The Forrest City times., 1891-07-10
BEHIND THE CURTAINS.
THE SECRETS OF THE CANVAS
 GREEN ROOM.
Sketches Behind tho Circus Scenes When the show is on tho Road-Girls
 Who Are Marvels of
 strength and Agility.

ness, as in every thing else, and the circus girl ot the present is an inter- esting object writes a correspondent of the Philadelphia Press.
 In the great shows a whole regiment of females are employed, and the ma jority of them are pretty girls.
 have never exactly fancied that I would like to join the circus, but I have frequently wondered what it would seem like to be circus girl and make elaborate toilets twice a day with no other dressing room than a windy tent.
 As you sit in the main tent at the big circus you will notice at the end farthest from the entrance heavy green curtain, from behind which the performers emerge and retire. The curtain separates the .round-top, :" wherein the dressing rooms are To- cated, from the main tent. There are no dragons nor fierce ogres to prevent one from entering, and yet few per sons other than the performers ever pass that curtain.
 When the curtain dropped behind me found myself in little passage leading to a fortyfoot, 'round-top" tent. disconnected with the main or exhibition tent. This 'round-top" is cut into three pie-shaped sections by canvass walls about ten feet in height This section, which you enter from the passage way just described, is the ''green room of the circus. The other two sections are respectively the mems and the women's dressing rooms. The green room is most appropri- ately named, it's carpets consisting, throughout most of the season of natural grass.
 It was slightly embarrassing to run the gauntlet of stares which were di- rected upon me by the lightly clad performers, male and female, who were waiting in this open portion of the 'round-top' for summons to ap- pear in the ring; but managed to get through and found myself brought plumply up against the extreme ends of one of the canvas walls Beyond this point the aifable agent could no. accompany me. There are no locks bars, chains or bolts, but gentle. yet firm. motherly little woman is in com mand here. and to gain admittance one must have her consent. l had already made the acquaintance of Mrs White, who has charge of the ladies dressing rooms: therefore there was no difficulty about my admittanee
 How can 1 describe the sight that met my eyes within this mystical chamber Of the circus nymphse X blaze of bright colors, tinkling tinsel ornaments, flesh tints and ripping feminine laughter Then, when m; eyes were accustomed to the brilliant colorings 1 noticed rows of trunks arranged in aisles up and down the length and along the sides of the room.
 About dozen young and very pra.- ty women were at different stages of their toilet with looking glasses framed in the open covers of thei. trunks. A bright blonde, with orla dainty foot resting upon the edge ef her trunk, was fastening the bows tc a scarlet slipper. She is one of ths skirt dancers. and almost every tim she gives that remarkable exhibition, which always calls forth great an, plause she dislocates her knee in soms way. The dislocation of joints al- pears to be common to circus life. ant is not much minded
 A pretty little girl with eyes that are too beautiful to be hidden by sucn long lashes stood fastening yellow sash about her waist. She tied the ribbon with soft white little hands. aui gave it a gentle little pat when fa,~ tened, with true feminine deiicacy sf touch. and yet this same little womaa has the strength of Hercules, an performs on q trapeze in way thrt makes one shiver Her feet are sma. and shapely, but they are strong enough to support the whole weight uf her plump little body, as she han,s head downward from two rings in th trspeze.
 Are you afraid of fallingan asked a girl to whom Mrs. White introduces me.
 '-Oh, dear non' she said, with k smsle that showed several kissatls dirples about her mouth. II hava every confidence in my teeth.n It waa almost impossible to believe as stoo talking to this pretty girl. that she waa the same person whom had seen ll- ing down a lofty wire incline, SUI. ported only by the grip of her teeth
 A slender girl dressed in black lacs sat on trunk near by. She was the champion club swinger," felt her arms and found the flesh as soft and yielding as that of most girls. Of course there was decided protuber ance of muscle between the elbow ana, the shoulder but the skin was while and smooth.
 But it was Miss Cleo who chiefly in- terested noe. because, while there was nothing in the development of her figure to indicate great strength, have seen her repeatedly go up rope ''hand over hand" as my brother calls it. , Being myself experienced in the same way. I know what deal of muscle it requires to lift ope's self an inch. l sought out Miss Cleo, and found her most bright and attractive | girl with no trace of masculinity At my request this smiling little creature gave me an evidence of her strength by placing her hands under my arms and lifting me from my feet
 Then we sat down and talked, and she told me how her training for the life as a gymnast had been begun when she