Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-02-08
CIRCUS WINTER QUARTERS.
Towns That Are the FnvOrite LOca-
ton of the Shows for the
Winter Season.

The circus season In the United States
land In no other country of the world
Is the circus so distinctive and profit
nble form of recognized public amuse-
ment) begins in the spring with the
first thaw and ends with the first frost.
Between these periods is the season Of
"winter quarters" There are direct
ly and indirectly 10000 persons con-
nected with the circus business In the
United States, equestrians, trainers, ac-
robats, hostlers, keepers, wardrobe
women and veterinarians, and the army
of managers, agents, ushers, litho-
graphers, "side-showmen," "candy
butchers" as they are technically
called, toots, purchasing agents and
canvas men. Almost proverbially fig
y es relating TO circus business, It's ex-
TENT and the programmes Of managers
are exaggerated, but with 40 estab-
lished circus concerns in the country
and with an average Of 200 employees
each, total Of 5000 is attained, to
which, no doubt an addition Of 1000
can be made for those who while draw
Ing their livelihood from circuses, do
not travel with them, but serve in a
business way at home, or supply them
with materials.
The American circus season opens al
different times in various parts of the
country as to climatic conditions, which
vary considerably. 1t is begun earlier
in the south and later in New England
and the northwest. With the close Of
the circus season the managers with
draw their forces into what are known
az "winter quarters" for the care and
sustenance of the animals, and partic-
ularly for the horses who constitute
such an important feature Of circus life.
A portion Of the staff of employees
finds work TAT half salaries during the
winter months) either in caring for the
animals, renovating Che wagons and
cages or In freshening and renewing
the costumes. Ohio, notable as well
In some other particulars, Ia the IA
vorite state for the winter quarters OF
circuses, though western states are
generally preferred for the reason that
better forage appears to be attainable
in them at more satisfactory prices.
Columbus, Cincinnati, Geneva, Lancas-
ter, Wapakoneta and Terrace Park, O.,
are six winter quarters" in that state.
Some other towns in the west where
circuses have their period Of hiberna-
ton are Peru, Ind. Fort Wayne, Ind;
Aurora, Neb.; Baraboo, Wis; Webster
City, Ia; Argentine, Kan; Fairbury,
Neb.; Des Moines, Concordia, Bloom
ington, H.; Muscatine, Ia, and ST.
Louis.
For many years the winter quarters
of the Barnum circus was at Bridge
port, and two circuses now utilize that
convenient and accessible city for win
ter quarters. The lack of income from
entertainments during the winter sea-
son and the continuance, though much
diminished, Of expenses Is one OF the
reasons for the somewhat precarious
character of the circus business, ex-
cept in the case Of very large shows well
supplied with capital to carry them
over during this period when public
interest in circus entertainments is vir-
tually suspended. Some efforts have
been made, but never successfully, to
establish indoor circus entertainments
in winter, but the circus in this country
is n summer amusement, and when
warm weather ceases the period OF win
Ter quarters Is at hand.-N. Y. Sun.