1904 WELLS HAWKS. Tales of the Circus - Barnum & Bailey & Ringling Brothers. Autographed!

Wells Hawks was a longtime press-agent in the early 1900's. He publicized Maude Adams and Ethel Barrymore, and popularized Mary Pickford's nickname: "America's Sweetheart." But he is best remembered for his superbly witty stories from his days as a Carny working with a traveling circus and as a reporter on all their doings at the Hippodrome.

Variety for 1909 has the following notice regarding a fraternal order of clowns that was apparently in the marking, "A national organization is being organized by the circus clowns of the country. The first step was a meeting of the Hippodrome funmakers, under the leadership of Marceline, held in the Hippodrome dressing rooms a few days ago. The purpose of the association is not protection, but social. The following committee was appointed to carry the movement further: Marceline, George Holland, James R. Adams, Clyde Powers and Frank Hansen, of the Hippodrome; Al Miaco and George Hartzell, of the Ringling Bros.' Circus, and Spader Johnson and Fred De Voe, of the Barnum-Bailey organization. Wells Hawks, the public disseminator of "The Hip," furnishes the information.

A scarce title, and here very finely inscribed from the author as well. 

Hawks, Wells. Red Wagon Stories; Or, Tales Told Under the Tent. Baltimore, MD. I. & M. Ottenheimer. 1904. 90pp.

Good + in original screen-printed cloth, some soiling toward spine and a minor nick at the head of the spine. Inscribed by author on ffep, else very solid and clean with lower margin paper loss not impacting text on one page.