The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-07-08
Secrets Of the Circus.

A Chicago reporter has penetrated behind
that mysterious curtain whence all the
splendors and wonders of the circus issue,
and thus sets down what he discovered
The dressing-room was occupied by dozen
or fifteen performers in the operation of
preparing for their respective acts. Some
were naked, and upon their bodies, in every
conceivable place, appeared formidable
bandages and plasters. They were from
strains and bruises, of which every one had
his share at that. One of these gentlemen,
well known bareback and four-horse
rider, while in the act of putting on a pair
of elastic knee-caps, to strengthen his
knees, explained that tho most serious
strain resulting from riding and tumbling
came upon the kidneys, which were often
badly injured. The breast was also strained
at times though not so frequently. Such
trivial matters as shoulder and ankle sprains
were continually occurring and unworthy
of notice. Heaps of porous plasters and
quantities of glycerine, enough to stock an
apothecary shop, were used by circus
company in one season. There are at pres
ent, he said, forty travelling circuses in the
United States, involving a capital of sew
eral millions, and affording employment
for several thousand people, most of them
trained to it as trade. The complete out
fit of first-class circus includes all the
necessaries for the foundation of a colony
The number of people employed is gener-
ally about 100. From 100 to $50 animals
make up the complement of live stock
when there is no menagerie attached.
Travelling companies lay out their cam
paigns with all the care that an army takes
in preparing for long march. The mi
nutest details, which would be entirely
overlooked by an inexperienced person, are
arranged with the utmost precision. Even
the arrangements for feeding and watering
the stock are made with wonderful nicely
The tour of circus during six months
extending over thousands of miles, is some
times made with little deviation from the
plan laid out before the start.
Before starting, each individual has an
opportunity to eat what is called breakfast.
He then gets on the most convenient wagon,
generally knowing by experience the most
comfortable loads for sleeping purposes, as
the only time which the circus man gets
for indulging in the balmy, is while the
caravan is on a move.
The clown of to-day is generally an old
performer, who, having matured in the
circus business, has adopted this easier
branch of the trade. His jokes are care
fully prepared by another and committed
to memory, and his very antics are but the
CHASTITY spectres of his past agility. The
salary of circus performer is about equal
to that of an actor, although it is larger
per week during the season, which is gen.
orally thirty weeks. Stars get sometimes
as high as $780, but of course this is excep-
tional. The average of riders and acrobats
is $40 per week. Clowns get an average of
$50. The drivers of eight, six and four
horses receive from $50 to $50 month,
and the less important of tho assistants in
all the departments, from $15 to $50 a
month.
How TO KEEP A SITUATIoN-The fol-
lowing bit of good advice is from the
Working Nan, and is worthy the attention
of all our readers
Lay it down as foundation rule, that
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