American circus clown who was famous as “Weary Willie,” a sad-faced hobo with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Original vintage “Reportrait,” 13.75 x 16.5, with a large, full-length stippled portrait of the the beloved clown by George Haessler at center. Kelly has filled out and signed in blue ink his philosophies related to five separate areas. In part: On Laughter: “I think people laugh at the clown because he is so downtrodden and so many things happen to him that they are glad didn’t happen to them…” On Wishing: “It is all right to wish - but don’t forget it will not do any good unless it is accompanied with a lot of hard work…” On Love: “I love everybody…I believe everybody should thank God for every thing God has given them - as I do.” Be A Clown? : Every one is a clown, ‘the world is the stage,’ some of us make a livelihood from it. I do.” In very good condition, with edge toning, a couple of areas of scattered, trivial soiling, adhesive residue on the reverse from a previous mounting. R&R COA.
