The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-12-27
SOMETHING ABOUT SHOWS.
What Il Costs to Equip and Maintain
Pirst-Class Circus on the Road
Talk with AN Old Snowman.

II tell you the circus is one of the great
est democratic institutions the world
has vet seem" said an old Snowman to
n reporter Yesterday, land ! do not be-
lieye We shall ever meet with anything
that can place people on more OF an
equality"
What causes you to say thisP' ask
ed the reporter, somewhat surprised at
the old veterans manifest enthusiasm.
1t is easily understood by one who
has studied the circus. The fact Is,
what makes the circus so popular IS the
fact that everyone can understand 1t,
and it stirs in all alike the same SYM
patty of sentiment, no matter what
NAV be his station in life. Rich or
poor he pays like admission price and
enioys the show to the same extent. In
this country, where the circus has been
far more successful than in all other
nations combined, it is largely the ma
ture of the people to associate together,
and they overlook the idea OF its audi
ence being promiscqous, while in Eng
land, for instance, | think the reverse
of this is one reason for the lack of sue
cess the circus has attained there. "
"You say the success of the show
the circus America is pre-emin-
entp"
Eyes, indeed. The history of the
circus in this country presents one OF
the finest examples of American pluck,
ingenuity and enterprise that has ever
been offered to us by any class of peo-
pie, and it has grown to such an ex-
tent that now nothing will attract such
immense crowds as reputable tent
show, and people will go miles to see
it,"
How many years has it taken for
this success to be acquiredP"
"Why, not so many years, for it was
in 1928 that the first circus started out,
but, of course, this was rather prema-
ture and decidedly incomplete, for no
tents, seats, or animals were thought
necessary at the time, and the people
flocked as they do now. largely to wit
ness feats of strength and enjoy the
music, such as it was. Of course, trav-
cling was overland then, and the idea
Of special trains had not been thought
of; but they had the same old parade,
and that was their means of announc-
ing themselves to the astonished popu-
lace. This primitive custom lasted for
about four years, and then the modern
tent came into use, however. oh much
smaller scale, and it soon became APP
parent that better form of advertising
should be adopted, and the advance
agent and newspaper lads. were
brought into use. do not think you
can imagine the tremendous excitement
that the introduction of an elephant in
to the hist of curiosities caused. Why,
really. people would follow it for miles.
About the same time the clowns and
jumpers made their appearance, and
naturally scored a hit that will always
last as long as the show does"
"In what year were Wild animals
made part of the show?'
81 think it was in 1910 when Van
Amburgh followed Dresback and began
to exhibit them, and when Van, as
we called him then, began to 60 into
the den of lions. His fame, l tell you,
was sung everywhere. About the same
time the miraculous feats OF riding on
the bare back of horse startled the
people, and the. example of one man
Immediately began to be cmulated.
But from the time Of the beginning OF
the first circus until 1860 everything
was decidedly slow of progress; but
since this latter date the improvement
has been great and grows as the years
pass.
what started the menagerie feature
Of the modern circusl"
at began rather queeriy in 1874,
when two brothers in New York COM
menced to import and peddle birds
around the streets. These birds soon
became the rage. Then these same
men conceived the idea Of establishing
foreign house and shipping all sorts
of beasts TO this country for sale to
proprietors of shows. They proceeded
to carry this out and went to some OF
the wild nations to purchase and ship
them to this country"
Tell me something about the ami
mails that go to make up show.
"As you probably know, the hippo
tamus trade is one of the most extern
sensive, and this is made comparative
ly cheap from the fact that the animals
are captured necessarily when young
as are elephants also. which strangely
are cheaper than the former, and still
cheaper, of course, are good tigers and
leopards. The rhnoceros is worth
about $1,000 to the hunter. Monkeys
come in packs. one might say, and
bring about $50 for each brute. One
of the most expensive and tender crea-
lures is the giraffe, which is very hard
to keep. Sea lions come from the
west and bring about $500 each. while
polar bears coming from the same di-
rection bring about $4,000. The poor,
senseless ostrich is very expensive, and
of course, hard to procure. Central
America is the home of snakes and Is
the place where we get them
do you know anything about the
tanning of animals?"
ut is easy enough to beat a fero-
cious animal when it is down. The
trial and danger come in thrashing him
too much when he is not tied. 1t re
quires n wonderful amount of inge-
nuity and skill and a very great amount