The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-17
War Interesting Topic of Conversation Among the
 Various Nationalities
BIG FAMILY WILL
 BREAK UP OCT. 24
People Are Saying Good-by-Fine Present for Agee-How the Army Is Fed and Distinctions
 Among Employees
Rx LACK RETHEA

Those who have seen the modern circus only from the seats under the ''big top'' and who have never penetrated those mysterious regions behind the curtain which hides the entrance for the perform CTS have viewed but the less interesting half of the show.
 The other half-the most interesting one .-lies outside the arena and main top and must be sought where the wheels that make the circus go are revolving. It is a world rarely open to outsiders, which adds to it's fascination and makes visit all the more memorable. A secret and long cherished ambition of the writer was gratifed yesterday afternoon at Ring ling Brothers when through the kind ness of E. P. Norwood of the Ringing staff he was conducted through all de- partments of the show to the accompani- ment of a running fire of explanation.
 Just behind the curtain over the per- formers entrance the quiet prevailing be- lies the activity that is hidden by the va- rious small tents that are pitched around a semi-circle. It is an incongruous scene In one corner cowboy is practicing with his rope making it do all kinds of tricks; In another a man in faultless evening dress sits smoking a cigarette while wait ing to go on; an equestrienne Is stroking her horse, whip in hand, ready for the whistle that calls her to the ring; per- haps she is feeding the horse sugar; she was yesterday afternoon, anyway. A }. clown with his makeup on but without his costume runs out of the mems dress ing room to shout for somebody and then darts back to complete his toilet for it is getting late. They all seem to take it easy and there was much talk and low laughter among the performers while waiting their turn.
 Men Quietly Busy
 The mems dressing room is a little to the left of the entrance to the main top and is crowded. Each performer has a trunk, all the same size with folding stands upon which to hang clothing, and a mirror to make up by. All the men are quietly busy, working deftly at their va rious tasks. As they finish dressing they drift out to the space in front of the tent and smoke and banter each other. They are quiet voiced men, uniformly courteous and ready to talk of their work or any thing else.
 Behind the scenes at Ringling's ths war is a topic of even more interest than It is on the outside because nationals of all belligerents are with the show. There are riders from Russia, Belgian and French aerialists.. strong men. from Ger many, English horsemen. clowns from Hungary and in fact natives of prac- tically every country of the globe
 One man in particular was noticeable People of Birmingham have seen him before and are familiar with his act Dressed in quaint costume with protrud- ing paunch he walks around the hippo drome track stops suddenly. there is a { shot and a small dog springs apparently from his stomach. After capering few moments, the box is opened, the dog springs back and the clown walks ahead to repeat the trick.
 There are two brothers in this act Joe and A Deltorell and they are natives Of Budapest, Hungary. Joe was bewail- ing the war yesterday afternoon He said he had Il relatives fighting for the dual empire. In response to a question as to whether any of them had been killed as yet he shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands eloauently and said: We !. haven't heard about it. You can't tell There's S100,000 of ours tied up over there by the war that We won't get for. a long while" Another shrug and he went on to discuss the Russian claim that the whole Galieia had been overrun about which he was extremely slSepficai.se
 Present for Agee
 The show breaks up October "A and goes into winter quarters in Wisconsin. There was an air of regret yesterday at the approaching dissolution of the big family and constant questions of Are you going to be with us next ycar?' John Agee, equestrian director, was displaying with great pride a magnificent present from the performers. It was in the shape of medal with an appropriate inscrip- tiop and diamond weighing several carats sparkied from the pin Such incl dents indicate the feeling prevalent among the people of the show.
 k The executive end of a circus is as in fteresting as is the human side of it. The secret of moving with the necessary dispatch is to have plenty of men and to have no overlapping duties. For In stance the ballet dancers in the spectacle of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba