The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-07
N EN w o M EN
 A ND T HIN c s

I Some how like the old jokes best
 just as I am fondest of the olt
 hymns, and so it goes on even tc
 actors, for say what you may, ther,
 is certain charm in age in spit,
 of the allurements of youth.
 Whoever got tired of hearing Patt
 sing, or seeing Sara Bernhardt/ act;
 Where is the man who when lad
 came under the magnetic spell oi
 Barnum, the snowman, who has ever
 seen a circus to compare with the one he put on the road?
 Show me the individual who had
 the rare pleasure of seeing Dan Rice
 in his palmy days who will admit
 that any later clown was able to hold
 a candle in comparison with the in-
 inhitable wit and farceur whose name
 was a household word after the war
 and up into the eighties.
 All of which is but a prelude to
 saying that. fair week gives me a chance to renew acquaintances and enjoy friendships formed in past years with the men and women who from season to season entertain us with their clever performances and make us for the moment forget our cares and become children again. If woman has the right to change her name, why not a man, and par ticularly so if he happens to be in the show business? Last year I met a, gentleman behind the little dress ing room in front of the grandstand and was interested In him because he was the most level-headed man I had evere seen. He was the individual who could stand on his head and do nary people while standing on our feet
 He was billed as La Tour, the Worlds Greatest Head Balancer,'' and he was; but this year he comes with lot of new apparatus, but the same old original "level head" thought I recognized him as the only one of the bunch of last years bill. and soon found out that was right in spite of the fact that he was now playing under the stage name of La France Brothers, but still doing a head balancing act with a finish all It's own.
 But as remarkable as is his bal ancing stunts I would not be singlipg him out for a write-up were 1t not from the further fact that as man he is most interesting, and for this reason I am setting down here some details which may prove of interest as showing just how varied is the career of the professional who takes his turn in vaudeville, in an open air perforfhance or in the show ring.
 The real name or my irlenu IS France Reed, and he has a right to be in the show business, for his father and mother came of show stock His mother was the oldest daughter of Dan Rice, the famous clown and circus manager, whom. learned to know quite intimately in the latter years of his life when too old for the swifter, sawdust game took to the lecture platform and drifted to my home town of Eu- faula. where he spent month or two.
 France Reed. whom you see doing his head-balanclng act, is the grand son of Dan Rice. France for 20 years starred all over the world as a daring rider, following in the footsteps of his talented sire. His mind is checked full of inter esting events of men, women and things, for he has not only travelled in many strange lands. but has been a keen observer and Is good racon- teur.
 While the blood of a true snowman runs in his veins, and while there is a gypsy strain in his blood, for his life has been full of adventure he has the easy manners of a man or the world, and nothing of the profes- sional pose which too often spoiis those whose lives are lived out fore the public as entertainers. Heli be very much surprised to see th- appreciation. for he does not cour. publicity, but solaces himself by bet tering his act from year to year. which in the last analysis is the best reward which comes to true artist and he is one in his line.
 .AnuNzMNlAnntiH