Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-01-16
Circus Folkins Winter.

do they retire into the cave of gloon
and have their long, unbroken winte
snOre, just like the bear and othe
strollers ? Or how do they hibernate !?
The reporter addressed the question
to group of circus people, and Mr.
Stickney took the answer upon himself
at has often been puzzle to me WHY
the general public is so little Informed
about circus people in this country
With the doings and sayings the for
tunes and misfortunes Of actors and
singers and other show people the pres
is very familiar, and devOtes regularly
an amount u space to them, but for us,
the circus folks, not line is avail.
able" Thus, said the veteran eques-
trian, musingly. However," he con-
tinued, ''I'll tell you something about
circus people, The salaries of the riders
are generally large enough during the
season to support them Though the
winter They do not bother about Civ
ing instructions in eguestrianism. The
remuneration would be too small. and
besides, not every bareback rider is
competent or even able to instruct
others how to ride. With circus riders
the point is to learn how to do all kinds
of daring tricks on horseback without
losing their balance and hold of the
steed. The manner in which they sit
on their horse, whether correctly or
Indian fashion, makes little difference.
So you see they couldn't show others
how to SIT on horse. Well, the most
of them spend their winters in those
few places in the country where prac-
ticing buildings are TO be had. There's
:. q. Stokes place in Fordham, n. Y,
where there is fOrty-two foot ring to
practice your horses in.
These equestrians that have their
own horses send them for stabling, and
pay certain sum for their keep and
for the privilege of practicing them.
The same is true of Eaton Stones place
near Newark, y. j., and of Carroll's in
West Chester. Barnum only keeps large
quarters for his meDagerie in Bridge
port, Conn, but no practicing build
ingS. Well, in these different places
the regular circus riders go on practic-
ing their horses and their own limbs all
the cold weather If they did
not they wOnld lose their skill and never
improve.
They break in and train new horses
besides, and learn all kinds of new
tricks for the next season. OF course.
m only speaking in this connection of
the well-known riders of reputation like
Jim Robinson, Charley Fish, Frank
Melville, Orrin Hollis, and Willie Sholes.
This last one is the rising equestrian,
quite young fellow, but endowed with
skill, grace, and daring that will make
him eclipse all the present champions. |
OF the female bareback riders | may |
but few, like Nine. Dockrill, |
Lotiie Aimard, Viola Rivers and Ella |
Luyana-that's a man, by the way. but |
Performs in woman's clothes. And he's |
he most finished circus rider in this |
and the most elegant. ). q. |
Stokes graduated him. As said before,
he eQnestrians don't give lessons in the
,old season. 1t wouldn't pay them.
The winter circus in our cities is un-
known in this country, but / am sure
hey would pay as well in such places as
New York, Boston, Philadelphia and |
Chicago as they do in Paris, London or
Berlin.n
Don't some of the Americans ac-
'ept engagements in European circuseS
n winter. such as in RenZ'S circuses in |
Berlin, Vienna, Dresden, or Hamburg,
n at the .hippodromes in Paris or
LyOns? " asked the reporter.
They do sometimes, but not this year,
Is it happens. The show business has
,een dull in Europe this year. There
ire some American circus people,
hOugh, few, who will perform this
winter in the circus of Orrin Brothers
II the City of Mexico. Last winter
here was also a circus running in New |
I Ork, at the Indian Wigwam, Thirty |
ourth street and Broadway, and L. b.
lent has made all his money in his win
er circus on Fourteenth street, New
fork.''
''How about the other circus people
he jugglers, tumblers, gymnasts?"
They're better off than we eques-
rians. All those that amount to any
hing can find all the engagements they
want during the winter. They perform
n theatres and such places of amuse-
nent. and generally have series of en-
running right up to the be-
.inning of the circus season."
''Ncw Mr.. Stickney, tell me the A B
; of circus riding and equestrian
ricks."
Il will, with pleasure. In order to ]
make proper ring horse, first make
lin bridle-wise. The horse then has
he pad put on him, if he is to serve as
pad-horse. To get used to that takes
ome time. Then you must get the
lorse accustomed to the ring, which Is
lone by leading him around the circular
rack, and always bending his neck in
ide, toward the track. Then give him
! long dose of rough riding If he
ticks with the pad on his back, you
work away at him until you make him
understand that he's got to carry it and
he object on top of it, and that it don't
lurt HIM. The lung REIN is also used |
It that period of horses training.
When thus far, bring in your objects,
'uch as banners, hoops, flags, hurdles,
lrums, weapons, ETC., and get him
1t them and smell of them; in short,
axe all the fear out Of him by conyIn-
,ing him that nothing of all this, despite
he noise, is going to iniure him. When
ne has become acquainted with all of
.hese things, when the horse no longer
SHES, and will pursue the even tenor of |
lls way in the arena, no matter what |
happens, then he is a good performing
morse. Only about one in every fifty |
lorses gets that far, though, just as it
S with circus rider, too. 1t takes
special aptitude, skill, and constant |
practice, and even then circus eques-
.rian is never sure but what an accident |
may cripple him for life the next
Famous French Billiard Players.