Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-12-11
CIRCUS PERFORMERS
ARE HUNTING JOBS
lPrecariou. Winter Existence Of
Men and Women Who Live in
Tent During Summer.
Old Circus Manager Tells About
Performance Given in Wilds
of SUN Blistered Arizona.

Within the week, says the st. Louis
$Republic, peculiar class of people has
blocked into the cities-"human hies,'
frho walk on ceilings, daring norsemeh
ind women, reckless trapcze performers,
hcrobats, clowns and men who eat glass,
Ewallow bayonets, and fondle venomous
makes; for the circus Season has ended.
I'D these folk who disport themselves
strangely for the public that must be
amused have been thrown out OF their
#egular employment.
While many of these freaks and per-
korn,ers are well paid, few OF them nave
Baid by enough money TO support them
Turing the winter months.
Therefore, as soon as their tents have
Ssen folded and the animals taken to
$ieir winter quarters, these attaches oil
le tented shows look for something
70 do.
g3Almost any day one may run across
LONE of them in the agencies that provide
specialists Tor ali Kliias OF shows.
4 Persons VINO travel with clrcuses nave
81 splendid opportunity to study human
MANURE.
Everybody. almost. goes to the circus
CITY folk. country to.k, backwoodsmen,
segroes, indians, COWBOYS ana Cmna-
1--WE travelled in the far west this year.
II few days ago.
4 You ought to see how performance
Sgoes of in Azrlzona. One of inc warmest
xtimes we ever had was. at Arizona CITY,
faway down at the Mexican border. me
Ecow punchers and Mexicans and negroes
smade. as much noise as was ever MADE
at a frontier massacre.
tine cowboys yelpcd like pack of
coyotes when Nine. Hickey rode TIL,
act and aSghed
hhe clowns I'LL the earth trembied.
That night the cowboys and sreaassrs
lurned the town into shooting gallery,
complying their revoivers at the stars and
fmanlfesling their sorrow at the departure
LET the circus by licking up # a all ,he w re
N wonder to me Where the lazy greasers
kot their money to attend the circus; =,
eirs ives W ana who newer psSe bought
sDund of drinks, and whose appearance
Sadicated their impccunlosty would show
kheir so cents without faitering.
TO tell the truth. 1t always causes ma
70 wonder when see the crowds pouring
onto the tents But to think of these
/ ss 1N II Hsl sui BEAT EN- ALL.
But speaking of circus-goers. the wild
Every one else beaten to death. The
North American aboligine will travel fur
,nher. endure more priyations. and sklnp
iurnself harder to get the price OF adnliS-
ca,,nrl than any other human being !" inc
yae circus more than does the negro, al
Enough he doesn't make SO much fuss
about 1t. The negro as every circus man
Gknows, will sell the family cook stove to
let money to see the elephant perform
2ut the Indian will barter off his papoose,
Dis bis saMaw or even hls most Oh. cherished
on circus day it is every Indian for
Etmself. The boss of the tepees will bring
tnkets in the shape of
o. peddle areundg town, and in this way
gets the money he wants; HIS sauaw
%brings willow tasketss and has to hustle
&6Or her own ticket.
They generally come in couples, ast,ide
~ pony, and if the market is overworked
with old relics they will sell the horse.
EARLY in the morning when the show
Trains arrive. several tents have been
pitched by the Indians, some of whom
u This little colony Is almost as interest
ing as the circus itself. 1t is veritable
Wazar Of relics and papoose exhibitions.
.sVhile the old squaws are getting break
she braves are taking their knfck- knacks
When the doors are open the Indians
fire the first to land OH the bare planks,
rgnd they never move during the entire
Performance.
Vi Applause is unknown to them. If the
trick elephant We're to climb the center
Cole. they, no doubt, would enjoy the per-
lfshow of surprise than If they were cigar
.Nigns. II the performing mule were to
Man tongue they would only grunt.
After the performance the braves
Eackle the white mans firewater, and
Svhile they are enjoying their intoxication
Eheir squaws and children wait on hum
Osber piles until the gray streaks of dawn
iHegin to sprout over the. hills, and then
lie unsteady. train winds out of town
Orver the trail. ~
SI"Chinamen are firm friends of the circus
S,nd are good patrons of the tented shows.
N San Francisco several thousand of tile
yOVieued Mongolians saw our show.
70 Some came. in carriages drawn by
-. handsome well groomed horses, and sat
T m boxes.
: Several matinee parties were given by
kOthinamen worth millions. The men wore
fchly embroidered gowns and the women
tre as undemonstrative as the Indians.
are They express their appreciation Of the
. performances by attending time after