San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-15
ROBINSONS' CIRCUS.

Times, Mr.. Field Of the Express, and
escorted by that prince Of press
agents, Sam Joseph, LIGHT reporter
was afforded private view of Robin
sons great show. Hundreds of men
and horses, miles of snowy canvas,
make the show city of itself. Driv-
ing slowly around the immense tent,
we were shown how the multitude of
men and horses were housed and fed.
Four large tent stables accommodate
$50 horses and over sixty ponies.
Three cook tents feed and fifteen
sleeping cars house the canvas and
stable men and animal trainers, num-
bering 410. Five sleepers, elegantly
fitted up, accommodate the hundred
and odd performers, who take their
meals at hotels, with lodging. A
complete portable blacksmith shop,
with ten smiths, is an appendage.
The dimension of the main or exhibi-
tion tent is 430 900, the menagerie
tent $50 x 100 and the freaks" tent
75x5O. One ticket admits to all these.
In the exhibition tent are three rings,
five stages and 40-foot hippodrome
track one-fourth mile In circumfer-
ence for chariot and fiat racing.
A bout 20 cages of animals, 60 ponies,
with elephants, camels and drome-
DIARIES, occupy the menagerie tent.
The human skeleton, fat man, and
human curiosities and monstrosities
generally. The freaks tent, six mag
nificent ostriches, three male and
three female, and the only 20-foos
giraffe in the world, especially
attracted our atten ton. The male
ostriches are Of dun color with beau
tifully tipped plumage-the females
black. 1t is said the females produce
the finest feathers. 1t Is probably
not generally known that the giraffe
is the only living animal that Is abso-
lutely dumb. The giraffe, owned by
Mr.. Robinson, Is one of the five now
living in America, and stand two
fee ct higher than any in captivity.
Its trainer, Mr.. George Schreiner,
says it is one of the most docile and
affectionate animals and related sew
eral incidents of its wonderful men,
ory. While showing us the ponies,
Mr.. Joseph pointed at "babyn only
16 inches high, as the smallest and
youngest performing pony in the
world. 1t follows its mother into the
ring, initiating her every movement.
We were next introduced to "Mary,"
an asiatic elephant, that has been
owned by the Robinsons, father and
son, for over fifty years. She is re-
garded by Mr.. Robinson and his
children with great affection and con-
sidered one of the family. Just here
Mr.. Joseph told of the present John
Robinson's first somersault on horse
back, which was turned on the
Alamo plaza just SO years ago. 1t
seems that young Robinson had been
ri ding some time, but had never at
tempted that difficult feat, and on
the morning of the arrival of the cir
Gus in San Antonio in October, 1854,
his father said, John, if
you Will turn somersault today
I'll give you pair of Texas ponies"
John wanted the ponies, turned the
somersault and got 'em.
We were next introduced to Mrs.
Vern, the "matron DR.. Wardrobe"
Mrs. Vernon is pleasant-faced pleas
ant-voiced lady and has charge of the
entire arenic and parade wardrobe of
over 5000 pieces. She was, when in
troduced, very busy cOstuming the
little, big, old and young folks who
were to take part in the parade, but
managed to spare us few moments.
"Oh, yes" she said, "I've a lot of
trouble to keep everything straight
and satisfy them all, but could do
it if it was not for the men. Talk
about vanity. If there is vain crea-
ton on earth, its man. Why, l
have no trouble at all with the la
dies, but just let me attempt to give
q man something he does not think is
becoming, and he'll sulk and pout
like a spoiled child. Now, here it
is raining, and l can't spell our new
and rich costumes by letting them
wear them in in the rain. Not
word from the women, but nearly
every man has the sulks, because he,
won't look pretty enough. I've been
with the Robinson show eighteen
seasons in charge of the wardrobes
and for pure vanity, give me a man."
The discipline in the Robinson
show is perfect, and as rigid as that
Of the army. We were given q prac-
teal illustration of this in the forma-
ton of the procession. Young John
Robinson and Mr.. Wilson were COM
manders, every one has his place and
falls in, in perfect time and order.
Owing to the inclemency of the
weather a number of themore delicate
animals could not be brought out, but
can be seen in the menagerie this
afternoon and evening. This is John
Robinson's third trip to Texas, his
first in, "a with twelve tons of circus
paraphrenalia, his second in, 20 and
his present trip with 40 cars with a
capacity of 80 tons each and more ad-
vance advertising agents than en-
ployees in those days.