The Clown's Best Performance (1911)

Little Paul Linton thought he had entered fairy land, when he attended the Sawdus Bros. show with his father and mother. He was particularly fascinated by the funny clown with the little drum, who always stopped before the child and gave a few extra touches to his act in acknowledgment of the boy's appreciation. At home the boy tried to imitate the grotesque get-up and the comical didos of the ring buffoon, and he fully makes up his mind that when he gets to be a man he is certainly going to be one of those funny fellows, whom he considers in his childish simplicity, the greatest man in the world. A few weeks later little Paul was taken down with a fever, and while he lies delirious on a bed of sickness, he is constantly talking of the funny man of the circus. Paul's father and mother and the doctor try to relieve his suffering, and to induce the little fellow to take his medicine, but try as they will he refuses to be comforted or assisted; until they learn, through his wanderings, that there is only one remedy and that is a visit from the clown he saw at the Sawdus Brothers' circus. Mr. Linton calls on the celebrated fun-maker and asks him, as a special favor, to call on his little son, who craves his presence. The clown consents, and when the boy sees him standing before him, smiles and soon grows better. Before his friend of the circus has taken his departure, the sick child has rested, regained his normal temperature and starts on his way to recovery.

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Summary Details
GenresDrama Short
CastRole
John Bunny
Kenneth Casey
Hal Wilson
Alec B. Francis