Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-16
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.
No yearly visitor to the Nation S
Capital has had a warmer welcome all
the way down the line from Washing
tons highest officialdom to its hum
blest citizen than the circus.
No less a person than the first Presi-
dent found the circus a delightful
amusement and honored one with his
presence in Philadelphia on April %,
1893 when that city was still the Cap
1tal.
This precedent established by Presi-
dent Washington was followed by John
Adams, his successor, and has been
upheld by nearly every Chief Execu-
tive since.
In the year 1857 Washington was
the scene Of thrilling contest between
two outstanding circus performers Of
the era. James Hernandez and James
Robinson. who were challenging each
other for the championship of the
world In circus horsemanship. The
victory was to belong to the rider who
could somersault the greatest number
OF times on the horses back once
around the ring. Robinson turned 20,
feat never since equaled, it is said
Another Robinson, John, caused a
sensation in here not long after the
Civil War by driving up to the Treas
ury Department in wagon literally
full with silver taken in admissions,
the result Of circus tour.
Congress Attended.
Upon one occasion Congress even
adjourned to attend q circus. Invita-
lions printed on satin had been ten
dered many Capital officials, some Of
whom responded in person. 1t is re-
corded that President Zachary Taylor
Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Steven
A. Douglas, Lewis Cass and John G.
Calhoun were among those who at
tended.
President Lincoln enjoyed . circus
a. Fundamentally as did his sons,
Tad and Robert.
One OF the stories which spread like
wildflre among the Civil War Presi-
dents political opponents was that
which had to do with the visit of
Judge Throckmorton of Massa chu-
sets, emissary from his State, to pro-
test placing Of Negro troops on bat
tie fronts. Upon his arrival he was
asked to wait few minutes while
the President terminated his visit
with Dan Rice, world famous circus
clown. Amazed, the irate Judge
blurted, Good heavens! Is it pos
sible that the President of the United
States permits himself to be closeted
with Clown"
Several years later President Lin
coin not only returned Rices call, but
so greatly enjoyed himself that he
sat on the edge Of trunk in the
dressing tent and snapped stories and
Jokes until nearly midnight.
President johnson also had an
experience in offending an important
political caller whose visit happened
to coincide with that Of Dan Rice.
Clowns and Papers.
It was during the impeachment
proceedings. The presidential Office
WAS then on the second floor of the
White House. Col John F. Tourney,
q controlling force in two newspapers,
the Washington Chronicle and the
Philadelphia Press, arriving at the
Executive Mansion for a meeting on
certain post office appointments,
found himself waiting in an ante
room while the laughter OF the Presi-
dent and Dan Rice met his indignant
eArs. He left in violent rage with
out waiting to see the President. His
two newspaper organs the following
morning carried abusive articles,
headlined, What Is the Matter at
the White House," The President
Closeted With Clown"
Phineas T. Barnum, first master of
the art OF ballyhoo, was another circus
director to regularly call at the White
House.
One Of his earliest humbug exploit
tationk was that Of Joice Heth, a COL
ored woman whom he declared to have
been the nurse OF George Washington
and thus over 146 years old at the time
Of her death. An autopsy performed
BY various members of the medical
profession. however, set her span Of
years not in excess OF 80.
Barnum was the first circus man to
present menagerie. hippodrome,
three rings and other features In one
big show.
Both the French and German
Army STATS. 1t is the circus claims,
detajlAd ofAcere IN st,,d,, p.r~,, .