Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-03
A BUSY WOMAN.
How Wardrobe of Cole Bros, Shows is
Looked After.

How Wardrobe Of Cole Bros. Shows is
Looked After.
Can you imagine one woman looking
after and keeping in condition the
clothing of n family of over seven
| hlhdred: Well that is the RESPONSE
bi'ity that rests on the shoulders of
Miss Ada Forbes. the mistress of the
wardrobe with the Cole Brothers
Shows. Miss Forbes is one of the
busiest people around this giagtntic
show and she is an active little woman
who has the beautiful way of making
every move count for something There
is no wasting of energy and while
fully alive TO the responsibility of her
position her cheerful disposition goes
a great way towards tightening her
| strenuous duties. Miss Forbes has
| three women and one man to assist
her and every piece of wardrobe with
these shows to look after This not
only includes all the parade and entree
costumes worn by the performers. but
the gauCy trappings of plush, velvet
ard tinsel worn by the horses, ele-
plants and camels during the parade
entree and performance If you We're
| to take Il peep into the pad ROOM of
| the dressing tent, standing behind a
| long counter, surrounded by piles OF
boxes, iron-bound trunks, you would
see a pleasant faced, dark-haired Wo-
man, giving an order here, pulling out
piece of velvet and tinsel there and
| at the same time shaking the dust
from a large ostrich plume as with
meaning aim she jabs pin after pir
into a suspended cushion. This is
Miss Forbes. Every piece of ward
robe comes under her inspection daily
and many of them twice daily. When
one counts hats, coats gloves, skirts,
| boots, pantalOons and belts of the
riders, the velvet collars and saddle
pads of all the horses, the blankets
| and trappings of the elephants and
cameis. she has over 10000 pieces to
| look after keep in condition and re-
| pair. The costumes worn by the per-
! formers in the rings are owned by
themselves and kept in condition by
them, but all the parade, entree and
other handsome costumes are owned
by the show and costly. The parade
costumes with the Cole Brothers
Shows alone are valued at over $780,
900 while the entree costumes coSl
probably twice this sum.
Miss Forbes is among the first on the
show grounds in the morning and as
soon as the dressing tent is erected her
| boxes and trunks are unloaded and
| placed as she designates. Then she
and her assistants get busy Ali the
noraae stuff is hauled out busted and
put in position and in a short time
handed out TO their respective owners.
Tht performers come to her for theirs,
the drivers for their caps and COATS
and plumes for their horses; the am
nal men for camel and elephant
blankets, flags for their cages ana
their own uniforms; the various band
| members for their uniforms ana Ill
| fact every one who goes in parade mas
| to come to her for their uniforms OF
| costume and if one piece is lett over
| an inquiry is soon afoot 10 leii
whv the Wearer is not on paraue.
| When the parade returns every piece
finds its wav back to her and unhaP-
NV is her or his lot who fails to return
| them at once for there IS no time 10
wait for this busy little woman. She
| and her assistants get busy at once.
| Everv niece is looked over and care
| fu,,v cleaned and if any repairs are
necessary they are laid one side ana
| ,,tor in the day receive the attention
.hov reorire. Three sewing machines
| do rand work in this line ana asai!'
tho narade stuff is packed away uli,i
| the next day. ,a
The same routine is again gone
through in laying out the stuh lor .he
entrce but when this is feturlleu az
tho onening of the afternoon perform
once It is not packed away as WAS III.
n,rade stuff, for it has to ne uae'
aa,ip at night. 1t is simply clea'le"
| ava ni,ed up carefully until ailer tn''
antrea at night and then packed
| rba store wagon of Miss FORBES "e
| or+,nart would excite the envy oi any
,,or,,n There are bolts of plush anu
,,.,,at. of all colors yards OF gold anu
,,,,,o,. lace and hundreds OF pouh"s vi
; 9a,, .nd silver tinsel. Hats, plulhea
| and belts without numper anu ' -
everything requisite to h''Ne "p
| costume or repair 1t at q Stco''' . i.
,;ce There are enough needles spoo,'
Of thread. thimbles, scissors anu sue
noranhe.nalia to start young
H., in all of this stock there Is ilot o''e
.h;n,, that is not absolutely necessary
,I,ss Eorbes' motto is "a stltch III
49,. ..yae nine" and she has every
..,,, handy to take time Tor thla
role BROTHERS Shows will be seen
here Wednesday, Aug. 3.