The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-10
The Circus in Winter.

YOU we've got to keep up the novelties
It doesn't do to let 'em run down. Sc,
that wagon therep Last season tina
wagon was red; now it's green. Nov
this wagon here when it came HON,
was sea hons den-had tanks in it
We took 'em out and put this grating
in, and it's monkey wagon now"
Thus spake little stout man, will
an iron gray moustache, brown, twink
ling eyes, and general air of enthusi
asm for his work, as he dropped hi.
plane and drawing knife, andWith two
or three rules protruding from his Goa
pocket led the way to the wagon lof
OF stable on Ridge avenue the other
afternoon. hILtt
lever been up here when the circus
was in winter quarte1s?" asked the en-.
thusiastic little man. eyes; once.''
"Ah, then, may be you know some
thing about it. But, | tell you, il
would take good while to understand
all the ms and outs of the place. Those
men you saw in that room mending the
harness and bridles-they're the har-
ness-makers. Belong to the circus and
go everywhere with it. Then we have
the wagon-makers, of whom l have
charge, where we're always making,
or remodeling, or fitting on ornamental
work. Employ about forty men in that
department alone-wagon-m
painters and blacksmiths. There's a
wagon | built for them in Australia
New South Wales-whenwe were there
with the circus. And here's new
wagon we're building for the steam
calliope. It's an improvement on the
other-fner style and more ornament
al. You won't know that wagon if
you were to see it in amonth from now.
Come this way. Look out for paint.
l want you to look at the picture on
the side of this wagon. Dye ever see
anything finer than thatP All our own
work-done by an artist that goes with
us everywhere. You see, it's awoman
clipping the name of a lion.
And here s another picture-that's
lena. Look at the expression on his
face-ever see anything more natural?
Picture represents 'ienas in a grave
yard. They n'abit graveyards, you
know. It's very good picture.
" Here's another, Attacked by In
dians. That picture was painted after
we made our last trip out west Went
West and South after exhibiting here
last season, you know. Got back and
went into winter quarters about the
18th of December. Open the season
here about the 18th of April. No,
there's very little idle time among our
people here. When we get in here,
after the close of q season, then the
work of repairing and remodeling be-
gins. Occupies US all the time till
we start out again. You see you have
to do it; tell you what, we must be
changing and remodeling all the time.
Come with me up to the stable. Show
you the rest af the wagons"
The little man led the way to a long
two-story brick structure that covered
a great lot of ground. How much
ground it was nobody knew. The lit
tie man himself appeared to be utter
ly in the dark in that respect admi-
raoly posted as he was on other things
for when asked about the quantity
of space he shrugged his shoulders as
though anything else on earth was cas-
Ter than to answer that question, and
said: go, the Lord knowsr' The
door he entered led into the heart of
the great structure where circus wag-
ons of every conceivable description
were CHARTERED. They were in various
stages of remodeling and repair and
workmen were at that moment busy
upon them. Some were dismantled
and shorn of their ornaments complete
ly, the ornaments themselves taking up
no inconsiderable space of the ground
floor, as they were here and there scat
tered loosely about, as though they had
been cast off and left to shift for them
selves in q cold, heartless world.
In this place sat two young brass
lions, looking for all the world as
though they had just been orphaned
and left without a soul to pity or care
for them. There, leaning against
wagon wheel, stood two amiable- look
ing brass Philippians, whose thick lips
were drawn up in q sort of sickly
smile, as if they would have it under
stood that they didn't mind much being
thrust out of their living Ga large orna-
mental wagon with brass elephant on
top), while directly opposite them,
grinning in q foolish sort of a wav,
were two small brass Mongolians, look
ing little unsteady about the legs
from the fact that they stood on uneven
ground, and apparently feeling a little
uneasy about the prospect of getting
back in their places again.
AN these are being touched up"
said the little man; "have to do it
every season, with them as well as the
wagons themselves. Yes, we make these
ornaments, too. Come, llshow you"
The little man raised window and,
after a felonious fashion, led the way
from the heart of the large building,
through q partition, into a small, end
room. Here one man was found at
work. He was wood-carver, and
near him, leaning against the wall,
were three or four rude images of
women in various attitudes, with
smoothly turned arms and generally
idealistic expression of countenance.
They are carved out of pine blocks,
numbers of which lay in pile near
the carver as yet in their raw state
After these images are smoothed with
sand-paper they are ready for the paint
and gliding, which converts them into
the dazzling golden-hued ornaments