The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-06-05
An Editor Becomes . Circus Aotor-Porlls
and Pleasures OF q Show mai ms Life.

hear OF is the original idea conoei' cd Ivy
one OF the gentlemen attached ~ the
New York Times, who took it into his
head to join travelling circus company
for the purpose OF giving the readers Of
that paper an insight into the inner life
OF the saw-dust knights and their span.
gled-b back equestriennes. We give few
extracts from the writer's experience:
The afternoon performance WAS about
to begin. 30 was divested of my Jour-
nalistic jacket, thrust into scarlet coat
that was too small for me, and told to
assist in putting the fancy trappings on
the ladies' horses, and make myself gene
rally useful in the entry-way of the ring.
Within twenty minutes of my engage
ment my "boss" confidently told the
ring manager that "that now supe you've
took on don't seem to amount to much"
The ring replied. however, that
it was none Of his business; that Mr..
Howes had taken me on. An hour after
ward, my 'boss" declared to Mr.. Howes
himself that wasn't worth O cent day,
and that he had better ''shake" me us
SOON as possible. Before the perform.
anoe was half. over he had sworn at me
dozen times for idling about, ignorance
of my duties compelled me to confine
my efforts to carrying the rosin-board,
on which the acrobats and gymnasts
rubbed the soles Of their shoes, into the
ring,) and after the fnal act he int,ig-
nantly demonstrated with Mr.. Howes,
whose unusual passiveness he could not
understand. I had not long been a
member OF the circus troupe before 1
discovered that all my previous ideas
with regard to this class of people we're
k,,tn ot1 E.. ~.
with whom I was thrown in CONTACT were
concerned. had expected to. find my
self among rollicking, registering set of
men, who preferred short pipes nnd
tobies OF ale to wine and segars, and
whose dressing room was a theatrical ex-
hibition of everything that is coarse and
objectionable. And I had more than q
vague suspicion that some of the ladies
might be little loose in their actions of
strict propriety. I was astonished to
meet company of staid and decorous
ladies and gentlemen, quiet and rather
reserved in manner, and, so far from
having liking for dissipation, that they
we're only too anxious to get to bed as
soon as they got home from the even
ihg's performance.
travelled with the tent-men one morn
ing for the express purpose of seeing
the tents erected. They were put up,
both the circus and the menagerie tents,
in little under two hours. Now, the
oirous tent itself, though not 30 big as
the CIRCUS Maximus of old Rome, which
was one mile in circumference, is 13O
feet across, and holds over 5000 people.
One would have thought that it would
occupy whole day to put up the seats
alone. The menagerie tent is only lit
tie smaller than the circus tent. As soon
as the animal cages and chariots arrive,
their canvas coverings are removed, the
tires, axles and springs are examined,
and the dust or mud removed from the
wheels. Presently the omnibusses,
rockaways and buggies, containing the
performers and the band, begin to
arrive in rapid succession, their ocou-
pants hurrying away Immediately for the
dressingtents. OF the ladies' dressing
tent of course I am unable to say any
thing. The mems tent presents most
curious spectacle in the course of five
minutes. In the centre stands sort Of
high pedestal, with small looking glasses
arranged on the top. Before nne glass
stands the "funny" clown, applying any
amount of mutton fat to his face and
neck, before he puts on the powdered
whitening and vormillion paint, which is
to give to bis face the conventional, half
ghestly, half-comioal appearance which
clowns affect. At the next glass stands
q stalwart fellow, with nothing on but
feshings and pair Of high jack-boots,
dysing his moustache to beautiful black.
Peeping over his shoulder is f. compa-
nion, whose only garment is supposed to
be steel corselet, putting at least
quarter Of pint OF oil upon his heir. All
around are huge cases; one filled with
breast-plates, another with helmets.
others with lances, flags and banners,
aud others with great crimson jack
boots. Helmet for No. TO-" cries the
property-man. and No. 10. perhaps al
most in a state of nudity, makes short
cut to the property-man by means of q
somersanlt. IAN the performers are re-
qnlred to ride in the procession.
breast. plate for No. 16," calls another
property-man; and No. 16. who is shaw
ing. neurly outs piece out OF his cheek.
Down goes the razor, for the rules
against keeping the property man wait
lug are very stringent, MS found out to
my cost the morning I rode in the pro-
cession. It was on the second day Of
nv circua life and in tho ono1 cikv 0f