The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-21
UNDER THE CANVAS.

Circus Companies Preparing to Start Out
on the Road.
Philadelphia Press
In very short time several circus eon-
binations. all advertised as gigantic and all
possessing excellent attractions, but varying
decidedly in their degree of immensely, Will
open in Philadelphia. Like the frogs and
flies, a circus disappears from sight when
cold weather sets in, and is not heard of
again by the public the small boy and his
sister, until the vernal sun begins to COM
mand attention and remind the wealthy it is
time to buy thinner clothing. Where has
the circus been during all the long months
of winter? ALTERNATING.
During the past five months there have
been three prominent organizations in winter
quarters in Standardization Fore
paugh's, John B. Doris's and John c..
OBrlens. A Press reporters jaunt among
them the other day brought out some inter-
esting facts. Though Philadelphia is the
home of these various proprietors, yet they
are unanim Gus in the belief that this is the
best city in America in which to spend the
of months and refit for the summers CAM
paign. why" said one, suppose | want new
canvas or poles, or hardware. or, in fact,
anything connected with this branch of the
show business | can get il within a few
squares. In New York / would just as likely
have TO go to the other end of the city Be-
sides" he continued feed is cheap here and
rents not exorbitant." These reasons are
ponderously strong with manager who is
passing through period of all outgo and no
income. Adam Forepaugh says that ii has
cost him for repairs and running expenses
since the close of last season $50, 600.
But the winter is not an idle time with the
circus manager, by any means. A small
army of artisans is kept busy as bees re-
painting wagons, strengthening travelling
cages, making new tents or repairing old
ones, and repairing and freshening things up
generally. One proprietor alone has used
over eight tons of paint and So 900 worth of
gold leaf. Some of his men are portrait
painters OF high order of talent. This same
gentleman has force of eight blacksmiths
merrily pounding out horseshoes and wagon
irons. Some of these, too, are hard at work
putting shoes on the horses, which are with
out while off duty.
Circus horses must needs'go by high-sound-
ing names and descend from royal race but
the truth is the most come from Kentucky
and England. Keen judges Gull them from
droves, and if they develope the necessary in
telligence they are retained, and if not, dis
posed of as quickly as possible. For bare
back riding the older horses are best. as they
get steadiness of gait which a five-year-old
lacks, though they are out in the ring rs early
as that age. The only employees who stay
around winter quarters besides the mechan-
ical force, are the necessary attendants upou
the horses and menagerie. The room in
which the tropical animals are is kept at
temperature of about sixty-hve degrees.
Here is a collection of representatives OF the
natural history Of many lands. A liquid
eyed Rocky Mountain fawn which would
lovingly lick a hand, and an African lion aud
Bengal tiger, either of which could crunch a
mans head. and wants to do it, have cages
adjoining. The lion-tamer, quiet and I'M
demonstrative man. and about the last per-
son who would be taken for that perilous vo-
cation, vouchsafed the following in formation:
You can only control a lion by the sense
of fear. lie feels no love, or, at least not,
one in score. When l go into the cage OF
these lions l never think of being afraid. If
did / wouldn't live minute. lion can
tell when one is afraid as quick as the person
knows it himself.
my whip? Oh, we'll, that is just to remind
him with. 1t don't hurt, but every now and
then 1 nit him just to say Pm boss"
How can you tell when a lion is getting
''By his eyes. Did you ever see cats eye
in the dark? Well that is the way lions
eye gets when he's savage The next thing
would be spring, only drop him with a
hickory club first. If you hit lion on the
ear he is very easily, knocked down; But
there must be no failure. Failure when be
is angry is death. Still, Pm not afraid.
I've been among lions since l was a boy.
To handle them now is second nature to
me-"
The ing favorites of the circus ring are
usually only engaged LOT the season, ana
they migrate like the birds. A large pro-
portion of these performers are Europeans,
and they have been bred to the profession
from childhood When mademoiselle trips
airily and smilingly into the arena, and
bounds upon flying steed. there are few in
the great amphitheater who for a moment
think of the long weary years of practice
that have been necessary before her daring
equestrian feats can be performed with csm-
paratiye safety. When madamoiselle was
child of about seven, her parents. because
her ancestors for generations have probably
been in the business began her education.
She is taught TO ride a quiet horse around a
ring, with belt around her waist, to which
is fastened a rope running over pulley.
high up over the center of the ring. The
other end of this rope is held by her riding
master. The apparatus is technically known
as a mechanic" If she slips she does not
fall, but oscillates in mid air, suspended by
her preceptor's strength OF arm. Circus
horses have pulverized rosin sprinkled on
them to prevent the performers slipping By
and by mademoiselle gains years, confidence
and skill, and she feels just as much assur'
ance of safety as hod-carrier does III mouat-
ing ladder In her flying leaps through
rings, or when poised on a single foot, with
her horse at full gallop, she is just as certain
of her footing as the reader is on broad
pavement. When she falls in the arena it is
usually the fault of the horse 1t Is fact
not generally known that many OF these
female riders are devoted wives and mothers.
Terre- Gotta Lumber.
Philadelphia Record.
a comparatively new industry is that of
the manufacture of terra-cotta lumber, now
carried on near Perth Amboy, N ]. The
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