Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-02-05
4 How The Circus Man Eats.

From the Cook b.
81 Mr.. James NJ. Nixon, who knows all
about a circus, said to the Cook:
There are no people, excepting the
plainsmen 1.-The skirmishers over the
wild country of the west no lead so
hard q life as circus employees, both
performers and workingmen. Their
life is not as hard now, it is true, as il
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 con-
Germs that travel by train it is hard
enough now. .. -.
Take the case OF q wagon show that
has to travel thirty miles after night
performance to get to the next town,
where 9 street procession is to be made
in theforenoon. The workmen, canvas
men and the like have to take breakfast
at IL o'clock at night. Then they get no
meal till dinner, after the procession,
say atnoon.. 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, it 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 areg great beef eaters,
and are not very particular whether
the meat is cold or hot, so long as it
is good and plenty. They are very
particular, however, about cleanliness.
l have seen twenty or thirty of them
get up and leave the table because the
tablecloth was dirty. And when they
want a meal they want it, and will
have it. I have often seen them leave
hotel where they would have to wait
fifteen minutes for dinner that was
paid for, and 60 to a restaurant
where they would have to buy an.
other. They won't eat unless they
are hungry; but they are always hun.
grv after night performance, and
will not 90 to bed without hearty
supper. They say they can't sleep i!
they are empty.
Zone thing that is peculiar about
them is that they do not take medl
cine, and they are remarkably healthy
When they are out of sorts they diet
themselves, each one according to
their own ideas, but I don't think
ever saw $50 worth of medicine
around a circus in all the years I 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 perform.
ing. They are very careful Of them.
selves. They have to be or they would
not last long.
GAS a matter OF course, with their
Irregular habits, they are, in a, certain
sense, extravaganza. Their extrava.
gance. however. is mainly in the mat.
ter ofeating. Experience teaches them
very soon, If their own sense does not
at first, that they must take the very
best possible care OF themselves physi
cally, and that good eating is a, pri
mary condition."
There has been in late years a vast
improvement in all departments o.
the travelling circus. and in nothing
has this been more observable to those
i'll the business than in the provisions
made for the health and comfort o.
the employees. A good chief cook
with a, circus will get as good a salary
as tirst-class performer, and has tc
earn it.