Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-29
ROUTING A SHOW.

whether he be the proprietor or general
agent, IS kept busy all the winter making
up a route for the coming season.
ana making railroad contracts. The
former is done partly by the aid OF maps
and partly from their own knowledge
OF the country. Then contracts have 10
be made with printing and lithOgraphln
houses for the paper" to be used the
coming season. and this Is quite an item
in the expense OF running a show. When
the reader Is informed that every stand"
OF pictorial work he looks at upon the
blll-boards contains anywhere from
twenty to forty sheets of photographic
paper. and that each sheet costs about 4
cents. he viii at once form an idea %
the amount OF money that has to be
expended in advertising a show.
THE ADVANCE WORK
When the SHOWS Of winter have melted
and there Is n feeling I'm the atmosphere
as If spring was really at hand, it IS then
that the FIRST man in advance
OF circus shakes himself and prepares
TO hustle out. He is the CONTRACTING
agent and keeps four weeks ahead OF the
show. 1t Is his business TO contract fcr
the ground TO exhibit on. for the horse
feed. license. provender, etc. The car
with the agent, bill-posters, etc, and the
advertising matter keeps about two
weeks ahead of the show. Mr.. Hunting 5
car this year is in charge OF MIR. II. II.
Whittier, who has under him twelve
men. only enough paper Is carried TO
last thirty days, as 1t would be impossible
TO transport the whole seasons supply
In one car. The house which furnishes
the paper makes the shipments TO a
designated point, where 1t is picked up
by the car.
the musicians and performers report at
winter quarters about a week before the
show opens, In order that several full
dress rehearsals with music may be had.
Mr.. Hunting's four sons have remained
with him I'm quarters the past winter.
Two OF them (the older of the four do
trapeze act together, while all four do
a brother act Oumbiing). They practice
each act twice day, and have rig
ging IN one or the buildings upon the
Expositlon-Grounds. Here they have ira
peze, net, and a mat for tumbhng
A SMALL TOP-MOUNTER.
These brothers range in weight from
the big understand" OF $50 pounds to
tiny Toney, nine years old, who tips the
scales at about fifty-five. and is probably
the smallest "top-mounter" In any ring
He is very earnest little worker, though
his big brothers often kid the little
fellow in playful way until he steps on
the mat In dignified manner and tells
them that when they are ready to go
TO work" TO let him know. Tony knows
no other life than that OF a circus. and
has already been in the ring two or three
seasons.
Like all acrobats the Hunting brothers
have their troubles, and when the Dis
patch reporter saw them go through
their act. one OF them had q sprained
wrist. another a lame knee, while the
big and good-natured understand" was
suffering from several boils on his neck.
so that the team could do little shoulder
work. Little Tony seemed 10 be the only
one who was without an ache or pain.
Boils or no boiis. however. they went
through their act. which is a hot one.
In lively manner
BREAKING A CIRCUS HORSE
The reporter also saw horse being
broken 10 the ring. He had been
leader to one Of the vans. and. IL ever
a horse did seem to recognize his promo
ton. the big white equine. who appeared
TO be doing his best to get the proper time
and gait. certainly did. His rider encour-
aged the animal by such expressions as
good boy" when he got the proper time.