Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-11-26

perse. In winter the entire establish
ment is maintained. Only the perform
ers and workingmen are dropped With
the performers this is generally a
mere suspension of service, for COR
tracts are frequently made for several
years. Owners, managers and general
agents, press agents, contracting
agents, advertising agents, treasurer,
tookkeepers and others find no idle
moments. Rolling stock suffering from
the hard effect of seasons cam
raign, needs painter and carpenter;
new acts and novelties must be secur-
ed to keep abreast of the times.
! These facts are interesting to Amer
icus and vicinity where the show is
now in winter quarters.
The management must know the
character and population of every
town, have information of the condi-
tons Of business, viissitudes or the
year and the prospects for the COM
irg season; know the national, state
and municipal law and the character
of licenses, and the price of food for
man and beast; keep track of floods,
droughts, or disasters to crops or peo-
pie; be familiar with the seasons CT
blowing and harvesting. The circus
man Of today must have a general in
sight of the railroad business. He
must know what railroads reach GER
tain towns, the character of tunnels
through which the heavy and long cir
Gus trains must pass.
In the southern states in the district
covered by New Orleans there is q
season when tropical rains fall almost
taaily; this is true also on the Pacific
coast, and as far as human foresight
is possible the circus owners route
their shows to avoid a seige of rain,
One must be familiar with climatic
conditions. The circus can never hope
to combat cold and inclement meteor
ological conditions and therefore must
be routed through section favorable
t. tented affairs as far as possible.
The question of transportation is
the most careful one involved and up
on its cost and facilities the route OF
the circus is in great measure de-
termined. The question of a towns
population is of not the greatest i'm.
portance, but the accessibility.
Some Sorry Show TOwnsh
There are number of towns in the
U. S. and Canada with a population
OF $4,000 souls who do not see the
annual visit of circus. They are
> known as dead show towns. AS a rule
they are towns of little active and
commercial life and near the larger
cities. On the other hand there are
scattered throughout the country viii
lcges which boast of two or three
thousand people in population and yet
these towns are annually visited by the
largest circuses. Towns that are trade
ccnters, one into which several raj.
roads run are always picked by the
circus management Often the busi-
ness secured from one of these vii
lagos itself would not pay for the ele-
plants feed Yet the throngs who
visit the particular village on circus
day, by way of automobile, electric
car, steam road, etc., are enough to fill
the great tent to capacity twice.
Through the long and cold winter
months a corps of women are con-
stantly employed in the winter quar-
ters of the Robinson Circus, busy on
new uniforms and trappings for man,
woman and beast. Tlere are rich
plush and bullion galore in the work
shops. The pretty spangles that will
glitter in the ring are being sewed in
place, the elephants are getting new
jackets or royal purple and gold, the
cemels are being fitted out afresh for
the parade. Some of the gorgeous fit
tings are very expensive, but the circus
management calculates they must be
renewed each year. The outlay for
hats, boots and other articles of attire
for the circus army is heavy and
ceaseless.
Getting Ready for Circus Day.
1t is not generally known to the
public but it is fact that nearly one
third of the entire operating expense
ola circus is incurred in the work OF
the advance army of men that have
come and gone, unseen by the average
circus goer. before the big show puts
in Its appearance The advertising
matter its distribution, express,
freight, etc, together with the salaries,
TRANSFORMATION apd Eviuo avnaosoa ~