The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-08
CIRCUS PEOPLE ARE PREPARING
TO OPEN THE SEASON OF 1906

meat is thrown to them and they fall to
eating.
There are many other animals in the
animal house and i'm other houses about
the grounds while a large shipment
will be received this week from the
north There will be twenty or twenty
five dens in all when the menagerie IS
completed not to mention the elephants,
eamels and other animals which are not
kept in cages.
Manager Downs prides himself on fine
horses He has a collection this season
that awakens admiration. The draft
horses are huge fellows, strong and
healthy. They have been having an easy
time during the past winter. as all they
did was to loaf. The draft horses run ut
large in an enclosure during the winter
months and do no work, thus having the
advantage of the educated horses. which
have to be trained for the ring during
the cold months and must perform twice
a day when the show is on the road.
The educated horses the ordinary ring
horses, the clown mules and the ponies
are kept apart from the draft animals
and are housed in a separate tent. They
are more carefully looked after, but every
horse is valuable and in such a fine herd
1t is a heavy loss to have one die. IN
the hundreds of horses which Manager
Downs has at present black coats pre-
dominate.
An interesting explanation is given of
why most circus horses are white. AMI
mails of that color are not so hard to
keep clean and when used in the ring
their coats do not show the rosin stains
made by bareback riders so easily. All
bareback riders put rosin on the soes
of their feet and rub ii on the backs Of
the horses in order to prevent slipping.
The stewards department under the
pf 10 &c 1rtef
| important part of a Big snow. Mr.. Craig
has to buy all the provisions, including
food for man and beast. This Is a big
item in the daily expense account and
especial care must be exercised to get
! good meat for the animals. The lions eat
better beef than the average man in
town enjoys.
The cook wagons, veritable stoves on
wheels are found OF great assistance in
preparing meals speedily. They ohviate
many of the discomforts and disadvan-
tages of the cook tent. A number OF these
wagons are used In addition big pots are
set up on the ground and used I'm the
culinary operations. Circus people are
given the best the market affords and
the meals they get are much better than
the average hotel serves. There is no
skipping either. Everything is in album
dance and it is surprisingly appetlzing
when eaten in the typical circus atmos-
phere
Martin ]. Downs owner and manager
of the Cole Brothers show, Is a sue
eessful Snowman. He works early and
late and las a remarkable capacity for
details. 1t is said that Mr.. Downs knows
every employee and every horse by name.
He takes active interest in every
department and nothing amiss ever es-
capes his eye Since the show has been
in Birmingham it has brought many dol
lars to local merchants, keepers OF board
ing houses, laundrymen and Others
The few days remaining until the open
/ ing of the spring season will be DAYS
of strenuous activity at the park. but ev-
erything will be in readiness by the APP
pointed time. 1t is planned to have a
dress rehearsal the night before the first
performance is given.
In the meantime the small boy is on
the qui vive.