Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-07
"THE DAY oF REST y

For man and beast is sound and paying
investment. All the properties of the show,
all It's goods are packed into wagons, and
these are run upon the cars, thus the COM
pany is enabled to leave its own train and
take to narrow gauge roads when necessary.
The cars for the horses are so fitted that every
horse has a comfortable stall. 1t is found
that the first week out the horses run down,
but after that gain rapidly and flourish by
lite on the rail like green bay trees. The
salaries of the artists of this community of
show-people vary from $50 to $50 per week
and found Every one at the outset is
guaranteed thirty engagement, with
apostolic extension il the company make up
new season for foreign climate, where it
can be played out without interruption by
the weather. All the laborers are warned
against intoxication, single slip resulting in
instant and unconditional discharge but if
the man remains on the payroll at the end
of thirty weeks he is guaranteed bonus of
$40. Some of these lsborers have travelled
with Coles establishment five or six years,
and some of the actors have been with him
since 1878.
THE STOCK AND OTHER MATTERS.
The stock consists of the six trick ponies,
the nine performing stallions-three of which
are always held in reserve-2l ring horses
and los wagon horses. In the fall of the year
Cole sends an agent to Africa and Asia to
purchase animals to replace those lost by
death or accident, and the manager then
opens up correspondence with the various
animal agencies through which those engaged
in capturing wild animals deal. The elephant
is the costliest animal. A good show elephant
is worth from 81 600 to $4,000 in the show
elephant market in America, according to
docility, age and agility. Small elephants
cost from 5000 to 5000 each. An un-
broken lion costs about $1,000. Some are
found to be very ferocious and untameable,
others tractable and easily broken. Tigers
are of about the same value, and leopards
rate at half as much. The elephant is the
longest lived animal in captivity, and at
tains to very old age. The lion and the
tiger are next among the long-lived beasts.
The " cat animals" generally average from
fifteen to seventeen years as their lease of life.
The manager furnishes the general wardrobe
but the actors furnish their own feshings,
linen, costume, etc. The laundry business
of the company is something that tries the
souls of washerwomen and laundry proprie-
tors whenever the show arrives in town.
The first movement of the actor is to send
off his or her washing with orders to have it
completed within twelve or fifteen hours.
But as this is not always possible each per-
former keeps on hand very large supply of
clean linen, fleshings, ETC., and can if hard
pushed stand the pressure for week or
more.
OMITTED DETAILS.
1t was intended to have spoken somewhat
at length of the circus artist and his life and
habits, but space forbids. Merest reference
can only be had to the fact that they bitterly
protest against the popular belief that there
is less virtue among them than other men and
women; they claim to be family in happy
accord prospecting and respected-Gving
rowing life largely, but one conducive to
health and, as statistics show, to longevity.
Upon these matters copious notes taken must
be passed over now. In conclusion, it is but
fair, having gone thus far into the business
affairs of Mr.. Cole and his great show,
to say that he has little world on
wheels, quiet, orderly company one
of the best in appearance that has
ever been on the coast. He has large
and varied assortment of animals to this
cline unknown. He has magnificent stud
OF horses, a gorgeous array of fine wagons,
chariots and cars force of employees dis
ciplined like regiment of well tried soldiers !;
some fifty or sixty actors and as
sistants, who are all good. and some
of whom have no superiors. His pro-
grammes are not lengthy, but are worked off
with promptness thatl Is highly commendable.
His entertainment is chaste, novel, often
startling, good in every feature, and without
blemish worthy of criticism. In the print
ing line he must havespenta small fortune, for
no such elegant paper has ever been Put
on bill-bcards in California. His promises
therein, though framed in adjectival wealth
of words that take the breath away. are faith
fully kept, and all that is advertised to be
presented is given.
The countless readers of the RECORD. UNION,
who will be found wherever the enter
prising Cole may take the greatest show on
earth, will now know more of his exhibition
than ever before, and still not know it all, for
many an interesting detail obtained has been
omitted-all about the winter quar-
tiers, where the artists train, the time of
life at which they begin, how the manager
prospects a country before ihe starts out for a
season, how he knows just the con-
dition of the crops and the prosperity of
the people how he gathers his company and
disciplines them; how the horses are selected