AN ASPIRANT FOR THE SAWDUST.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 359, 26 December 1879, Page 2

AN ASPIRANT FOR THE SAWDUST.

The following apropos of Chiarini's circus now in Christchurch, is told by the New York Times :—

The other evening at Denver, Col after the performance of Chiarini's circus was over, a young man called on Chiarini, and said he wanted to see him on private business. The old veteran took him into his office, and received him with his usual politeness. " I came up all the way from Carson to see the ahow, and I'd like to join," said the young man. " Oh, I see," said the circus man : " you are a well-formed, healthy looking young fellow, and I like to encourage such as you." The youth's face brightened. " You don't chew, smoke, or drink, I hope?" ■'■.... " Oh, no ; honor bright—except soda and beer."

" must leave off these bad habits. They weaken the muscles and paralyze the nerves. You can ebon stop drinking, but your salary will not be" largje until you overcome these tendencies. A little lemonade—circus lemonade-^is > all the performers drink.- .Call sit eleven o'clock, to-morrow morning, and I will see? what I can do. You mustn't expect over

fifty dollars. a week', though, at first. We never pay high salaries until we know just what a man can do."

The delighted Cdrsonite went away, and was on hand the next morning. Chiarini took* him to a tent where three immense Bengal tigers, were caged. Handing hi m a curry-comb and a pair of shears, he remarked :

" Your duties will' §c comparatively light at first. You will go into the cage and c rry the tigers down every morning, and about once -a week cut their claws ; keep 'em down pretty short, so that when they attack the lion tamer, Mr Wilson, they won't lacerate him much. Sometimes, but not more than once a month, you may have occasion to file their teeth. You just throw the animal on his back, and hold his head between your knees. If he acts rough, belt him in the nose a few times. Keep beltiag him till he quiets down."

" Haven't you got a vacancy in the art department ?" asked the young man from Carson.

-" Is art in your line ?" asked Chiarini, " Yes," drawled the young man. "In the circuses I've always run .with I was employed to paint the stripes on zebras. I killed so many tigers keeping 'em straight that the boss wouldn't let me handle 'em. He said I used 'em too rough."

Chiarini swears that the terror from Carson shall have the first vacancy.