The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-12-29
THE SAWDUST RING.
SCENES At A REHEARSAL OF
CIRCUS PERFORMERS.
People Who Never Drink and Arc Al
ways Smiling and Poiite-Rigorous
Training Of Horses for Bare Back
Riding-Sack Coat and Tights.


Training Of Horses for Bare Back
Riding-sack Coat and Tights.
The permanent circus is q novelty,
and the winter. circus is ever so much
different from the travelling aggrega-
ton. The horses are sheltered in
brick stables instead of top tents. The
performers settle down to boarding
house life. As for the circus itself the
ring has plush topped railing around
it and there are opera chairs and
private boxes in place of the beloved
rickety seats. The seats rise in many
tiers around the deep ring, while the
electric lights, calciums, frescos and
brass rails suggest big theater,
rather than a circus.
At 10 o'clock in the morning the
practice was well under way, says the
Chicago Record. The interior was
lighted by the sunshine which came in
through'the skylight overhead. There
had been no general cleaning up since
the performance of the night before,
and as the band stand was deserted
and only few people scattered
through the front rows the circus did
not appear at it's best. Willie O'Dale,
the rider, was in the ring working"
his big gray horse. A man who didn't
look much like a ringmaster was
cracking the whip and Mr.. O'Dale, in
plain suit of tights without spangles.
was leaping on and off his horse, all
the time keeping up a conversation
with his friends in the front row of
seats.
When Mr.. O'Dale had finished his
practice with the big gray horse he
had a bay horse sent in. This bay
horse did not have a broad, fat back
like the other, and as the rider stood
up and balanced on one foot he re-
marked that it was like doing a tight
rope act.
Zach rider has at least two horses, :"
explained Mr.. Stickney. at takes
from a year and half to four years
to train horse for bareback riding.
The rider must know his horse per-
fectly and have him under thorough
control. In training horse for ring
use we never weep him until he gets
outside of the ring, and then we e
him a sound licking. But as soon as
he gets back into the ring he is to be
petted again and treated kindly. l
used to ride horse that was 80 years
old, and he was actually SO reliable
and steady in his motion that I felt az
safe on his back as 1 would on the
floor"
After Mr.. O'Dale had sent his Sec
ond horse away he vaulted over the
rail, put on q double breasted coat
and a derby hat and began smoking q
cigarette. The combination of sack
coat with tights was rather startling.
Robert Whitaker, another of the
riders, was whistling around the out
side of the ring with striped bath
robe partially concealing his thin suit
OF tights. One of the young riders
came into the ring to practice his
jumps over banners and through
hoops. Some of the performers
climbed into the ring to hold the ban
ners on the horse. and let him carry
them around the ring to see if the
Tapping of the cloth would brighten
him.
ats different nowadays" remarked
Mr.. Stickney, who had put two of his
trained dogs under his chair and was
watching the '-act'' with much inter-
est. These new riders go in for biff
and bang from the very start. When
was boy the education of circus
rider began when he was years old.
He was sent to the dancing master
first, and was taught posing. dance
steps, grace and all that sort of thing.
In the old style Of riding the graceful
attitude and the smiles counted for q
good deal. The rider had to smile all
the time, whether he felt like it or
not. My father used to say to me:
Even if you get your back broken,
keep on smiling"
A woman hrdle-rider. came out for
practice wearing dingy combina-
ton of petticoat and bloonner costume.
Her husband acted as ringmnster and
when the horse became fractions and
SHE'D once or twice he ordered his
wife down and although he was in
street costume, jumped ON the horse
and gave the animal a thorough Grid
ing OUT at . terrific speed. Some
times it is necessary to overwork q
frisky animal in order to make it we'll
behaved
Mr.. Whitaker, who is muscular,
wiry little man. with black hair and
mustache. threw of his bath robe,
removed his clogs, and took his morn
ing exercises with the horses. Just
as he left the ring the equilibrists who
do the wonderful head to head bal
ancing, pulled off their overcoats.
which half concealed their tights, and