The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-11-16

membranes Of things behind the
scenes that show how hard the first
class circus performer has to work. l
caught on to everything around the
show but the snakes and they didn t
keep still long enough to give me a
chance. I have seen the sunny eide
of circus life and the side that isn't
sunny.
I have talked to'circus people from
the proprietor to the lowest laborer.
have been the friend and close asso-
ciate Of the reformed elephant" and
have been used to demonstrate the
immense size of the giant in the side
show. I have seen ton of spangles
on one side of the great circus tent
and ton of bread on the other. |
\ have seen 3 wagon load Of money and
market basket full of free tickets
taken in at one performance and a
wash tub full Of coin paid out.
The greatest show in America to-
day IS tie combined Forepaugh-Sells
Brothers Circus, for lis acomblna-
ton Of two shows that were immense
years ago, and under the combination
additions have been made that place
it Ia the lead.
The brains and money Of the Sells
brothers, the late Adam Forepaugh,
James A. Bailey, 2. T. Barnum and
M. w. Cole have been placed in one
Big jack: pot. Il will take more than
four acresto win against that combi-
nasida. i siiI.
When was told to find this great
circus and remain with it until / had
seen everything in show life I thought
the Job was an easy one, but | was
mixed in my calculations. Suppose
man were to tell you 10 run after q
town Of Z, 900 persons that vas flying
before Cyclone; catch it; go through
IL and getall the news there was IN
the place, what would you do2
That would be an easy task compar-
ed to the circus story, for the cyclone
would get tired and stop. The circus
aever does this. Its a whirlwind of
novelties carried about by q tornado
Of energy that beats all the freaks Of
the elements. There are many towns
in Georgia. considered prosperous and
growing, that have less than half as
many persons In it as are with the
Eorepaugh;Sells Circus.
For 90 weeks these people and AMI
mails have been whirling from one
town to another like shooting stars in.
the skies. They have been here to-
day and there tomorrow, but it is the
same thing every day in the week, ex-
septing Sunday, which is q day Of rest
and house cleaning. Last Saturday
the circus was at Anderson, S. c.,
where it showed to a big crowd twice
during the day and that night was
travelling swiftly towards Augusta.
Early Sunday morning the a rail-
road cars reached that town and the
work Of unloading began. 1t would
take President Mckinley week to
unload that train; Chauncey Depew
couldn't do it in less than ten days;
William j.. Bryan would need two
weeks; the Prince Of Wales would
need three, and / would want q month
and an earthquake to shake the things
off if Z had to take the contract.
The man who has charge of the
transportation did this work with his
army Of helpers in less than two hours.
There was not profane expression,
harsh word OF rough act in the whole
TRANSACTIONS. It was case of hustle
from start to finish. 1t was run and
Jump from the minute the train stop
ped until everything had been done.
Then there was little rest; fires were
kindled, pipes were lighted and a quiet
time was had the balance Of the day.
The first thing off the cars was the
cooking outfit, and the menagerie can
vas, with the animal cages, close be-
hind. While the unloading was being
done stout man with little bunch
Of whiskers on his chin was tearing
over ground to the circus lot like a
fast mail train two hours behind time
That was Mr.. James Jordan, the boss
canvasman, and he is said to be the
best in the country.
Mr.. Jordan has pleasant face and
an even temper, but he controls his
men like general would an army.
He wasted no time in salutes, for
every motion around circus means
something practical. Mr.. Jordan's
whiskers stand straight from his chin
like they were being blown; out by
swift current of air coming from under
his shirt collar.