The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-29
BEHIND THE SCENES IN A CIRCUS

BEHIND THE SCENES IN A CIRCUS
James Whiteomb Riley must have
been great lover of 1.-THE Cireus''
when he was small boy, as he has put
the real circus feeling into his rhyme.
On, the Circus Day Parade l can
feel the JOY of grand entrance parade
thrilling through my very soul every
time l repeat this wonderful poem.
Yesterday | had the great privilege
and JOY OF not only seeing circus, but
in going behind the scenes and seeing
the life behind the joySul, exciting and
amusing acts which are shown to de.
light the audience.
l invited some of my friends to ac.
company ME, and we certainly had a
fine time. After the performance we
chatted with Princess Wiwi and other
so-ealled freaks. Then we visited
Mother Talbot, who is called "Mother
of the Circus We found her a
charming, 70-year.you1g, motherly soul,
who not only attends to the circus chill
dren s wardrobes, but trains their minds
and morals. She said that she had been
with the circus for twenty years. and,
in her opinion. it was mighty fine
place in which 10 live. She introduced
me to dear Katherine Wallace. who is
the baby of the circus, and who plays
with little tigers and lions. Mr.. vii.
kens. the publicity man, gave me this
dear little girls picture as she is seat.
ed with number of tiger cubs.
Mother talked to Adgie Castillo. the
famous lion trainer, and found that she
was real natural educationalist, as
she believes in loving and petting even
lions if they are to be educated to learn
how TO do things. Mr.. Wilkens said
that he had consulted many animal
trainers, and they all say the same
thing:
'All that is required of an educator
is love and patience
Nine. Marzella, who has the wonder.
full eockatoos, spent four years in train.
ing one bird to do single trick. Her
birds all love her, and one old fellow,
who is lie years of age, still performs
every morning and evening.
Enjoys Being Circus Queen
1t was a great joy to me to see real
circus clothes, TO try them on and pre-
tend that l was a queen, and was sur.
pTised to find that they were really
queenly garments, and not made of
sateen, as formerly thought. We saw
many people busy sewing sequins on
these robes. We visited the stables
and saw all of the fine horses and
ponies; we played with the circss dogs;
had a good peep at handsome mother
tigress with her babies. and, through
the generosity of our host, we fed all
of the elephants on circus peanuts. But
the best part of all was when the ring.
master. Mr.. Adler, allowed us TO go
into the ring and ride real circus
horses.
Sonny Mackenzie, who is the grand.
son of the noted s. s. Mcclure. ap-
preached the steed brought for him to
ride and after feeling the pony's side
he exclaimed, "'Oh. he's all cotton. -
Relying on his faith that cotton could
not hurt him. he bravely mounted the
steed and rode about the ring with a
smile according with his name of Son
nv. Nancy Dobler Hersey did not take
a fancy to the pony offered her, and the
pony did not seem to like the color of
her red hunting jacket, so kind Mr..
Adler sent for good Uncle Sam, a very
ancient pony. who likes all little girls,
regardless of their costumes. Nancy
liked this pony much better, and he
seemed to be more friendly inclined to-
ward her, so the two ambled merrily
around the circus ring.
Master Joel Appel was given Molly
for his mount. Molly was chestnut
mare who has lived In the circus for
many years and who will probably end
her DAYS there. as Mr.. Adler says he
rever sells his horses. but chloroforms
them when they are too old to work or
perform.
Grownups Not So Joyous as Kids
Mother. Miss Eleanor Mcclure and
Miss Ethyl Moekler were invited to
ride around the ring, but they said.
No. thank you, although know that
they were vearning to ride with us
kids. But l haven t told you about
my steed. because l must make a con-
fession about my acting somewhat sell
fish. Mr.. Adler, not knowing my cow
boy tendencies, selected Molly for my
mount and planned to give Tommy,
Mrs. Adler's favorite horse, to Joe Ap,
pie. When I saw Tommy I could not
resist the temptation to jump on his
back, and away 1 galloped, imagining
that l was a real cowboy of the West.
Mr.. Adler called after me and urged
me to "hold him in, !" but the sensation
was delightful and 1 threw discretion to
the winds. Ergo, 1. was punished by
the consequence of my act as mother
said that l could not ride around a
third time because had gone the ring
in cowboy style. longed to have a
race with Joe, Nancy and Sonny, as l
knew that Tommy could beat Molly and
the ponies, but I had to obey and dis
mount ,as l knew that if I took the
longedfor third ride l could not ride
another horse for many long weeks in
the future.
On our way to the Office. of Mr.. Will
kens, where we had left our wraps.
dog took great fancy to Sonny Mae
kenzie. Sonny did not like the kiss,