AN ASPIRANT FOR THE SAWDUST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5822, 26 November 1879, Page 3

AN ASPIRANT FOR THE SAWDUST.

The following story, apropos of the circus about to visit .Wellington, is told by the New Yorh Times:

The other evening at Denver, Col,, after the, performance of Ghiarini’s circus was over, a young man called on Ohiarini, 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 Oarson to see the show, 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." “Yon must leave off these bad habits. They weaken the muscles and paralyze the nerves. You can soon stop drinking, but .your salary will not be large until you overcome these tendencies. A little lemonade—circus lemonade—is all the performers drink. Gall at 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 Oarsonite went away, and was on hand the next morning.

Chiarini took him to a tent where three immense Bengal tigers were caged. Handing him a curry-comb and a pair of shears, he remarked :

“Your duties will be comparatively light at first. You will go into the cage and curry 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 tefile 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 belting him till he quiets down.” “ Haven't you got a vacancy in the art deparment ?” 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.