Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-07-24
HOW "A CIRCUS rs RUN.

The ..General,' Of the show--studying the
Route--The Army of Employees.
From the New York Herald.
e Each circus has it's general. Talk to
him of any city or town in the coun-
try, and the thought Immediately oc-
ours to him: "Ah, yes; town OF ST.
900, 5000, $4,000 or $4,000, as
the case may be, profit" He knows
almost to unit the population and
how much can be made out of it. He
knows also the character ofthe inhabi-
tants, and he is acquainted thorough
ly with the railroad and other facili-
ties for getting into the place. Hemaps
out the route at the beginning OF the
season, of course changing it as much
as possible every year. There are
twenty-four advance agents, who
follow each other in regular ro-
tation. They look after the adj
vertising, the provender for the ami
mails, the lodgings, and contracts OF
various kinds. These agents are pro-
vided with checks. They gives checks
on the show tor the amounts con-
tracted for. The treasurer takes up
and pays the checks so that when the
show arrives it has no trouble in any
direction. 1t has happened q few
times that the firm has been swindled,
but 1t never refuses to honor q check,
''to keep up he credit Of the circus"
Not one OF the great exchanges in New
York is better posted as to the none
talv condition Of any town Or city
than the managers Of the circus. The
circus managers we'll know it is useless
gong into a place where there is much
commercial depression. The character
istics OF a town are studied before 90
ing into it. For instance it is known
when the miners Of Pittsblrrg arr, paid
Off. and right on top ofthe event, comes
the ''show.' 1t very rarely hap}tns
that a nlisralculation is made but ii
money Is lost anywhere than place is
given a wide berth, next season.
Ihe weather 100, j. watched almost
ascartiu! as is by the signal service
bureau. Tiir circus never goes inrl her
south that Omaha, Kansas City and
St. Louis. or fart !rr north than St
Paul, MINI. There is 10 money out
side OF those limits. The great aim OF
the circus IS to strike fair We, her
everywhere. When ii is extremely cold
III the north the circus is eniOving the
warmth Of the south and the dollars
OF the genial >outherners. Vixen il be-
comes too hot in the south then it
Wends its way III he opposite d!r, ion.
Moreover, 1t never attempts to COM
pete with & cheaper entrry, ,nlnnnt. Il
Barn}m is billed Tor Muryvillr, Miss,
and Il - cent show gets ahead Of it the
big circus passes on. The general
knows. too, how long it is profitable
to stay in town.
The army OF employees is divided
into five divisiol$-tiie performers. the
ring attendants, the stable and neI,ag-
eric attendants, III, tranmen in cir
Gus parlance "raZOr-hacks") anu the
canvasmen. The canvasmcn number
200 out OF 1OO--,l large number. but
not too many to cope with he huge
tent which is Pot up in the country.
On the trains there is a. special place
for verythingand everybody. Indeed,
the trainmen could load the train al
most blindtoldeu. the arrangements are
SO precise and have been so long in
woodworking order. The canvas
men are the first to be parked Oft.
They toucl. nothing until the trl!nsters
have arrived on the ground with the
canvas. and then, when the tent Is up,
they sit down and lust watch the other,
"doing their bit" So it is with the
trainmen when they have loaded or I'M
loaded the cars they will not put a hand
TO anything else. and perhaps if they
did they would be only in the way.
Every employee has a special duty to
perform and does not consider himself
engaged for anything outside OF that.