The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-06-29

it is stormy ! am compelled to wade
through mud and water but | take good
with the bad, and the good weighs
down one end of the scale to such an eX-
tent that the bad hardly counts.
1--WE live splendidly with the circus.
Mr.. Hagenbeck's managers take excep-
tionally good care of the women. We
have staterOOms and clean, airy berths
in beautiful Pullman sleepers, with por-
tiers to look after our laundry, brush
our shoes and skirts, and keep our beds
supplied with fresh linen. And our hus-
bands, of course, get the benefit of all
these Injuries.
I'VE are not compelled to rise early
like the workmen. If we are out OF
the cars by nine o'clock, and reach the
circus grounds half hour later, we
have plenty of time to slip into our par
AIDE costumes, and be in readiness wher
Mr.. Ship, our equestrian director, calls
mont" After parade, we change into
street costume, and have luncheon il
the dining tents. And we have splendid
things to eat, served admirably in the
| cleanest of tents.
The afternoon performance does not
commence until o'clock, and we have
plenty of time for social chats and sew
! ing parties. A few of us carry little
hand sewing machines in our wardrob'
trunks. We get them out and sew, anC
gossip Just like the women do at churcl
sewing societies. Il know all about the
latter because | belong to one at my
home in Baraboo, Wis., until it comes
time to dress for our acts. Then thu
time passes quickly, and almost before
we know it, the show is over, and most
of us slip down into the city to shol
and view any objects of interest thai
the particular place in which we arr
showing possesses.
Dinner is served on the grounds from
four until six o'clock, and then we have
two hours before the night show com
mences Many of us utilize this time IL
practicing our acts. We are through
the cars shortly after eleven; to either
read sew, talk or 90 to bed. We never
keep the shockingly late hours of The
society maiden or matron, and the fact
that we live almost entirely in the opeI
air makes us strong and healthy. Ii
fact instead of being dyspeptic and il
ritable, we find life worth living and W.
are cheerful.
Sundays, if we have long run, tina
is, if the trip from town to town i
quite distance, we visit with each 9th
er in the various cars, and have goo'
social time 1t is just like visitin:
neiehbors. If our train reaches tow
early on Sunday, the majority of us g
to church, seeking the edifice of on
faith Yes, lots of circusfolks 90 tt
church. Why, / was with circus sew
eraly years ago that possessed a clown
who had studied for the Episcopal min
istry. Before he had progressed suffi
GENTLY in his studies to secure a rector
ship, he fell a victim to drink, and on,
day, penniless and discouraged, he sough
employment with the circus.
81 need CLOWN remarked the mat
ter-Of fact manager. And l am one,' re
piled the minister, thinking of his er
rors. "He was engaged, and turned ou
to be very clever clown, although whel
his makeup was off, he was awfully ser
ious. Finally he quit drinking, ant
would often hold religious services il
the dressing room. He was not jeeret
at in this. In fact, the performer
of whom he had told his wasted
life and shattered ambitions consoled will
him and always attended the services
| This fact caused him to hold his head up
and eventually he felt sure of himself
| Finally, he left the show business a
| New Orleans, and | have since been toll
that he went into business, married hap
PLY, and is looked upon as a mode
man"