The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-27
HOW THE CIRCUS MAN EATS.
His Life Not Exactly What the Average
Small Boy Thinks 1t Is.

Mr.. James NJ. Nixon, vino knows all about a
circus, said to the Cook: ''There are no people,
excepting plainsmen-the skirmishers over the
wild country of the West-who live so hard a
life as circus employees. both performers and
workingmen. Their life Is not as hard now, it
is true, as it was some years ago, excepting with
the small concerns. They are the wagon shows
that travel through the small towns. But even
with the big concerns that travel By train it is
hard enough now.
'"Take the case of a wagon show that has to
travel thirty miles after q night performance to
get to the next town, where a street procession
is to be made in the forenoon. The workmen,
eanvasmen, and the like have to take breakfast
at IL o'clock at night. Then they get no meal
till dinner, after the procession, say at noon.
Wherever they are the work must be attended
to first, and eating is a second consideration.
With the performers, gymnasts, riders, clowns
and the like, 1t is not so bad. They get better
pay and better food. AS a rule, they live on the
best food there is to be had where they happen
to be, and they take a great deal of it.
Most of them are great beef eaters,
and are not very particular whether the
meal is cold or hot, so long as it is good a I'D
plenty. They are very particular, however,
ABOUT cleanliness. / have seen twenty or thirty
of them get up and leave the table because the
table-clOth was dirty. And when they want a
meal they want il, and will have it. 1 have
often seen them leave a hotel where they would
have to wait fifteen minutes for a dinner that
was paid for, and go to a restaurant where they
would have to buy another. They won't eat
unless they are hungry: but they are always
hungry after a night performance, and will not
60 to bed without a hearty supper. They say
they can't sleep if they are empty.
One thing that is peculiar about them is that
they do not take medicine, and they are remark
ably healthy. When they are out of sorts they
diet themselves, each one according to his own
ideas, but ! don't think / ever saw $50 worth of
medicine around a circus in ali the years l have
been in the business. Yes, they drink. Not to
excess, but nearly all of them drink when they
feel like it. They never drink, however, before
performing. They are very careful Of them
selves. They have to be or they would not last
long.
LAS a matter of course, with their irregular
habits, they are, in a certain sense, extravagant.
Their extravaganza. however, is mainly in the
matter of eating. Experience teaches them very
soon, if their own sense does not at first, that
they must take the very best possible care of
themselves physically, and that good eating is !
primary consideration"
There has been in late years a vast improve
ment III all departments of the travelling circus,
and in nothing has this been more observable, to
those in the business, than in the provisions
made for the health and comfort of the en-
ployes. A good chief cook with a circus will get
as good a salary as a frstclass performer, and
has to earn it.