Year: 1872

Business.


From the New York Times.


The children of the ring are put
into training as soon as they can
| fairly walk, though in these days it
is not usual to see a boy of less than
five or six years introduced in pub
lie in the acrobatic business. In
the case Of equestrians, however,
the case is different-some ambi-
tious riders bring their offspring
before the public much younger
than this. For instance, little Alex
ander, the SON of Melville, the Aus
tralian, has ridden All act with his
father since he was twenty months
old, and has never yet met with an
accident more serious than happens
to any boy who "stubs his toe"
against stone.


The first acts in which the little
ones are allowed to appear before
an audience are what are technical
ly known as "acrobatic" or "pos-
turing" scenes. Those who watch
these performances carefully will
notice that the youngest ones Of the
party have very little to do, save to
stand in the proper position" and
receive an occasional toss from the
senior member of the group, which
toss or throw sometimes looks as if
very carelessly administered, but
which is in reality done with the
greatest care and >gentleness. In
fact, the modern system of teaching
the business by emulation, instead
of by threats and blows, makes the
youngsters SO ambitious that they
are ALWAYS begging to be taught
new "facts," and nine out Of ten Of
the trifling falls they get in the ring
are brought on by the attempt to
accomplish more than they are at
the time capable Of achieving. The
love of applause is born With us all,
and jealousy SO rankles in the baby
bosoms Of these spangled little ones,
that they would, if unchecked in
their mad career, often break their
tiny necks in trying to outdo each
other. To many an ambitious
youngster the greatest possible
known punishment, is being debar-
red the privilege of appearing with
his exultant companions in starred
and tinseled tinery, and exhibiting
his hard-earncd accomplishments to
the applauding multitude. Most OF
the children in the profession at
present are the offspring of perform
ers, who are not afraid to have
them taught the business, as the
teaching is now done. Formerly
many "circus actors," particularly
the mothers, would rather have laid
their little ones in their coffins than
see them brought up to the busi-
ness of their parents. Remember
ing the blows and stripes OF their
own apprenticeship, few mothers
could bear the thought of dying and
and leaving their tender babes ex-
posed to the brutality of which they
had themselves had such expert
encc. 1t was for this reason that
formerly many children were taken
as circus apprentices from aims
houses or from degraded parents,
in whom the love of rum had ex-
tinguished all sparks of parental
affection, and who would be consol-
ed by a few dollars for the loss OF
their too often unwelcome urchins.
These unfortunate youngsters were,
for the most part, "adopted" by ir.
responsible men, who, only too fire.
qucntly, instead Of properly teach
ing them the profession, would
discard them as soon as they out.
grew the "baby business" and leave
them to shift for themselves, while
they sought younger victims. Chill.
dren adopted out" in this manner
by greedy and selfish "poor-mas.
ters," were almost invariably treat.
ed in the most brutal manner, and
seldom failed to run away from
! tuCh m0oSUID 40 0OOu 40 0k0 6uu
experience had brought sufficient
intelligence and knowledge of the
world. Apprentices of this kind
are seldom taken now, though only
last week there was suit in one OF
our city courts, brought to recover,
not the child, but money damages,
from the commissioners If charities
and correction, for binding the in
fant of a lady to the circus business.
No cruelty to the little one was al
legged; it was simply a bare-faccd
attempt Of drunken woman, who
had deserted her boy and left it to
be taken care of by public charity,
to recover money frcm the guardi-
ans of the city's poor for doing the
best they knew for the lad. Happi-
ly the judge looked upon the mat
ter in its proper light, and the black
mailing plaintiff was sent out OF