The aegis & intelligencer., 1899-11-10
CIRCUS LIFE.

"If you have been working, where is
your money!" asked the court, giving
the nice-looking man in the greasy
overalls sharp look, reports the Min
neapolis Tribune.
II haven't any," he replied, in a
very frank manner, for a vsg.
That's what your companion said.
1t appears very funny to me that you
two men have been with the circus
since June 12 and haven't any money
to show for it,"
You never roustabouted with a
circus, did you ?" ask the bright young
man. You never left home to follow
the tents for season and see how 1t
seemed to be dog %
| "N-no, think not" said the court,
might have had haukering, but l
never went"
well it's dogs life, without any
mistake; The pay is poor and you get
little out of it,"
But you should have had enough
to show some money when you left.
You say you were going to harvest and
you left Sunday morning. Now, you
must have had some money coming"
"All of which shows that you never
travelled with circus, was the reply
of the young man, while the bald
headed companion in the prisoners
chair nodded his head emphatically.
Il was with the horse outfit and this
man was with the black tent gang
The pay is not large-$1S month II
you stay all the season and 60 into
winter quarters, and If you don't Sl5 a
You had your board and lodging"
i'll rho ~
"Yes, but that shows how little
people know about a circus life. II
every boy had my experience, or knew
of it, he wouldn't banker to travel
with a show. You see, VIC had to be
up at all hours in the morning, usual
ly o'clock, and from then until z it is
as hard work as you ever raw. At
about that time you are as hungry as
horse, and breakfast is not served
until 8 o'clock. That is one of the
schemes of the show. So to fit it for
us they have a privilege wagon. where
we can go and buy cup of coffee and
lunch, and we need that every morn.
ing. Then we have dinner, a good
one, at l O. clock, and supper at 5
o'clock.
Now it is after that where we again
begin to be aware of our appetites, and
we get so hungry by about 10 o'clock
that we have to go after the privilege
wagon again, and that takes money.
Then we are always needing things.
The hard work wears out and tears
clothing, and we have to have little
odds and ends. The circus is just like
a travelling city. You think a town
gets some good out of a circus, but not
much. None of the hands buy any.
thing in town.
You see the circus peaple have a
commissary wagon, in which they
keep all kinds of necessary clothing,
shoes and outtitting, and the little
things men need. 1t is like miners
general store. We go there when we
need anything, and it is charged up to
US. So when the day for pay comes
around there isn't much and some
times less than nothing for US, and we
have to work a few days on the next
month to even up with the show busi-
ness, and had mind to go harvest
ing"
You look as if you had been hard
worked" said the court. "lfI let you
go do you think you can get out of
town today?"
Yes, sir, we want to get right out
to the fields"
You may CO."
Two very happy men, Charles Han
son and Joseph Morris, in greasy over
alls, broDzed faces and hardened hands,
went out into the street, and struck
straight for an employment office: