv in the widest disorder Baby car
riages, hoops, bells, wheels, everything stacked
I'D against the other in no evident scheme, leav-
irg a narrow pathway for such incidentals as
elephants. cames, wild horses, rampant motor
cycles automobiles with rabies, all to pass
through on their way to and from the arena.
II looks like big bedroom of a tremendous boy
who is planning to enter gigantic Institute OF
Technology in the fall
And vet it is needless TO say that everything
Is in its place and that there is room for every
one. still don't understand how it can be so,
but you'll have to take my word for it that 1t u.s.
Of course, a man can't lol about in the middle
of the passageway as he would in the front hall
at home, but no man would probably want to.
| made my debut in a very unostentatlous
way las l had always expressed wish to
have IT'D by trailing along in with bevy of
clowns and seating myself on the edge of a
stage in respondent attitude to watch the
proceedings | was made up to look sad, so
there was not even the effort of facial arrange
ment in this part of my work. And | had
plenty of time to observe the audience, which
had, at one time, been my chief aim of the
evening. My chief aim now was to get out OF
the Garden in a recognizable condition.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22
An Audience of Five Thousand
Makes One Feel Conspicuous

1t is, nevertheless, peculiar sensation to be
in a position where five thousand people can
look at you if they want to. AS matter OF
fact. don't suppose more than four in the au-
cience saw me, and two of those were there to
cheer me on and hold my watch. But, when
ever the crowd laughed at stunt that was
being executed in my vicinity felt that they
were laughing at me. | forgot for the time
that was made up as a clown, and was sure
that every one had spotted me and was laugh
ing at something that was wrong about my
clothes Perhaps had rip in my coat, or had
come out without any necktie. tried to argue
with myself that they were not laughing at me,
but at the act and that, anyway there could
be nothing wrong with my dress, for the reason
that there could be nothing particularly right
about it. either. But the laughter seemed so
distinctly personal that 1 was glad when the
whistle blew and trotted off the field with
the rest Of the team.
And then saw active service. The inven-
tive Baker and his cohorts were putting to-
gether his eccentric Ford, which runs backward
while going forward AS | stood watching, one
of the attendants came up to me, not Knowing
that was to be Bakers mechanician, and said
in an easy conversational tone:
THAT man Baker is going to get smashed up
some one of these days"
"Yes?" I asked, with assumed indifference.
"You bet. Why, he doesn't care how ne
drives that thing. The other night he came
yhizzing out this door and crashed ker-bung
into that post there; see it?"
saw it, and was just about to sneak out
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22
YOu Can Be a Clown If Your Mo-
fives Are High Enough

With motives as purely scientific and dlsin-
,sre~ted as these. it was not difficult for me TO
induce the circus authorities to let me dress up
rs clown and 90 on with the rest of the boys.
If a journalist may become Secretary Of
Navy extemporaneously, surely there is no rea-
son wbv one couldn't step into a clowns job on
short notice.
The question next arose as to what particular
pleasantly 1 could indulge in when 1 should
once get inside the arena with my makeup on
! know a couple of funny stories, but it would
hardly do to try to get them off at that time,
with all the noise going And certainly
wouldn't suggest their stopping the noise for
me to get off the funny stories. 1t would be too
risky. They might not go at all (you never
can tell what other people are going to think Is
funny, and besides, doubt very much If /
could have made myself heard in all corners Of
Madison Square Garden, especially as the point
TO the best story has 10 be whispered TO be
effective.
/ also have rather clever little thing that I
ear do with my first and second fingers, dress
ing them up with handkerchief SO that they
look like an old lady walking, but that, too,
lacked the smashing quality necessary to make
il q really successful circus stunt
So an Entertainment Committee meeting was
held. consisting of Buck Baker, the Thomas A
Edison of the clowns, and myself Mr.. Baker
devotes his time to inventing mechanical de-
4 vices which, by working the wrong way, VIII
make a success And when he has got his in
vention perfected, or unprotected, he whitens
up his face and rides it out into the tanbark-
II anybody could think of something for me to
do, he could
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22
A Man Needn't Be a Coward TO
Look Askance at an Explosion

said that l saw. also said that / was
afraid that l might do something wrong but
that excuse was beginning to sound weak, even
70 me. I suggested that it might be better for
a novice not to take part in any such elaborate
ensemble, that perhaps there would be less dan
ger in letting nre do something alone, such as
rake an imaginary garden, or even SIT, dong
nothing. watching the rest of the performers
with very detected air. In fact, | could think
of all kinds of good stunts, stunts which would
be at least inoffensive and which would, in ad-
dition, ensure me the probable permanent use
of both legs.
Ny mentor listened politely to all of my
craven proposals, and even suggested himself
that might ride the rubber bicycle contriv-
ance which goes certain distance and then
GETS discouraged and slumps, owing to most of
its important bars being made of rubber hose
This sounded like a good idea to me. Failing
from bicycle has its advantages over being
projected from an exploding jitney-bus or
even riding wildly backward around the ring IN
a drunken Ford. So pushed the rubber bicy-
Gle idea with enthusiasm.
Twas on hand early to be made up. had
terrible feeling that 1 was going to see very
little of the audience during this performance,
in spite of the fact that it was the audience
that was supposed to be taking particular note
of. Something told me that if l kept my eye on
myself and could answer present to myself at
all times during the evening, would be doing
remarkably well.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22

LMoST anything is likely to happen to
n man these days. Last night for IN
stance. I was a clown in Barnum
Baiey's circus If it isn't one thing It's an
other. as the fellow said
don't think that was very good clown l
get too silly when given free rein and whoie
arena to work in. But it was for only one
night. and there were lots Of other attractions
in the show, and if people didn't like the way !
clowned they could look at something else In
fact I think quite a number of them did avail
themselves of that alternative. To those VINO
might, however, have seen spark OF some
thing in my performance, may say that was
the one with the red tam-o'shanter, and the
cruel and unnatural feet. At one time drove
an automobile backward around the ring.
didn't take up clowning because felt IRE
sistiblv drawn to it as profession, or because
Of any family tradition. l simply wanted 10
500 what it felt like to be one of number
Of cvnosures of neighboring eyes, when the
neiehboring eyes happen to number somewhat
over eight thousand. Each year had watched
the clowns tread the sawdust trail around the
arena in the execution of their lawful business,
and wondered how it felt to them to have so
many people watching them at it. 1t would
seem TO be more conspicuous job even than
painting a fence in Madison Square or hoist
ing a safe into Broadway building.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22
The Experiences of Nervous Neobhyte Who Tried to
Get ClosCm's Impressions of the audience WhHe
Whissiue Blackboard around the Arena at 81 Miles
an Hour in an irresponsible Ford. ClO0nS Are
Cheerful When off Stage Because They Are Oft

tie act. 1t wasn't the act, however that was
worrying about.
or" he continued, you could sit in with me
in the Ford that runs backward. All you have
to do is sit tight and hang on to the dummy
wheel. and when the back of the automobile
drops off and we run over the cop, just hang
on and make believe you are driving. I'll be
doing the real driving backwards, see?"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22

wasn't so much that objected to their IN
anatomical appearance as the fact that they
were very large and clumsy, and still had IN
mind the fact that | was, later on in the show
to Jump quick and high, maneuvre which
would be practically impossible with these Gar
gantuan feet
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-22

not set themselves a more conspicuously
worthy service than the restoration of
the house of the great naturalist whose
name they bear. 1t is gratifying to re-
ceive additional and intimate informa-
ton about Audubon himself from one of
his descendants who actually knew him
in his life and habit. The letter follows:
In recent issue you published very appre-
ciative, and to me, interesting article on Audi
bon, and as one of his granddaughter, / wish
to thank you for it, and TO add, if you will per-
INIT me, one or two facts about the buried
drawings, for as such they must be regarded.
When the late Mrs. John j. Audubon disposed
of the drawings it was with the distinct under
standing that, in accordance with Audubon's
wishes, these drawings were to be kept in the
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-01-19
Mot GUILTY.

Friend" said the irascible man on
trolley car, I'D rather give YOU this
newspaper than have you reading it
over my shoulder" You do me an
injustice. sir" answered the passen-
ger behind him. Il have a cr;rnp in
my stomach that makes me lean over
this way. I'm not trying to read the
headlines in your darned old news
paper. "-Birmingham Age-Herald.
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-01-19
SOME THING INTERESTING
ABOUT PRODUCING CO.

When you see the Shriners' Minstrels
at the Orpheum Theater Monday and
Tuesday nights. you Will wonder how IL
was possible to perfect amateur talent
in so short a time; you VIII be surpris-
ed at the exactness with which all the
songs and dances are put over" the
footlights. and you viii be agreeably
surprised at the professional manner in
which the entire show goes from begin
ming TO end.
OF course. you viii think that il must
DE system of some sort and you Will
begin TO wonder all about what is be-
hind il; then possibly you won't either
You may not care anything about how
it all started, just as long as you are
getting satisfaction, but in either case
it win do YOU good TO know the why
and wherefore" Of it an.
The Bren Producing Company OF Chi
cago and Kansas City. who are stag
ing the show have four directors. name
~. Messrs. Geo. Stevens. Ralph Hamil-
ton. Charlie Sapp and Joe Bren. Mr..
Stevens or Mr.. Hamilton arrives about
a week or so ahead of the actual dates
of the show. organizes the talent which
tho committee in charge has assembled
for him. and shows them how TO get
started on the big medley. male and
ensemble numbers. as we'll as giving out
all of the different ballads and coon
songs which are to he listed as solos"
on the program. This is kept UP for a
few evenings. when It is time for Mr.
Stevens or Mr.. Hamilton to depart tor
the next show which the producing
company intends to stage In the mean
time, Messrs. Sapp and Bren have I'm
ished show in the last city of their
routine and come IN to take UP the work
where the advance director left Oft
Then the finishing rehearsals come on
and by the time the final stage rehearsal
is ready. every one is letter. perfect in
his part.
Then the day OF the show arrives:
the entire morning IS required to put
up the gorgeous scenic setting which
is termed the Minstrel First Part. .
and while Mr.. Bren is directing this
section OF the days work Mr. Sapp IS
busy trying on the magnificent costumes
in which the entire company viii ap-
pear that night. Eleven O'Clock comes
and the parade outfit is put on the per-
formers making them ready for the big
street pageant which generally starts
at noon. The afternoon sees a final
stage rehearsal. and then the. big show
IS ready to be presented for public in
spection and approval" Mr. Sapp sits
in the circle with the local talent. and
Mr.. Bren directs the orchestra from the
piano; they both appear in the second
part in different well arranged acts
and in the meantime. Director stevens
or Mr. Hamilton is some place else go
ing through the same story over and
over again.
The Bren company Law especial Stress
The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-01-19

ON their soIoists, - a. to make them Re-
semble as closely as possible. the pro-
fessional minstrel; everything goes
with a snap and when it comes time for
ballad the necessary harmony is there
to bring this sort Of song out in the
right manner
Wherever they have been this season
the Bren company has had marvellous
success. thus every member OF the audi
ence at Monday and Tuesday nights
shows can expect to see something
worth double the price Of admission
Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-12-21

IF that's the case the sooner you
are past the haa places the better. I'm
all right. Yea drift along"
Billy Louise specialized briefly upon
the note of calm authority in his voice
He did not know evidently that she
was more accustomed TO giving com.
mands than to obeying them. Her lips
gave little quiTk of amusement at his
mistake
"You go on. l don't want a guide"
He tilted his head peremptorily toward
the blurred trail ahead.
Billy Louise laughed little. She did
not feel in the least embarrassed now.
DO you never get what you don't
want?" she asked mildly. I'D lot
rather lead you past those places than
have you go over the edge" she said.
because nobody could get you up or
even go down and bury you decentIy
!: wouldn't be bit nice. It's much
simpler to keep you on top"
He said something. but Billy Louise
could not hear what it was. She sus.
Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-12-21
INA HMM
I'LL THE NY
LD9AluEu
'0WS NEED SOME MINERALS
Nnimals Unable to Utilize Sufficient
Amount From Ordinary Ration to
Support Body.

1t has been definitely proved that
ows which produce a heavy flow OF
milk are not able to utilize sufficient
mineral matter from the ordinary ra-
ION to maintain the proper quantity
II minerals in the body; In other
words, more of these mineral eIe-
nents are given off than the COW can
lbt''n from the ration, and the body
the COW is robbed of mineral ele-
nents TO supply the deficiency.
In addition to an ordinary ration.
me ounce of common salt per COW
iaily Is sufficient to maintain the
proper quantity of sodium and chic
Inc In cow producing 45 pounds OF
milk daily. An ordinary mixed ration
mpplies sufficient potassium for every
ieed of a hlgh-producing COW. The
clement calcium or lime appears to be
deficient In all cows except those with
vary low milk production.
The deficiency of minerals In the
alton had no apparent effect on the
AMOUNT or composition of the milk,
This fact proves that the deficiency
overcome, as far as possible. by
mineral elements taken from the body
VI the cow. While the nitrogen COM
pounds from alfalfa hay were slightly
more digestible than those from clover
nay, the nitrogen from clover was
equally as valuable, because 1t was
more completely utilized than the al.
talfa nitrogen. The quantities of nj
rogen utilized from clover and alfalfa
we're therefore practically the same.
Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-12-21

and learned that daddy still talked
about debts and interest and didn't
know where the money was coming
from she drove over again With npney
for the schooling. And again che ex-
tracted a promise of silence.
She did this for four years. and not
soul knew that it cost her anything in
the way of extra work and extra
harassment of mind. She bought more
cattle and cut more hay and went deep
er into debt, for as Billy Louise grew
older and prettier and more accustOm-
Ell to the ways of town she needed
more money, and the August gift grew
proportionately larger. The mother
was thankful beyond the point of ques-
tioning. An August without Marthy