Evening star., 1924-10-06
F LO w E II S
For the Living
John Ringling
BY GEORGE AIDE.

These little articles, which are ap-
pearing from day to day under the
head of Flowers for the Living"
have concealed purpose. They are
not written with the selfish intent
OF hattering men and women who
have been successful. Mr. Common
People, reading these complimentary
pieces in his daily paper, might be
tempted to speak up and say: What
Is the idea of handing hothouse
roses to people who have already ac-
quired wealth and fame? Why give
medals to those who are already dec
orated?'
These tributes to our living notables
would have little value If they were
merely outbursts of fulsome praise
for those who have acquired money
or prominence. We who write about
our contemporaries are bound to
bring out several significant facts
One Is that the very large majority
of American men and women who
have advanced to places of RESPONSE
bility and who control wealth or
power started from out of the way
places on the map, were born of par
ents who could not boast of riches
or social eminence, and, therefore,
are living proofs Of the fact that
America is still the land of oppor-
tunity.
Some discouraged soul will speak
up and say: 1T is true that our
present crop of celebrities came up
from humble walks, but conditions
nave changed. The young man of
To-Day hasn't the chances that the
older fellows had 30.or 40 years ago"
ha
every rising generation during the
last 1000 years. Nevertheless, and
you may depend upon it, the financial
magnates. the railway kings the COL
lege presidents, the popular authors,
the influential statesman. the famous
composers of music, the merchant
princes, the leaders among women
and the whole assembly of brains and
culture ruling our domain in 1860
VIII be the boys and girls who are
now fighting their way through the
lower grades of the public schools
unoer the guidance of parents who
can endoW their children with very
ilttle except character, common sense
and ambition.
Perhaps these articles we are writ
ing Will have big value if indulgent
parents can be shown that our sue
cessful and useful citizens are those
W inv uiu not InneTlt money.
While i have been writing this es-
say my old friend John Ringling has
been standing in the vestibule wait
ing TO be introduced. | was led into
writing the high brow stuff about
opportunity when l began to think
about John Ringing and his broth
ers-Al, Alf, Otto and Charles. To INV
notion they have been benefactors of
the noblest sort. They have brought
more happiness to the American peo-
pie than any five preachers that ever
llVed. They found the show business
In the hands of vagabonds and put it
into the hands of gentlemen. They
started with nothing whatsoever in a
little town up in Wisconsin and be-
came the circus kings of the world by
adopting and observing the simple
rule that it is better to be straight
than to be crooked
over twenty years ago. acting upon
suggestion made to me by (whom
do You think?) William Dean How
ellis. / went travelling for several
weeks with the big show owned by
the Ringing boys. Since then AL and
Alf and Otto have passed on, but
when / travelled through the dark belt
of the South with the circus all of
the brothers were alive and very
much in action. All of them were
the old days was a loud and cursing
vulgarian. The Ringing boys were
quiet, reserved, courteous and kindly
They would not tolerate an empioye
who was impoiite or dishonest In
every town they made host of
friends. They won a spectacular sue
cess simply by being decent and
friendly and, of course, giving
mighty good show on the side.
They had the work divided up and
every brother handled his duties
without any suggestions or criticisms
from the others. Al had charge of
the performance under the big top
Otto handled the money. Aft was the
hand-shaker, greeter and all-round
entertainer Charley directed the ad-
vance publicity. John attended to
transportation and made all of the
contracts with railways.
He knows every foot of track on
the, continent. He moves the greatest
show on earth all over the map with
out a hitch or d mishap. And he is
still diffident and smiling and gem
uine. as he was up in Baraboo, Wis,
the year that he and the other boys
put on their first hall show for the
| lumber jacks.
| Copyright. 1924 by the Bell Syndicate, Inc. }