The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-17
b. HALLS TEAM.
HOW A CIRCUS
is CONDUCTED.

The stories OF "rhc Arabian Nights
offer no picture more mysterious or en-
chanting than does the arrival OF the cir
Gus In n country town. one night citizens
go 10 sleep I'm absolute peace and silence.
The next morning the shrill notes OF the
calliope awaken them, and they look I'm
bewildorment upon n broad eNpanse OF
undulating canvas and waving banners
where yesterday was a grassy field i'm
habited only by sad-eyed kline, which
licked salt from a peeled log.
Enchantment played no part I'm inc
building OF this city OF a night bard
work and system raised the poles ana
spread the cloth that now shelters a thou
sand persons and world OF animals
And indeed IL may be called city, for,
though il has no state charter nor com
mon council IL has its hotel. blacksmith
shop. laundry, wagon shop, general store,
Ia aTncss shop, postOffico. and barber shop,
and It's doctor, lawyer, dentist, and de-
tcctiyes.
10 transport the Ringing Bros circus,
which in "A way is a disunctiVely chicago
institution, from one town 10 another re-
qCircs train which lacks but lsJ fpt or
being a mile I'm length.
This home on wheels is ordinarily nam
died by four engines, but there have been
instances in the west, where mountains
are TO be climed. when rs many as thir-
teen engines have been necessary 10 hadl
the show into town.
biggest institution of its Kind, and its
handling is made possible only by the
most rigid discipline and perfect system
OF management
Tho first things To be unloaded when
the trains begin to arrive in town are
the cOmmissary wagons.
By the time they have been hauled TO
the exhibition grounds, or lot" as cir
Gus men call 10, the boss canvas man
and his gang have measured off the field,
marking with an iron pin, from which
n nh 10 f-fhhas1 Hnffrf.z where
"A stake is 10 be driven, thus guiding the
sledge corps i'm their work OF driving the
wooden stakes.
ERECTION or THE TENTS.
The first tents erected are the dining
room and Kitchens, and so rapidly do CIR
Gus people work that within forty MIN
utes after the first wagon res~hes the lot
breakfast is served from red-hot wagon
ranges i'm which fires were started the
moment the train reached town.
BY the time breakfast Is ready good
part OF the circus has arrived on the
grounds. A forest OF stakes has appear
ed ready To receive guy lines that hold
the tents I'm place, and the hungry army
OF sledge weilders sits down TO dine while
the canVasmen hoist the poles of the two
main tents, or big tops and raise the
sheets of heavy fabric skyward
Their breakfast finished the sledge gang
again take up their hammers and drive
the stakes for the stable tents tsat the
horses may have shelter and food as soon
as their work or hauling the circus to the
grounds Is finished.
Next the canvasmen eat while the AMI
mal-keepers and the hostlers of the men
agerie are hauling the cages into one OF
the big tents and placing them I'm their
regular order and leading the big eXbt-
bition stock into their pen.
All this work has been accomplished In
a remar rkably short time. Everybody has
now had his breakfast, and the work or
erecting the stables and shops and small
er tents begins.
Usually about o'clock the performers.
who have their .wn special dining cars,
have also had their breakfast and have
arrived on the Tot i'm readiness for the
parade which begins the days eNhibi-
tions.
PREPARING FOR THE PARADE.
Promptly at 10 o'clock the big twelve