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From: <>
Subject: [PAMERCER-L] PART IV "The Amazing Dan Rice"
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 18:02:55 EDT

Hi Cousins;
Part IV
Dan Rices Circus was better than ever and the show was sold out to packed
audiences along the river every evening. Since the show played Hannibal, MO.,
it is generally presumed that Samuel "Mark Twain" Clemens used it as a model
when describing the circus in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: "All the time
that clown carried on it most killed the people. The ringmaster couldnt ever
say a word to him but he was back at him quick as a wink with the funniest
things a body ever said: and how he ever COULD think of so many of them, and
so sudden and so pat, was what I couldnt no way understand. Why I couldnt
a thought of them in a year."

Even though Dan was fiercely loved by his many fans his enemies hated him with
as equally a passion. Performances were interrupted by hecklers who didnt
agree with his Republican views as they hurled garbage and insults at him. The
clown became even more outspoken and this along with the threat of war caused
the attendance to wane forcing Dan to play in buildings only in the largest
cities. Audiences had more on their minds than the circus as the North and
South were becoming more divided.

Dans friendship in the South with Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee was
causing his Northern audiences to accuse him of siding with the Confederacy,
resulting in near riots during 1861 and 1862 but despite the controversy
Dans good friend Abe Lincoln managed to find time to come to the show when it
was appeared in a Washington, D.C. theater and visited with the jester
afterward. But in spite of this demonstration of diplomacy and vote of
confidence, Dans circus was not attracting the packed audiences it once did.
There were rumors that the North had seized a steamship from one of Rices
competitors and was using it as a floating hospital. Where was this country
headed? Where were Dans fans and what happened to all his famous friends
that were always there in the past toasting his success? Rice was soon
bankrupt and subsequently his wife left the broken clown.

After the war, the clown seemed to be regenerated and he quickly formed a new
circus packing the stands once again. During a visit to his new wifes
hometown Dan paid $35,000. to have a monument built to honor the fallen war
heroes. Dans popularity had returned and he seemed to be able to do no wrong,
but our clown made a very poor business move and entered a disastrous circus
association with Adam Forepaugh his friend and Girard neighbor. Dan was once
again financially ruined!

To be continued
Will Dans seesaw luck tip up again? Where is a talking pig when you need
him? Stay tuned

Sources:
1)"Two Hundred Years of the American Circus, from Aba-Daba to the Zavatta
Troupe" by Tom Ogden, Facts on File Publishing, New York USA
2) "Circus Heroes and Heroines" by Rhina Kirk, 1972, Hammond Inc., New York,
New York USA

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