Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-03-06
S1onth' q Column.
"LET GO ~

OIL locality, weather,
and WEAKNESS. There is one hour
which, more than any other, tests to
the uttermost the temper, skill, and
discipline of the force under the COM
mand of the circus manager. 1t is
the hour when the tents must be |
ssstruck,'' OF taken down, and the
vast establishment packed up for re-
moval to its next stopping-place.
Slowly the audience has leaked
away through the narrow entrance,
though some of it's younger members
linger until it is necessary to scare
them out. The preparations for de-
parture began long ago. Every arti-
Gle of dress taken off was instantly
packed for travel. Every animal has
been fed and cared for. Every tool
is in its place, for present use or for
transportation, as the case may be.
There are miles and hours of travel
ing to be done, and every minute is
precious. The least confusion or
mismanagement would surely bear
bad fruit on the morrow.
The experts of all sorts-acrobats,
animal trainers, keepers-are caring
for their wardrobes or themselves, or
for the precious beasts in their
charge. The horses in their canvas
stables know their time is up, and
meet their grooms as if prepared to
90. The cook and his assistants
have fed their last ''boarder," and
already have packed their pots and
crockery, and the fire is dead in the
portable range. Every man who has
no completed his task is working at
it with all his might, but the center
of interest is the great tent and it's
appliances. There is comparatively
little shouting of orders, but scores
of men are taking their positions by
stakes and ropes, knowing exactly
what to do and where and when to
do it. There are, perhaps Ito give
the exact size of one big tent one
hundred and sixty-eight thousand
square yards of canvas to come down
with all that held it up. The huge,
hollow interior is empty at last, with
the exception of a few loiterers who
hurry out in great alarm, as they hear
a loud shout of "Let go!'' from the
manager. The shout was meant to
scare them out, and not man looses
his hold upon a rope. 1t is a plan
which always clears away the loi-
terers.
The immense space is clear, but
vaguely shadowy and dim, for the
lights are out and there is nothing
there to "shOw."
Another order, another, another.
follow in quick succession ropes are
hauled upon or let go; the canvas
steadily pulls away, and the center
: poles and stays, all the airy skeleton
of the tent, stands as bare as when
they were first lifted there. These
too, come down in regular order, rap.
idly and without sign of hesitation
: or confusion. Thus every peg and
pole and board is removed from the
tent-rear to its proper place on its
own wagon.
More than quarter of million
square yards of "duck," and every
: flag, rope, pole, and pennon are neat
ly folded and packed away in the
wagons. And all this has been done
in less than twenty minute! Not ;
rope is mislaid, nor tool lost sigh
o of, and the secret of it is that some
one person has been made personally
> responsible for each of all those mum
It berless items of duty. Not too mucl
, has been laid upon any one, but mer
d cilessly strict will be the inquiry con
d corning the least short coming.
The general crowd of spectator
n hurries home at once, all the soone
if the night is dark or rainy, or if i
c be the last performance and the tent
:. are coming down. The latest to de
If part are invariably the boys, to whor
!. the show presents world of weird
- strange fascination. 1t is almos
,g hard upon them that their attachmen
is is not reciprocated. Neither tn
manager nor his corps of traine
re workers has any use for boys. Th
u former "does not want 'em around.
He would not have them at any price
It. although hundreds are sure to Offer
rs continually, with their heads full c
dime-novel ideas of circus life, il
ty adventures, and its ''glories.
a. They know nothing at all Of the har
work, the patient training beforehand
on neither do they of the experience an
thorough knowledge of at least SON
ng one trade required by every membt
nix of the managers army of helpers
Even the ''bill-stickers' must kno
nm how to do their work, and work han
in doing it, but boys with the circu
of fever are after something which wi
enable them to wear tights and spal
at giles. They seldom if ever think
80 the hard work work, severe training
est wearying repetitions, and terrib
risks of injury and lifelong mainir
81 that must be undergone before
manager will allow a performer
's' appear in public. For instance,
by learning circus feats of but one xii
~ riding on bareback horses
nal falls are always likely to happe
'ss. To lessen the danger, however, {