New-York tribune., 1906-04-08
CIRCUS HAPPY FAMILIES
Groups Called Sisters" Often So
Only in Bonds of Their Art.

Are they really sisterss'
This is the unbidden query that rises in the
minds Of nine-tenths Of those who witness the
performance of the Grunatho troup Of acrobats
in the Barnum & Bailey circus at Madison
Square Garden. In fact the relationship be-
tween the various families or ''troupes' Of per-
formers in the circus is matter of universal
curiosity. In the circus company performers
who present their acts in unison. in the majority
Oe instances. are 'biIed" as brothers" or sis
ters" or families" The Grunatho sisters, for
instance are not all sisters. They are however
all blood relatives.
In the remarkable human column they pre-
sent the three girls in the air are sisters; the
SISTER" who is supporting them and the man in
the centre is In reality a cousin. The girls on
either side are sisters Of another branch of the
numerous Grunatho family. The man in black
is the husband Of the young woman on his right.
The mother of the girls in the air who is also
professional acrobat acts as chaperone for all
the girls and the husband. Herr Grunatho is
a ringmaster.
The Grunathos. like nearly all other success
full circus performers. come from a long line OF
arenic artists. Nine. Grunatho's mother and
father, and their families before them, were
circus performers Although German by BIRTH
the Grunatho sisters have spent most Of their
lives in France. and are generally known
Parisians.
The Huettermann sisters, whose performances
with high school horses are also notably clever,
are sisters for professional reasons only They
are Bohemian women who have won consider
able fame in Europe In private life they are
Nine. Guiliette and FraUlein Margot von Slut
terheim. Nine. Guiliette is the daughter Of Gus
taFe Huettermann, who, during his long career,
mas taught equestrianism in nearly every inpor-
tant royal court in Europe In recent years
Herr Huetternann has conducted riding school
patronage Of
Bohemia He also enjoys a pension from the
Emperor in consideration OF his many years Of
service in the imperial family. FFaulein Stutter-
helm comes from noble family Of reduced fort
une in silesia, and is entitled to use the noble
| prefix Won.
In the Florenz family Of acrobats there are
several families or parts Of families. NJ Florenz
is the leader Of the troupe He is assisted by his
| wife, their son Alfredo, a little chap who per-
! forms some remarkable "four-high' somersaults;
| his two brothers. one of whom has a son who
appears in the act. and sister and several
/ brothers OF Nine. Florenz. NJ F1Orenz is the
| descendant of many generations Of circus per-
| formers.
| The Siegrist- -Silbon troupe Of aerialists COM
pflses TWO families, who are related by marriage,
! and two girls VINO cousins of Toda Siegrist
| the head of the family"
| Josie de Mott the sOmersault equestrienne is
/ Mrs. Charles Robinson outside of the circ,Is
/ world Jennie Slbon, the petite and pretty
aer1alist is the wife OF Charles Silbon, also a
| midair artist. Minnie Thompson who gives
some clever exhibitions of driving on the hippo-
drome track OF the big circus Is the wife of raw
thompson, whose rfding in the big menage
number evokes much applause. Ida Miaco one
! OF the other high school riders Is the wife OF
! Steve Miaeo, the clown. Minnie Johnson who
! drives the famous old horse Evergreen In the
| same number, is also the wife of a circus come
/ dian Spader johnson.
The Rooneys, the Irish-American equestrians.
are Mr.. and Mrs. Rooney in private life Fred
Ledgett and Dallie Julian who give a clever
riding and driving act in novel cart are hus-
.Iasl oand ana WIFE Mile La Tour the little French
chauneuse who drives" the somersault turn-
| Ing automobile In "The Limit :" is unmarried but
! is accompanied by her father and brother
Isabelle Butler, the American girl who dares
/ IN the Dip of Death'' is Mrs. Tom Butler to her
! intimate friends In the Carmen troupe of high
| wire performers there are two families and fbe
girls are either sisters or wives