The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1907-07-18

The old-time wagon show. like our
fathers used 70 see" Is 10 come back.
Let the trumpefs blare and the bag
pipes skirl.
There are many causes for this. One
is. that while men may come and men
may 20. like Tennyson's brook. the
wagon show Will 90 on forever. cut
the main reason Il 10 be found 10 the
action OF lawmakers. grave and seri-
GUS AZ various state 6apitaSs and at
Washington.
Tho wagon show thrired Ike the pro-
verbal green bay tree and was then
suppianfed By the railroad show. jun
DO was 10 longer called on TO hois; the
wagon out OF the gully into which II
had sunk while GA route across country.
The boys OF the vicinity no longer found
their opportunity. astride rail- foaees Ia
the uncertain light OF the morning
when the circus struggled into town.
and We'd with each other for oppor-
tunity 10 carry liquid refreshment 10
the elephant Railroad competition
surely aud by no means slowly proved
too uerce Great circuses could be
moved hundreds OF miles while the old
time show was laborsonsiy creaking
along muddy roads. where the King
DRAG was q thing unknown.
Bot there Is a movement toward a
revival OF the wagon show. Excessive
freight rates. the scarcity OF rolling
stock and the legislation. by states and
nation. against the granting OF rebates
or making any conversions to circusss
OF theatrical companies. no matter how
many people and animals and para
phernalin are transported. are rcspon-
sibie. The managers OF circuses can
no longer obtain concessions that make
profitable long jumps from one city 20
another. The margin OF profit In a
great show Il necessarily close and IN.
certain. hearf-holdlng acts are high
priced. competition Is strong.
No lees 40 aggregation OF circus tai.
enf. with millions OF dollars at stake.
than Isarnum & Bailey's. Il consider
Ing this MATTER II Is proposed 20
abandon railroads for motor coaches
and vans. to quit the regular steel rails
OF the steam roads FOR the wagon roads
over which the countryman drives to
the city with bis produce. In huge mo-
tor vans and cars. such as those now
used By large concerns TO move freight
90 depofs and warehouses. Il Il pro-
posed TO move the show from csty TO
city.
Smaller shows would undoubtcdiy
follow suit. The old-style wagon show
aiay flourish as Il did two decades ago.
Many Of the wagons viii be propelled
By machinery. cunnlnsiy confrived. and
hidden away In their interior. nut
there viii he plenty of shows which.
from Necessity or By rca ms OF econ.
omy. viii depend on horses. as OF yore
There II no more Interesting institn-
ton IN the world than a circus. from
the lieutenant general In command 10
the humbiett stake driver IN the rear
rank OF the prIyates. The picturesque.
ness OF show. particularly a wagon
show. does not end behind the scenes.
though the bareback riders and the
acrobats. the contortionists and the
Wild animal trainers minglc In orsil-
nary clothes. talk ordinary topics. such
as the weather. The size Of the days
attendance. the latest biz OF lnferna-
tionai scandal. Quitting circus is
Just about as small a Job as getting an
army ready to 20 20 Cuba at a days
notice. aud not die of starvation or be
killed because OF inexperIencc the irsf
day out.
II anybody thinks getting an old
styled wagon show ready 10 Quit win
ter quarters and take to the road Is
sinecurc. let him buy two or three
dczen head OF horses. train an elephant.
n few camels. give monkey daily
practice In looping the loop strapped
In toy automobile. show some dirty
negroes how to erect a tent 10 that II
will stay erect. manage aide show, a
menaperie. two rings and platform
and hire a few cooks Into the bargain.
And the hiring OF the cooks Is not the
slightest part Of the task. by any
means Imagine hiring one to cook for
125 men and women, hungry and pcev-
ish. three good big meals day. with
the kitchen In new place every day |
After all. an old-sylcd wagon show
IL no small AFFAIR. Take, say. thirty
I'VE wagons for instance. They hold
rs much circus psraphernslia A. fifteen |
railroad cars One 10 apt to think Of = |
wagon show A. a small affair, Of one
ring. a dozen performers = half dozen |
or 70 horseA That was the wagon |
show Of yesterday, while the railroad !