The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-04-20
From the GAINESVILLE Daily Gazette, April H.
THE SHOW BUSINESS.

From the GAINESVILLE Daily Gazette April To-
THE SHOW BUSINESS.
The approach OF the tenting season mas
thrown Spring Brook Farm-the home OF MT
Burr Robbins, the greatest western Snowman
into life and activity The scene is Que OF
speclal interest to all who have any desire 10
be informed OF the great amount OF labor, care
anxiety, and brain-work it requires to put into
the field and in good running order, an aggre-
cation equal IN size and merit to that controlled
by Burr Robbins The responsibilities and
perplexlhes Of such position as he now occu'
pies. are amazingly great, and to work out OF
them, and to put upon the road such man.
moth show, the working of which is attended
with as much regularity as that OF clock,
demands uncommon foresight and vast execu-
tive ability.
The entire cage and baggage trains have
undergone thorough repairs during the past
winter. While much of the more artistic paint
work and decorating has been done IN the city
by the Messrs. Lagrange ~ Van Keuren, an
enormous amount OF the painting and other
work have been done on the farm IN Robbins
own shops In order to facilitate and to some
what cheaper these repairs, he has erected
appropriate shops on the farm, and has in his
constant employ mechanics fully competent to
do the work. The paint shop has been open
nearly the entire winter, in which the baggage
tram and other vehicles have been finely,
touched up" The Blacksmith shop has also
been in operation, and a vast amount of repair
ing done. The harness shop has been another
busy place during the past winter, Over two
hundred sets have been repaired, oiled and
properly disposed Of while many new and
elegant sets have been manufactured. In fact
almost every department OF mechanics neces-
sary to fully equip and place in excellent work.
ing condition, this great show, is done on
Spring Brook Farm. Even the costly and
glttering wardrobes which are so attractive In
the procession and in the arena, are made in
Mr.. Robbins own house, and under the i'm
mediate supervision OF Mrs. Burr Robbins, who
is a power In the management Of certain de-
partments OF the show. During the past
winter with the assistance OF two or three girls,
Mrs Robbins has made large amount OF new
and rich wardrobe, which for beauty and costli-
ness, aud artistic excellence, cannot be sur
fassed by any show on the road.
Another point of interest on Spring Brook
Farm, is the horse stables. The horses for the
arena have been comfortably stabbed on the
farm since the return of the show last fall, but
those belonging to the cage and baggage trains
have spent the winter in the country. They
we're brought IN few days ago, and the num-
Der being nearly two hundred we can well
imagine the lively appearance Of the stables.
he horses are in good condition. and are be-
ing cleared up ready for work.
Aside from the busy scene IN the shops and
IA the stables, there ID also large canvas
raised under which performers are making
ready for regular business. Horses are being
trained daily, riders are having little pre-
hminary practice, and the ring matters general
ly receive some special attention. Mr.. Robbins
has recently made some valuable additions to
his previously large number Of animals, for
which several new cages are being built-of
these we will speak at another time.
Burr Robbins Great American and Royal
German Allied Shows will be differed and
manned this year as follows:
Proprietor and Manager-Burr Robbins
General Agent-Geo. X. Steele.
Press Agent-Matt Leland.
Treasurer-Geo. +. Selleck.
Geological Director-Richard Brooks.
Master OF Canvass-Ed' Smith.
M ister of Stock-Spencer Bunker.
Chief OF Paste Brigade-HarrS Broadway.
Musical DIrector-Prof. John M. Smith,.
Clowns-Pete Conklin, j. Leslie and II.
Marks.
Company-lIiss Minnie Marks, A. d. Van
Zandt, George Holland Lottie Marks, Willie
Marks and Harry Stephenson, riders. William
Ashton, John Leslie, j. Il. jeffrey. James
Coyle, Geo. Holland, Ed. Holland, Van Zandt
Bros, Shedman Bros, Mile Marietta, Rosa
Renfrew and others, gymnasts and acrobats.
There will be four tableau cars, two band
chariots, twenty-five cages of animals two ele-
plants aud two camels in the procession.
To move this vast aggregation, requires 225
horses 175 men and 60 wagons