The Daily Missoulian., 1913-05-18

and black, that have been posted on
all of the sgnboards throughout
western Montana during the past
week, is gentle reminder that the
circus season is at hand The open
ing show for Missoula is the Yankee
Robinson company that is here May
~ Then comes Sells -F'loto in June
and the prospects are that there will be
several others here this season.
1t is an old and oft repeated saying
that If YOU see one circus you see
all.'' Yet as often. as we have heard
this how ready we are to admit our
error once we have been admitted be
hind the scenes Of a really big circus,
and see the stupendous work of get
ting the show in readiness for its
seasons tour. Then we rSalize what
vast sums Of money and gNny matter
are expended in seeking andAperfecting
novelties in order to give the public
something new.
1T can truthfully be said that money
IS no object in seeking the means to
this end, for well trained and highly
paid agents are ntlringly and re-
slentlessly securing the for corners
of the globe In search of performers
with acts that thrill or for some
novelty, whether 1t be Of the animal
or feathered Kingdom to exploit when
the show hits the road"
To begin with circus life is entirely
different from any other show life on
earth. tits truthfully said that circus
and this is borne out by the fact that
Al ,%o k{S%, ,1a%t 1,a
trapeze, flying ring or bareback per-
formers all come from a long line of
circus folk, and the best known Of
these today represent the fourth or
fifth generation in the saWdst arena.
The gathering of these artists-for
they always designate themselves as
artists and jealous in the extreme are
they of their arts like the reunion
of a big and saffectionate family. They
come from all quarters of the globe
to hich they decamped when the
previous season closed. The love of
the arena is inherent and so deeply
imbued that they fairly hnger for
Ehe work before them-eager for the
glare and excitement of the life to
come and the plaudits they know they
will wiring from the millions of specta-
tors before whom they are to per
form.
Following it's short journey from
winter qarters at Bridgeport, Conn,
the Biggest Show finds itself COM
fortably housed in Madison Square
Garden. When it aWakes the next
mornng it finds a busy day ahead
and so, too. the next day and the day
following. or in fact until the doors
are thrown open to the public and
the lblare of the band is heard within.
The circus is allowed just eek, or
even less, in hich to whip itself into
shape for the premier. Each feat
stunt race, and clown prank is re-
hearsed time and again and when per-
fected each. is timed. Then each OF
these feats, stunts races and clown
pranks are given their place on the
official programme. All must move
with clock-like precision and there
cannot be a hitch, for a minute lost
here or there might throw the whole
programme out Of gear and spoil "a
entire performance.
Then follows a circus performance,
the like of which is not seen again
until the. sho Wreturns to New York
again on it's next annual tour. In
many respects there is no other per
formance to equal it IN interest, and
yet it is given to an absolutely empty
house. Act for act, stunt for stunt,
1t is the same circus the public sees,
but with this big difference-it is
given in negligee. It is an Informal and
an undress affair from start to finish,
for there is no gauze, no spangles no
tinsel, no glare, no blare and no gilt
ter. The men, women and children
who go through the feats that are to
thrill millions of spectators set about
their work seriously. all with one end
in vieW, and that to so perfect thel1
respective act that no possible slip OF
miss can creep in to mar it. There Is
nothing more humiliating to a per-
former than to attempt feat or stunt
and fail in it's execution. These plain
colthes performances are gonf
through repeatedly day after day
until the evening before the big sho"
opens Then for the first time
spangles and tinsels are donned and the
full dress rehearsal is given This one
dress rehearsal constitutes the only
real try out the show gets, yet SO wei
trained is each and every one in hi:
or her part that they all toddle off t.
bed tired, but content, assured tha
the morrow win bring the plaudits o
the public and the first installment o.
the salaries cited in their contracts.
The faithful recording of its dali,
life with a big three ring circus, fol
lowing it in all its vicissitudes, is bu
sthe recital of the wonder-products o
system and efficiency Everywhere AM
at all times they prevail-in tn
tumult of the busy summer season, il
tha aeongenial quiet of winter quarters
from the moment the new and un
monted sights: stir the city slumber 0
county seat quiet until the breaking
ss Of the white tented city noiselessl
nd steaathny departs in the night. /
works on a schedule that is more har
and fast than the busiest OF railroads
Everything is done in its appomte