The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-23

two hours and fifteen minutes the
small boy who derides the notion of
circus that has no parade will hang on
the balcony rail of the Auditorium
thrilled with speechless ecstacy- He
viii be able to see the performers at a
close range as it has ever before been
his privilge to do. He will be close
enough to see the features of the people
in the acrobatic stunt and to examine
the makeup of the clowns.
On the bare floor of the parquet of tbs
Auditorium has been laid a covering OF
tWo-inch planks. These are not nailed
down, but they are held in place by
wooden curbing. circular in form and
about IS inches high This is the ring
and is AZ feet in diameter, big enough
to admit six horses in one act and to
accommodate all the people in the show
if they desire to get in at the same
time. The ring itself is covered with
sawdust, Under this sawdust is first
laid on the boards a coating of CinderS
On top of the cinders is a coating of
common Kansas gumbO two or three
inches deep. On this is spread the saw
dust, and the whole makes a footing over
which the trick mule may run at break
neck speed, nOiseless and with safety
to his rider. Mr.. Shipp studied it all
out himself, and he has about acquired
perfection in the business of indoor ring
ma kim
long cloth curtain will shut most
of the lower floor under the north bal
cony from view. This is to be the dress.
ing room for the performers and thA
waiting room for the horses and the
trick mule between their appearances.
A chute is built down to the ring fof
them and their exit will be made be
tween parted curtains of gaudy hue.
After the performance the animals will
be led away to a nearby livery stable
which is their temporary residence for
the week. Guy wires, pulleys and circus
paraDhernala Of all sorts are rigged IN
place in the Auditorium, ready for to-
gramme will be all the difficult and spec :
tacular acts of real circus, wire walk
ing, the revolving ladder, balancing.
/ tumbling. the traDeze and the clown
band Then there will be equestrian
/ performances and the trained animals
which have pleased the circus-goers of
a score of cities in the last year. Only
the odor of the menagerie and the
chariot racing of the hippodrome is left
OFT.
It is a different kind Of circus from.
that to which Topeka is used That is
There are a dozen or more members
of the Puff club among the people with
the Shipp show Topeka people will re-
member the accounts of the Puff club
which have been published from time
to time when some circus or another
was IN town. 1t Is the society of the
circus ring, and only the elite gain ad-
mission to its brotherhood It Originat-
ed number of years ago and there are
several branch organizations known by
the circus with which they travel. It
is the fraternity of the show business,
established for mutual benefit of the
brethren Dues are paid into the treas
ury and from it a member can secure
a loan when he is pinched' But ne
always pays an exorbitant rate Of in
terest and at the end of the season. the
fund is either divided among the mem
bership or devoted for the expenses of a
/ parting blowout"
Among those who viii appear are such
well known funny men as Phil King.
/ George Hartzell and Lon Moore. One
4 of the most interesting acts will be the
aerobatic work of the DeCona family,
+ seven in all, who come out in fun dress
suits in spite of which they throw
! themselves into the most difficult feats
/ of the acrobatic ring.
/ The performers are very much pleased
with the accommoda tions of the Audi
torium, excepting only the dressing
/ rooms. These will not be much used as
/ they are not suitably located. as we'll as
not being large enough. Indoor work
4 is recreation compared with the summer
( life of the Snowman in the tent with
the night air and the flaring gasoline
lamps. This is almost the end of the
winter season and Immediately after the
4 Topeka engagement some of the people
/ will leave to go East where their en-
gagements for the summer season open.