The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-08-11
CIRCUS BATTLES.

man, forget the absorbing yet often
surreptitious delight connected with
the arrival of a circus Not one of
these new tangled monopolies that
travel by train and exhibit only III
large cities. but the small single show.
with the animals in side tent or oft
ener under the same canvas with the
performers The advance agent gen
orally "came to town" about ten days
before the aggregation" He wrote
his name and business in three sheet
poster hand all over page of tavern
register Then be distributed free
tickets to the proprietor and employees
decorated the office with large and
gorgeously Autographed hangers and
under the pilotage of the willing host
Ter sough. the publisher of the local
paper and the town bill sticker"
Both received him cordially, and to
both he told stories and talked bust
ness. With the former he left the copy
for half page "ad," and cuts for the
establishment of the text. Also sew
eral reading notices" bundle of
passes and An order for certain speci
fed dollars on the owner of the
attraction, ''to be paid at the close of
! the afternoon performance" With
| the latter he arranged for the imme
diate billing of the place, ard even
took part in the work himself in order
to prevent any monkey business or
sighting of the job on hand. Several
lads assisted the two men. covered
their small forms with paste and went
home at dark, tired, but with tickets
fer der show in their pockets.
Then came the great day momen
tous to all the town and country side
The circus had arrived like thief in
night aud put up its canvas in Jones'
vacant lot, some three blocks from
the court house. On the tents tail
roof there waved in the morning air
innumerable banners-the flags Of all
the nations the announcements called
them. At the rear the vans were
packed, and from the interior rose
ever and anon the trumpeting of the
celebrated trained elephant or the
growls of the royal Bengal tiger. Fa-
mily carriages rolled into the village
loaded with farmer boys and their
smiling sweethearts. The old folks
followed III their strong country wa
gons. Their days of romance were
over, and they left the putin on of
style" to the youngsters. At 10a ~.
the grand parade occurred The cal
lithumpians footed, the world renown-
ed hon tanner sat in a big cage, tri-
Gmphant over a decrepit king of
beasts, and tinsel pageantry and noise
abounded. The lightning ticket seller
began operations at noon. The side
shows, fakirs, lemonade stands, wheels
of fortune, all did rushing trade for
a couple of hours, and then the circus
itself monopolized all attention. The
audience laughed at the clown. ap
plaaded the tumbler held their breath
as the trapeze artists did their act,
and incidentally stuffed the elephant
and monkey with peanuts. But eve
rybody went home impressed by the
idea that that there existed large
discrepancy between the show as ad
vertIsed and the show rs given.
Those who attended at the night per
Torrance included gang of lahorers
l
with malt, spurious liquor and an in
famed resolve not to be swindled.
As the moments passed they protest
ed, first to themselves, then audibly,
then IN trumpet tones The peace
ably minded took waring and depart
ed, their womankind scurrying on
ahead like flock of frightened quail
The town constable, who had lively
appreciation of what was good for
his health, went to bed
Meanwhile, inside the tent. the
ringmaster had been struck behind the
ear with an overripe tomato. which
upset his dignity and trickled down
on his we'll worn dress suit. The
lady equestrienne," as the program
termed her, succumbed to the Joint
remonstrances of an egg and a cab
bage, and with her trained Arabian
courser fled to the dressing room.
Hey, Ruben'
1t was the owner of the circus who
uttered the war cry lie had scented
trouble, and, having locked the cash
receipts IN the treasure wagon and
| seen the vehicle started for the next
stand, In custody of trusted driver
stood ready to do battle.
Hey, Ruber'
In rushed the canvas men. the
athletes and every male employ OF
the show, each armed with a mallet
stake or club. Cit, nowr was the
| order to the disturbers, and they quail
ed and fled before the menacing anC
motley array Then six brawny fel
lows were told off to guard the fright
ened women performers and escor
them beyond the danger line Th.
rest fell to work at once The ten
came down on the run. The anima
cages were closed, all the baggag,
and property packed, the horses pu
to, and the procession started. b,
this time the protesting laborer
had rallied and saluted the heeins
: enemy with showers of stones. Th
fracas lasted an hour or so. Man,
on both sides received dangerous
hurts, but when the sun came up il
the morning the only thing left t,
indicate that the circus had stoo,
on Jones lot were a trampled saw
dust ring and several battered hu
man beings under care of the loca
surgeons.
This was the frequent story o
circus life quarter of century age
1t Is also, to some extent. the story O
clrcns life to-day, for in place of III
small aggregations that were crushe,
or purchased by the Napoleons Q
showdom, numerous others hav
come into existence during the las
twelve months. One Of these, know
as Wailace's circus, had tough tim
Of 1t not long ago at Mahanoy Cit,
Pa. A lot of tieketless people trie
to force their way into the evenin
entertainment. The doorkeepers RI
sisted. and were overpowered o
gaining admission the rioters attach
.Nys hn n,.fN L +.