The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-12-15
Expenses Of a circus.


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There is a very general opinion
that anybody can run circus, and
that the business is immensely
profitable The following statement
which we clip from IN exchange
will give some idca of the cost of
running such concern
"Fifty thousand dollars is moth
ing for q disastrous season to
swallow up and bankrupt any but
tho very few of the most solid
managers, such us Barnum,
Forepaugh, the Van Amburgh
establishment, John Robinson, and
probably few others. A frst-class
canvas show cannot bo put on the
road for loss than $15O,OOO-in
canvas and equipages, horses and
other animals. A full menagcrie
costs mint of money to buy and to
keep. A rhinoceros is worth $1O,-
600, ana II hippopotamus would turn
up his nose ut S2O,OO0. Elephants
and giratfes are worth $4,000 each.
An ostrich $1,000. A pair of lions
$4,000. A pair of tigers, ditto.
Lcopards, pnnthers and cougars
from $1,000 to $500 each Griz-
zly bears $4,000. Black bears and
wolves $500 to $500. Sacred COWS
and bulls $1,000. A cage of mon
keys and one of rare birds, about the
same, say $4,000 each. A sea lion
is worth $4,000. Snakes are not 80
dear, because they are not so at
tractive. They range from $25 to
$500 each. Railroads charge $500
to S;400 day for transportation and
taxes and licenses are from $3.50 to
$500 per day. Posting bills costs
$3.50 a day, and then there are
agents and canvas men and many
others to be supported. Circus
agents arc said to get from $50 to
500 week, according to quality.
Equestrians, $50 to $500; cques-
triennes, from $75 to $50; clowns
command from $50 to $3.50, ac-
cording to fun or fame gymnasts,
n few, get Sl25 por week, but the
majority of, vaulters and tumblers
do not rise above 500 week.
There are generally good many of
of them, though, which counts up.
Tho calculation of profits is made
upon tho basis of the full seating
capacity Of the canvas, and when
you SEQ a scattered audience, like
IL picked bird, ut travelling show,
it is pretty sure that the circus il
going. to rack. ...l.I
VERY OLD LAws-By the laws of
Plymouth colony in 1861, dancing
ut weddings was forbidden" In
In 1860 zone William Walker was
imprisoned month for court
ing a maid without the leave of her
parents" In 1916, because "there
is manifest prido appearing in our
streets" the "wearing of long hair
or periwigs," and also "superstitious
ribands, used to tie up md deco.
rate the hair" were forbidden under
severe penalty. the keeping of
Christmas was also forbidden, abe
cause it was a popish custom" In
1917 an act was passed "to prevent
the profaneness Of turning the back
upon the public worship before it
was finished and tho blessing pro.
nounced." Towns were directed to
erect q cage near the meeting-house
and in this all often dcrs against the
sanctity of the Sabbath were con-
fined. At the samo time children
were directed to be placed in par
ticular part of the meeting-house,
apart by themselves, and tything-
men were ordered to be chosen,
whose duty it should be to take caro-
of them. So strict we're they in their
observance of the Sabbath that "John
Atherton, soldier of Col. Tyng's
company" was fined forty shillings
for wetting piece of an old hat to
put into his shoes, which chnfed his
feet on the march and those who
neglected to attend meeting for
three months were publicly whipped.
Even in Harvard College, students
We're whipped for gross offenses, in
presence Of students and professors,
and prayers were had before and
aftor tho infiction of the punish
mcnt.
LATE CHICAGO PoErnY.---"My
son" said old Keizle, appearing at
the head of the stairs with a suspi-
cious looking strap in his hand, cit
is now the rosy time of morn, and
Aurora shines high in the heavens,
warming the heart of tho lark as he
soars aloft filing the air with his
melodies. Awake, my son, and
breathe thou the freshness of new
born day |" "Lot Aurora shine as
high as she pleases, naught I ask but
sleep" said Tom, rs he pulled the
blankets close about and turned over
but old Kcizlo was not to be trined
with, and gathering the blankets in
one hand, he roared: ~"But, my son,
the busy day, walked by the lark,
hath reused the ribald cow, and them
internal hogs is in the cornfeld
raisin blazes with the fodder Git
up, you lazy, snorin' hound you, or
I'll blister your hide wuss'n yaller
jacket !" II come T. replied Tom,
as he arose from his couch of rest