Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-06

along about my first year Of Glowing, IN
1871 was in my dressing room, sticking q
peacock feather in my cap, the final detail Of
my costume, when a freckle-faced, square,
jawed kid peeked under the tent at me-" said
Bob" Sherwood smiling dreamily at the VIZ
sion. "A canvasman, catching him in the act.
booted him in under the tent. grabbed him
and held on to him. Then, joking I said:
"'I am going to take you into the main tent
and, for punishment. am going to make you
eat everything put before you and drink every
thing offered to YOU
THE kid was badly scared, not understand
ing the ways Of circus men. carried out my
threat and soon the boy was drinking red
pop, eating peanuts. popcorn and hot ginger
bread. He appeared to have an unfillabe va
carcy.
Then I asked his name.
Thomas Riley Marshall he replied. He
added that he was attending preparatory school.
1 gave him my New York address and asked
him to write to me. This he Gid all through
his school career, sending ME holiday cards
regularly.
once, in Indianapolis, when We were show
ing there. he called on me and we went up TO
the old Bates House together. We were Joined
Field, who was visiting Riley. Riley and Field
would write verses on the back of envelopes.
We would read them, laugh over them and then
toss them into the cuspidor. When realize
that now any manuscript Of Rileys sells as
high as from $4,000 to $4,000. I am Mortified
to think that We threw away millions OF those
boon companion days.
But back to the freckle- faced boy who dead
headed his way into the circus. He later be-
came Vice President of the United States. and
the last time saw him was when had dinner
with him on the piazza Of his home in WASH
ington. AS arose to leave he reminded me Of
the circus episode, and added
well, Bob, I have to thank you for the
: happiest and sickest day Of my entire career"
Royalty honored the Barnum clown when he
appeared before Queen Victoria of England and
Leopold of Belgium. 1t was during this Pc
Rod of his career that he made daring geS-
ture which greatly upset old "P. T"
The Barnum show was in London in 1888,
showing at the Olympia" explained Sherwood.
when we were notified of the royal familys
intention to attend, every one started to battle
and beautify themselves. Peeping places
at a premium All the performers were lined
up in the padroom and given instructions how
TO conduct themselves in the presence of roy
atty. We were warned not to get within 20
feet of the royal box to give a grand salaam
on entering and leaving the ring and never to
turn our backs toward the royal box.
Il was an acrobatic clown, and all went wei
until my appearance. Somewhere 1 had read
or heard that fools and testers were allowed
more liberties than other men. So boldly, I
walked within five or ten feet of the royal box,
rubbed my hands vigorously my clothes in
a gesture of cleaning them and then stuck
my hand out toward the Queen. smiling the
while as winsomely as could. The Queen, .
motherly looking woman, caught the humor Of
cd bar Uhi 7
touched lightly. Then. turning my back to
the royal box, committed thereby the worst
offense OF all. Before running into the ring
to do my act I breezily blew kiss, first to the
Queen, then to the audience
"Barnum, whose voice always thin and
piping, like a piccolo was furious. He said at
the close of my act:
Bob, you will not go on again.
"'Why not? asked. Didn't 1 make hit?
"'You surely did, he replied, but how do
know but what you'll ask her out to lunch?'"