Year: 1874

john Robinson, of Cincinnati, who is said to
have accumulated fortune of one million dol
lars in the circus business, ID who is known
to bel the owner of eighty buildings in thatcity,
is a character. He is over sixty years of
age, but is as sturdy as a well preserved young
ster of forty. His life has been one of hard
knocks, and the effect is manifested in an ex-
terror gruf and unpublished, and disposition
to use the profane elements of the English Ian
guage whenever opportunity offers. Original
ly an apprentice, he grew to manhood in an at
mosphere that would have proven fatal to one
less determined in purpose needless in morals
and sound constitution. He was part man
ager before he had reached his twenty-ffth
year, and for twenty years following he met
with alternate reverses and success of the most
decided character. Many a time he was COM
PEELED to work for living in occupations high
ly uncongenia to him but on such occasions
he saved his money, and as soon as be had
enough embarked again as n.arager, in whole
or in part, of travelling circus.


For ten or fifteen years preceding the war, he
had monopoly of the coun ry south of Mason
and Dixon's line. He played through those
States winter and summer, and was known to
whites and blacks through the whole section as
'Uncle john" In the fall of the year, he
would go to New York in person and purchase all
the posters, programmes, etc., that other shows
had on hand when closing the season He
would obtain the material at less than the cost
of the pa per, and would make the purchases of
one such visit last him in the advertising way
the entire year. In those days, circuses did
not advertise in the newspapers, nor have null
titudinous agents, nor travel on railroads as
they do now. Robinson himself would often
mount q horse and ride ten, fifteen or twenty
miles to the next "stand" while his show would
be exhibiting on plantation that distance in
the rear, to a crowd of delighted and apprecia-
tive blacks. Upon reaching the new place of
exhibition he would go to a negro cabin and
have a bucket of paste prepared for him.
Then, with the family scrubbing brush in. hand,
he would adorn neighboring fences and the in
terror of the ''tavern" with the two by six feet
posters that were originally struck off for other
shows. There was no such thing those days as
"billipg the country" or posting nine sheet
nesters ON boards especially built for that pur-
posi- 0fJen-e,...,,~- --.-----7--------i-i
horse, and would be compelled to do all work
on foot.


In this manner 'Uncle John" Robinson made
his money. For twenty five years past the
close of each season has witnessed an increase
of his wealth. The show is now in the hands
of his sous John and Gilbert, and they manage
it with liberalty that causes the old man to
hold up his hands in horror. He never inter
feres with the show unless 'the boys" get into
trouble If they want him to visit them on the
road, they have to cease telegraphing to him.
That will cause him to start without an extra
shirt to his back, and travel a thousand miles
without stopping, if the show be that far away.
As long as he receives word daily, however he
is content, no matter how alarming the dis
patches be.