The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-10-22

N~ooA LIE LIBERALIZATION
cE THE GREAT SRow.-Yesterday was
agala day for the residents of Colum-
bia and the surrounding country.
E'rly IN the day. the streets OF the
city presented holiday appearances;
hundreds of strangers crowded our
thoroughfares; excursion trsins en-
all the lines OF railway added to the
vast multitude that had gathered to
witness old John Robinson's advent.
The street display attracted vast con-
course. The sidewalks were lined by
those anxious to gaze upon the moving
panorama of glitter and gold. The
magnificent vans, cages, chariots and
tableaux cars were undoubtedly the
finest ever presented to the public.
The horses gaily caparisoned, the
attachees in splendid uniforms, and
the paraphernaia in it's entirety being
on scale Of grandeur unsurpassed by
any previous display made in our city, q
Iu fact, the veteran Snowman has Tor
this. his fifty third year as manager,
surpassed all previous efforts in his
great desire to amuse and instruct his
patrons.
The menagerie is the most complete
that has ever been gathered in any
one travelling collection, especially ar
ranged 30 as to enable all who visit
this department ample facilities for
examining specimens of the most rare
and valuable animals. Here can be
seen a pair OF living giraffes; huge
rhinoceros, or unicorn Of holy writ; a
mammoth performing elephant; living
sea lions; giant ostrich; tapir and
young; African lion; lioness and cubs.
In addition to which are very many
cages and dens filed with the denizens
Of tue forest-showing the many won
ders of the Great Creator. The per-
formances in the arena are wonder
ful-every attachee is finished artist
in his particular line. The vaultirg is
unrivalled, while the display of horse
o,anship is superior in all of it's details
to anything of the kind heretofore
presented in any travelling exhibition.
But few Of our readers have an idea
of the immense amount of labor re-
quired in this enterprise-they do not
pause to consider what vast wealth has
been expended to place the combina-
tion on its present footing. It re-
quires extraordinary administrative
qualities TO successfully conduct this
immense establishment and manage it
with necessary care. We cleaned
few facts during our visit, yesterday.
MIR. Robinson employs. to advertise
and herald his ''show," over sixteen
agents, who are continually engaged
in giving notice of its coming in the
different places they propose visiting
during their tour. The salaries Of
these agents range from $25 to $1OO
per weok-all their expenses being
paid by the company. The amount Of
money paid for large pictorial paper
during the past two years was $780,
27S-this does not include tho ordi.
nary expenses Of advertising. In addi-
tion to the above are the books.
pamphlets. distributing bills, etc.
Their newspaper, or local patronage.
will amount to about $3.50 daily. At
each place the agents visit, o local or
sub-agent is appointed, to distribute
bills throughout the surrounding
country.
The ''show" has assumed such won.
derful dimensions, that it is necessary
for the management to camp and
board nearly 200 of their employees,
as hotel accommodations are not al.
ways convenient, and all the parapher.
malta is in perfect order. This cara
vansery has for it's steward Mr.. Archie
Compbell. for twenty years ''jester"
within the ring. The cuisine is excel.
lent-we dined in the hotel tent yes.
terdny and speak from actual observa.
ton.
The salaries of the employees range
from S25 per month to $500 per
week-the latter sum being the high.
est amount paid, with ono exception,
that of Robert T. Stickney, whose sala-
ry for the past two seasons has
equalled $4,000 season. In fact,
the show business, as conducted by
the veteran manager, represents vast
amount OF capital, and disburses daily
an almost fabulous amount of money.
Costumes cost about $40, 900; horses
valued at $4,000; 60 ponies; $l2, 900.
The amount paid daily for bulletin
l.