The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-07-16

ones. IL Is related that when the
circus was at Hastings. Neb., not
long ago. this little camel was rolled
over and over for a half a block by a
wind storm. Another Juvenile cap
tive that the spectators had a rare
pleasure in seeing was a baby ele-
plant.
Hippo Must Have Water.
In one OF the closed cages was the
hippopotamus. This cage was brought
down to the street hydrant on Front
street opposite the Mailman grocery
to have the tank filed with water. II
was said that the poor hippo must
have water. II had had none since
leaving Kansas City last night.
A great crowd soon gathered on
the circus grounds. II was Sunday
and nobody was busy or cross. So
the children were very happy. IL the
men had been in q rush. they might
not have been SO good natured, but
as IL was, Il seemed that the little
folks could do pretty nearly as they
pleased. And what most OF them
ple3Seu 10 uO MdS w Siihhp VII tho
merry-go-round. a
Odd Feature Of Circus.
This is in itself an odd feature of
the circus. The horses stand three
abreast. II takes but an hour and
fifteen minutes to put II up and 1t can
be taken down in thirty-one minutes.
That Is what the manager of that de-
partment OF the circus claims and he
also declared that the ordinary merry
go-round requires six to eight hours
to nut I'D. This merry-go-round was
hardly up before IL was crowded with
children. Nobody told them they
must not get on and there was not a
word of reproof except when any OF
them began rocking or moving the
swing. Then they were promptly
called down. The children knew the
merry-go-round was net going to be
operated that day, but they could
not resist the temptation of climbing
on IL. But they knew well that when
the show opened the next day, there
would be a free ride first, and they
were looking forward to this and dis
cussing IL with eager and gleeful an
ticipation.
Merry-Go- Round Paying Proposition
The merry-go-round. C o n &C @ d
with the circus. seems to be a paying
proposition. One man connected with
Il stated that at Kansas City on July
4 the swing was I'm operation from
$3.50 to 1880 y. m. and took in about
S24c and On July 5 IL was going from
9 a. IN. to 1890 p. nj. I'm the same
city and the receipts were over $500
The men say the children gathered
around It. at Kansas City in such c
way as to make a pest of themselves
They and even the adults had to b,
kept back by the police until tho
swing was ready TO be operated. TIL,
circus was put M at Kansas City or
Sunday. just as IL was here. and the
crowd that gathered around from
sheer curiosity was indeed vast.
There Is another merry -go-r ount
on the circus grounds not far from
this one. TlE?t has been operating in
another part OF this city. So tn,
business must be divided between tho
two.
Those circus men have n strenuous
life. They a set up IN ir show "
four and a half hours from the time
the train arrives In any city ant
have the paraphernalia back on the
train one hour and forty five minute:
after the performance closes. Blu
they were not so strenuous about j
yesterday. They had a chance Il
take their leisure and they did.
Twelve Hours Sleep.
Most of the seven hundred peopl,
that came on the train had had about
twelve hours of sleep That is a lux,
ury for them. AS a rule they geI
about five hours and that while goint
from one city to another.
Buffalo Bill himself is here. The
men say this seventy years seem Il
rest lightly on his powerful shoulders
He has his w private cook ant
takes all his meals on the train. Hi.
table is supplied with the best Of
everything.
There are unique sights at all times
On a circus ground. Yesterday some
of the men could be seer shaving eacl
other In the open air. There were
two lines of towels. On one line wa.
a sign In large letters marked white
and on the other a sign marked
"Colored." These words did not re.
fer to the shades and hues of the
towels themselves. but to those o.
was evident that white men did mo-
wish to use the same towels that the
negroes used.
The circus parade went through the
main part Of the city today, between
en-thirty and eleven thirty o'clock
going down Second street and bacl
by way of Front.
The procession was led by foul
black horses. Then came a circus bant
and then Buffalo Bill in a carriage
waving greetings from time to time
to groups along the sidewalks. Mex
followed a closed cage with a bant
on the top Of 1t. then girls on horses
tigers In open cages, then liens, ther
more tigers, another closed cage with
the band OF top. more girls on horses
then a closed hippopotamus cage, ther
a steam calliope. a camel drawing
buggy, circus chariots. girls on a high
wagon, a cowboy musical band or
horse back. Indians on horseback
an old d~ilapldated stage coach priced
for It's historical value. a tractor
drawn the steam calliope. a closed
cage, another with a band on top
gayly uniformed men on horse back
another closed animal cage. two ele-
plants drawing lannon's, six more
elephants. two more closed animal
cages, and another steam calliope