The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-04-16
CLOSING OF THE SHOW
How the Last day Of the Sea-
son Effects the Circus Per-
former Scenes at VIM
ter Quarters
By Slirers

To the people of the city in which
a show is to close, there seems to be
no difference in the performance
given, than in any of the others at an
earlier dale by the same show, but
to the troupers there is great diff
ference An air of uneasiness is felt
by some, by others the closing date
brings joy, for it means that home
ties broken by the opening of the
show, are about to be renewed; to
these it means a real house to live
in. No more parades in rain or
shine, and many other things that
only troup6r can understand.
During the long season, if it has
been your first, you will have heard
of that closing night of the white
tops" many times which is worth
going many miles to hear the play
ing of Home Sweet Home at the
close of the last performance by the
band, the beautiful notes of which
seem to take on added sweetness;
and in the eyes of many an old timer
tears will come as memory goes back
to other days when Home Sweet
Home" was played. The last per-
Torrance over. the performers bid
good bye to friends some to go to
their homes, others to play in vaude-
Vile. but all to work ont new acts
for the next season.
From the best of the working men.
(roughnecks) is picked those who
will 60 to winter quarters to care
for the stock during the winter
months. Most all of the shows have
permenant winter quarters, Barnum
and Bailey at Bridgeport, Conn;
Ringling Brothers have theirs at
Baraboo. WIS.,: Gentry Brothers are
located at Bloomington Ind, some
shows winter in the town nearest to
the closing stand where suitable
quarters can be secured.
At Winter Quarter.
At winter quarters there are large
barns for the stock and animals.
barns for the wagons, cages dens and
other paraphernila of the show.
There is quarters for the working
men and transfers, and large ring
barn where the trainers put the ami
mails through their acts every day,
and teach them new ones There IS
a paint shop, carpenter shop, and
a harness shop for all of the harness
and trapings must be gone. over and
new sets and pieces made. Old
wagons and cages must be repaired
also new ones built and panied
while in the train sheds, all of the
cars are gone over and put into
first class condition as all show trains
have to be inspected and o. K'ed
by the Master Car builder associa-
ton before the railroads will accept
them for transpo rtation.
Happy Evenings
During the winter every one is
busy and during the long winter
evenings when the days work is
over and all gather around the stove,
the old timers tell stories of the
good old days and the younger men
listen in amazement. During the
winter the management has been
busy signing up acts for the coming
season and about six weeks before
the opening date Calls" are publish
ed in the trade papers, asking all
having contracts TO report on given
date. There is a saying in the pro-
fession that once trouper always
a trouper" and it is pretty nearly
true, for there is something about
the smell of the saw dust thar few
can overcome no matter how much
they may say never again." or cuss
the life during the season. | will
close this series with a few circus
and carnival terms and their mean
ings. Klnker" means performer;
"Roughneck" working men; "Ra-
zorback" trainman; ''Hey Rube"
the showman's call to battle; Bull
man" an elephant man; "Grifter" a
CRATER; "Windjamer" a musician;
John Stall'' means beat it; zap"
any one not Snowman.