The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-01-16

/ the ticket sellers use the tips of their
fingers, at the same time holding about
fifty admission tickets in each hand,
ready to deal y ticket to the next buyer.
The ticket seller usually hollis adult
tickets in one hand, and chiIdren's
tickets in the other.
These gentlemen receive large SAL
ars, besides being entitled to what is
known in the circus vernacular as the
''walk-aways," meaning the change
that persons leave behind in the rush.
The change left at the ticket wagon
often amounts to 500 90 or $50. 90 per
day.
In counting up the business done at
each performance, the deadwood or
rather the tickets still remaining in
the racks, are counted, and not, as
many suppose, those taken mp at the
door. The only checking up done
from the ticket boxes at the main en-
trance consists Of passes. These are
compared with the reportof the "check-
er-np' The "checker-up" is the agent
who follows the lithographers and
takes up the orders issued by them
for window space for every lithograph
displayed in the city the agents are
billing, the location of which is noted
on the pass issued for such display as
we'll as the number of the building and
name of street where such window
space has been secured. The "route
rider" as he is known in the circus
world, then goes over the city and
notes condition of advertising matter,
as we'll as where window displays are
located, aud turns in his report to the
management. The "route riders" re-
port must, in every particular, agree
with the report submitted by the
4checker-n Or ih"e viii he some one
Hooking for new job.
The ticket sellers on counting up
the business of a single performance
simply handle the money. The treas
urer comes into tie ticket wagon,
counts the tickets left in the racks as
described above. Then he figures up
and tells his assistants how much mop-
ey he wants for that performance.
Any sum over that which the treasurer
demands consists of the "waIk aways,"
and as above mentioned. goes to the
ticket sellers, as a pelquisite of the po-
sition.
After counting up the afternoon
performance, which consumes ont -half
an hour, the bills contracted by the
show are paid 1t is stated on all con-
tracts given to persons furnishing the
show with necessaries, that their bills
must he presented at the ticket wagon
between the hours of three and four
Up m. The treasurer receives these
bills, and If properly y. KID by the
different heads Of departments, are
promptly paid. The treasurer re-fiils
the ticket racks in readiness for the
evening performance. The most re-
markable,t thing in regards to the ticket
sellers, is the development of their
sense of touch. These men have culti-
vated their sense of touch to the high
est degree of accuracy. In fact, most
OF the silver is counted by stacking.
Then the ticket sellers simply run
their fingers over the stacks and know
exactly how many coins are in each
stack, and they seldom make mistakes
nusingthis method of counting money
The auditors department is always
very busy place. One set of books are
kept with the show, and another set at
the shows general Offices. The ac-
c0untallts of the auditors department
make a copy Of each days business.
The copy is daily forwarded to the
general offices where 1t is again copied
into the principal set of books. The
books kept at the general offices
show the business and records Of AL
departments of the show, such as ex-
penses of winter quarters, ETC.. The
books kept with the show, only show
the receipts and disbursements while
en- route. There is much left unsaid
regarding this department. of big
show. As time is limited the writer
simply touched parts Of the depart-
ment that he thought would prove of
most interest to the circle. In some
future paper / Will deal with the large
circus in winter quarters. I'm.
- 80.