The sun., 1884-02-24
CIRCUS PRTvILEGEs.
what they Arc, their Worth, and tho Lan-
Runge In which they Are Talked About.

describes himself in an advert emcnt as :"
good. square hostler." and furthermore afirms
that ho never had q superior as general flXer.
particularly street and licenses; thorough
handler OF all privileges" In some mex
plicable way the mon Of the sawdust arena
have'niade unto themselves language peculiar
aud to u very great great degree unintelllgble
to the uninitiated. Much Of 1t undoubtedly
comes from gypsy sources was talked gcner-
atoms ago among the horse riders OF England.
and was imported to this country by the Cooks
and other old circus families. Here fertile
imagnations have enlarged and enriched it
with newly coined words. idiomatic phrases
and slang. until 1t Is almost as copious
and queer AS the thieves patter" OF Lon
don. with which. by tho way. 1t has
much In common. Those by whom 1t
is most commonly used are tho canvas
men. hostlers. grooms. ring supernuneries.
and other members of what may be classed as
tho humber divisions in the circus army. Tho
aristocrats OF tho ring-Dutton, Fish. Melville.
Robinson. and others-are seldom heard using
1t outside of the profession. and. except in deal
ing with their subordinatcs. hardly over is
word Of it allowed to pass tho lips OF propro-
| tors like James A. Bailey or y. Il. Barnum But
| ii is absolutely necessary for them all to know
| that language In order to hold easy and clearly
understood necessary converse with the ma
| jorty OF minor circus employces. many of whom
would have exceedingly limited vocahu'aries
yhr s.sa sE retfua rt r'SSr Sps, whn
use this speech not infrcuuently Ind y serious
| value in the power IL gives them OF exchanging
| ideas. purposes, and warnings IN presence OF
| outsiders who may be hostile to them. with
out being understood by others than their COM
uses Of a ioreign tongue. and they employ it ut
times without II thought OF its comic incon-
gruity in the gravcst situations.
| several wears ago Il circus company lelI nc-
hind in Chicago sick canvasman The poor
they eoH do I Tor Tim Tim was VI SG to put him in
| OF the Matiison House and mako liberal pro-
vision Tor his care until the end should come;
dearest friends. remained behind to attend
him. Attern few days of pain. nature besan TO
| rough. but warm-hcurted fellow. over whose
! brOnaed checks tears Of grinf were flowing fast.
called in and said in q choking voice: Stag his
goggles he goin'.' lSce his eyes. he is going
Is rs'.1si m that one TINE circus ire, @ saoTns Mi i,
| canvasnen. After the canvas vas up and be-
fore time for striking it he wandered of about
tho town. revival meeting in II little church
attracted him. he listened to II thrilling cx;
hortation. felt himself II great sinner. seated
gion" before the evening ended Tho show
wen on and left him, but the treasurer sent
back to him the wages due on his account. Ho
settled down in the town. became member Of
the church. found plenty OF profitable employ
Die e @ but never could Ii set % rid Of III his Old hbts
OF speech except the swearing which he left Off
entirely. Three or four years went BY during
whlcn no circus visited that town. Then ono
came. and in its train OF employees was can
vnsman who bad %Iprmerly fern bsen the ne convert $
chanced to meet his old friend and saluted him
wtha profane exll3sion OF eXuberan, Joy, TO
hand. replied. pointing up 70 heaven: Silence:
Gully: stow your cackle. His Nibs hears you. "
Never was an admonition nc, against pr profanity
preston might. in the ears OF the hypercltical.
have seemed TO mar its solsmnily He meant
words God hears you"
But this is y digression suggested BY that
word hustler which, an old circus man says.
means n good. lively, Industrious, worker. y
nothing more. The general tixers" business
s d for dr in
parades An experienced. capable man. agree
able and smart. can save a good many dollars
that work, by making tickets as good as money
to patty, officials; and occasionally. in, some
nature of "nxer" have been OF almost ines
tinable. yaIue in making friends al ahead ca, 81 tho
as good; That reference to the handling
issss'S When used in circus associaions
IS meant to insluds all .n, the ,H, various
r,is circas other % Than the G bts SHOW Itself Four
Of these are legitimate. and 9cknowledged-.
affirmed. and apparently on good circus au
thority that one show not many seasons ago.
money to the 'yokols.'' or countrvmen along
its route, and that another leased the clothes
line rriyilege or right to petty sneak 'ssisynG
speaking there was not in either case formal
leasing Of either privilege but that which
counterfeiters and thieves were personally
known to the managers Of the two shows. and
had to pay them literally for permission To
work" the crowds attracted by the circuscs
and the country round about;
to exhibit. in tent adjoining that of the big
show. any and all sorts OF alleged attractions
and supposed monstrosltles. with the lnsephra-
outside. to amaze and fasclnate rural behold
ers The license granted to a circus ordinary,
show and tho running expenses OF the latter
are very small. by comparison with the biz
show. so that the profits upon this privilege
in proportion to Investment. are often muci
greater than those of the circus itself. In some
lost money during a season the side SHOW
Tho concert privilege" covers the variet,
show given in the main tent aftor he ring per
forlnnnce ends. Though This show has NJ
license or advertising eNbenses -beyond sucl
Offering tickets for sale during til. main per
tormance-its outlay Is somotincs heavy IN T.
are often high. priced. il therefore is mucl
less proitahie proporiionateIv than the sid
na viii f is G@ GEon "n
Tho candy privilege" covers the sale of con
, tectionery nuts, run, l"mnnade Nc.. in tn
main tent. The ticket privilege" involves
tho right to sell daily. in advnnc. Of the open
ing OF the ticket wagon. nt II slight increase o
price. a certain stipulated number of tickets t,
!. the main show. Thousands of people wonl'
rather pay an extra dime on each ticket than
struggle IN the crowd at the ticket wagon.
The show in this country that sells none o
its privileges is that Of Barnum. Bailey
Hutchinson. which derives from them from
: $500 to $1,000 day through the season, an,
by entire ownership is enabled 10 keep then
, | under much better control than II they wer
, fnrmed out to others. Generally when th
, privileges, arc sold they all go together to AZ
! individual or n firm that appoints responsible
, men ms managers OF each Of them. That Is tn
Ah tas
!. and sold in this way the four oopp priv
= a season. according to the magnitude Of tn,
: show with which they are associated. Whel
~ accordns s to varsy a's OF eoreativo sy ycSnsid
a erations. "slde-show. privilege" has beel
4 known to sell alone for 100000 for the sing
7 season, with II large and popular circus. AN,
q a ticket privilege" for the same length o