Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-07
A COMMUNITY ON WHEELS.
A Reporter Penetrates into the Mysteries
of Circus Life.

tons of the boyhood days when the ad-
vent of the circus bill-poster did not sharpen
his expectation to keenest edge, andthe arrival
OF the circus itself crown the ambition OF
his highest hopes. Those who are pos.
sessed of that peculiar trait which en-.
ables them to enjoy mental laughter and
silent merriment, have royal feast of selfish
mirth when the circus season comes round,
in watching the struggles of mature men to
pass the glaring posters by; and when the
tent is finally up. to observe the studied care
lessness and nonchalance with which they
saunter in-early, and the air of Indifference
with which they seek to cover the eager de-
sire to secure the best vantage point OF
view.
IN THEIR HEARTS
They are cursing the state of manliness which
deprives them Of the exquisite pleasure Of
crawling beneath the canvas, of dashing into
the ring and enjoying ride on the elephant;
back, or of being one of the contestants fol-
the SO offered the successful rider of the
trained mule. In their souls they berate the
luck of life which forbids them to sit in the
dust at the edge OF the ring, to throw UP
their hats and shout in exuberance of en-
joyment over the sallies of the clown, OF
linger about the tent when the performance
is over, and in the dim light OF the haring
and smoking torches, mark the expedition
with which the canvas men take down, roll
up and pack away the structure that so little
time before was veritable castle OF Won
der and tower of delight
I he advent of the circus season brings tc
mind some of the fondest recollections of boy
10 Il NJ
shake their wise heads and pooh-pooh the
matter as they will, but if they are half the
men they pretend to be they will be honest
with themselves and admit that they
are glad of it, and mean to be
there when the round top" is up
intend to have a front seat and good one
intend to laugh whenever opportunity affords
occasion; to make merry over the stale joke:
of the clown and take in all the twists of the
contortionists and flip. hops of the tumblers
to applaud the intelligence of the horses I; tc
buy the TESTERS 10-cent song book, and admire
the well-proportioned legs and rounded bust:
of the airy-skirted damsels who float about
the magic ring smile on the just and unjust
alike, and kiss their hands by rule with angelic
grace to the multitude twice day for reg
ular salary. The lovers of
THE oLD-TIME CIRCUS
Care very little for its history. That the
circus mdGinluS was one of the most magnih
cent structures of Rome, where games anG
races and shows of different kinds were held
is a matter of mere historical Importance tC
them. They do not care to know, indeed,
except for the worth of historical knowledge
that the circus is one of the Oldest of earth's
institutions, and hourished in ancient Alex.
andria and Athens, delighted the solemn sen.
ators of Rome, and drew to its amphitheateI
the sages of Jerusalem. They care little fol
the fact that the points of resemblance between
the circus founded by Trajan and completed
by Constantine, and the canvased Enclosure
OF these days are very few and far between
it is the circus of THU time they have to deal
with; it is the circus of their youth which
they compare with the exhibition of 1880, and
nearly always to the disadvantage of the lat
ter, because boyhood's recollections are SO
much sweeter than manhood's realities.
These considerations, these recollections, led
a representative of the RECORD UNION whom
chance threw into country town few days
ago, where all the population for twenty miles
around had assembled in holiday attire to
worship one day at the circus shrine-these
thoughts, as he stood at the tent door and
saw the eager crowds flock in, induced him
to make some inquiry into the modern
circus and menagerie which the advent
of a new one into California last week
makes a subject of current interest. The re-
suit is deemed of sufficient Importance to
give to the public in the form of this article
And while to the suspicious reader it will
appear as puff for w. W. Coles circus and
menagerie, yet conscientious journalists will
recognize in it one of those peculiar and fire.
uuent situations wherein personal advantage
is gained by the party written up" because
of the news quality his business possesses
But as to that the public has little concern.
It is the journalists business to instruct and
entertain the reader, and Just now the iudg-
ment Is reflected in this column that a
glance
BEHIND THE SCENES.
OF circus life will prove of interest and con-
vey some useful information and correct some
erroneous ideas. There are few men and wo-
men who do not care to step upon the stage
and inquire into the inner life of the actor,
few who are not interested in the strange and
mystic life of the player, and few who are not
ready to receive information upon popular
topics at any time, even if it shall present to
them special business in strong light.
We have had upon this coast numerous circus
and menagerie exhibitions. The public has
not forgotten that royal jester Cooke, nor is its
memory dull concerning Chiarini and his
splendid stud of trained horses good old
John Wilson and his old-fashioned cir
Gus; Zoyara, who bewildered the popu-
lar mind as to the sex of the perform
er wearing that nom de plume; North
& Co. and their old. time circus in days when
4" pad riding" was something fine, and bare
back riding rarity, and the daring sensation
of the day-and by the way, Lee & Marshall
were the circns people who built the Metro
politan Theater in this city. 1t was
then an amphitheater and gaily caparisoned
horses cavorted and the half-naked acrobats
flew through the air where now bald-headed
and sober-slded citizens sit in the parquet to
gain better view of the trim ankles and
natty feet of pretty actresses and citizens of
will likewise remember that in
the year 1873 there came into this city by
rail what was known as the New Orleans
and New York Menagerie and Equestrian
and that it made on our streets
GRAND PARADE
And frightened half the horses in town out of
their animal wit with an excfuciatingly ear
piercing calliope. 1t was no little surprise
to the reporter to recognize under the more
modest title Of w. w. Coles Circus and
in the pleasant town Of Chico
last week the identical show which was the
first of its kind to cross the continent by rail
and which gave such satisfaction when here
in 1873. Mr.. Cole was found to be youth
ful and a reticent man. He was willing
enough to "challs the newspaper mans hat
but unwilling enough to talk, more especially
about himself. But some of his employees
were less retiring, and though aware of the
strong desire of their principal not to be
forced into public view prominently, and his
aversion to being the subject of a newspaper
article, nevertheless they were unable to
resist the Establishments of reportorial skill,
and were led to indulge in chit-chat which,
when they see it in print, will open their
eyes wide and wider in the establishment they
must feel that so much of real information
was wormed out Of them despite their best
efforts to say little.
Because it is with US and is soon to exhibit
here, and because it is representative of an
important business, in which hundreds of
of dollars are invested; because it
one OF the foremost of animal and circus shows.
and thoroughly representative of its class,
Mr.. Coles big show, his Congress of Won
ders, his electric light, giants, elephants lions
and trained stations, his agents, employees
and actors are taken as texts for an article
that is intended to inform the public of some
thing of the inner ilfe of the circus
ENTERING THE NENAGERIR,
As exhibited at Chico last week, the visitor
found himself in very lofty tent-150 feet
in length and Is feet in width-Eghted by
four burners of the Brush dynamic electric
light, which burn, by the way, with a steadi-
ness not known to our citizens, who saw
year ago the Pickering light exhibited here
in Fair week. And first, as to this light: it
is observed that in tent opening Oft the
larger one, stands the Brush motor,
by a fnrtv-hnrse- nnwer steam en-.