Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-28
nLet Go!n

ness. There Is enc hour, which more
than any other tests to the uttermost
the temper, skill and discipline Of the
force under the command of the circus
manager. 1t is the hourwhen the tents
must be "struck," or taken down, and
the vast establishment packed ND for
removal to its next stopping place.
Slowly the audience has leaked away
through the narrow entrance, though
some of its younger members inger un-
til it is necessary to scare them out.
The preparations for departure began
long ago. Every article Of dress taken
off was instantly packed for travel.
Every animal has been fed and cared
for. Every tool is in its place, for pres
ent use OF for transportation, as the
case may be. There are miles and
hours of travelling to be done, and every
minute is precious. The least confusion
or Encouragement would surely bear
Dad fruit on the morrow.
The experts of all sorts-acrobats, an
imal trainers, keepers-are caring for
their wardrobes or themselves, or for
the precious beasts in their charge. The
horses in their canvas stables know that
their time is up, and meet their grooms
as if prepared to go. 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 port
able range. Every man who has not
completed his task is working at it with
all his might, but the center Of interest
is the great tent and its 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,
10000 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 ont in great alarm, as they hear a
loud shout Of Let go p from the man
ager. The shout was meant to scare
them out, and not man looses his hold
upon q rope. It is plan which always
clears away the loiterers.
The immense space is clear, but vague
]y shadowy and dim, for the lights are
out and there is nothing there to
"show."
Another order, another, another, fol-
low in quick succession ropes are hauled
upon OF let go; the canvas steadily pulls
away, and the center-poies and stays, all
the airy skeleton of the tent, stand as
bare as when they were first lifted there.
These, too, come down in regular order,
rapidly and without sign Of hesitation
or confusion. Thus every peg and pole
and board is removed from the tent area
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 neatly folded
and packed away in the wagons. And
all this has been done in less than twenty
minutes Not rope is mislaid, nor a
tool lost sight of, and the secret of it is
that some one person has been made
personally responsible for each of all
those numberless items of duty. Not
too much has been laid upon any one,
but mercilessly strict viii be the in
quiry concerning the least short
coming.
The general crowd of spectators hur-
ries home at once, all the sooner if the
night is dark or rainy, or if it be the last
performance and the tents are coming
down. The latest to depart are invaria-
bly, the boys, to whom the show pre-
sents world Of weird, strange fascina-
lion. It is almost hard upon them that
their attachment is not reciprocated.
Neither the manager not the corps of
trained workers has any use for boys.
The former "does not want 'em round. :"
He would not have them at any price,
although hundreds are sure to offer,
continually, with their heads full OF
dime-novel ideas of circus life, its sad
ventures and its "glories" They know
nothing at all of the hard work, the pa
tient training beforehand, neither do
they think of the experience and thor
ough knowledge of at least some one
trade required by every member of the
managers army of helpers. Even the
"bill stickers" must know how to do
their work, and work hard in doing it,
but boys with the circus fever are after
something which VIII enable them to
9 wear tights and spangles. They
seldom if ever think of the hard
work, severe training, wearying rep
etitions and terrible risks of injury and
lifelong manning that must be under
gone before manager will allow a per-
former to appear in public. For in
stance, In learning circus feats of but