The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-22
Marion BarteL Meets
Some Circus Folks on
Their NdtiDe Heath
Visits With Worlds Highest Paid Circus Performers
Hears About Circus Life in Ieland-Watches the Crew
and the "Profesh" When They Are OFF Duty.

you to amuse them. I don't know
what the matter was, but you couldn't
get anything across to them. 1t was
a pretty good number for a matinee
tho"
Lets go over to the cook tent"
Braden said. 1.-The flag isn't up yet,
but it's nearly 4:30 and they begin
to serve then. We might as well be
on hand"
What Circus Performers Hate.
sThe lot was rather muddy. Little
groups of players stood ankle deep in
the wet grass. Braden led the way
to where a group was holding an in
dignation meeting in a corner. 1t
seemed that when the last circus was
here, they slaughtered meat for the
animals on the spot and buried the
refuse there, right under the ground
where the big circus tents are placed.
The rotting refuse under the rings
sent up an awful odor all afternoon,
and it affected the performers
Honestly, 1 nearly had to quit sew
eral times" said PoodIes indignantly.
TT was awful. 1t kept getting worse
and worse too. I can't stand that sort
of thing, I simply. can't"
well, think how it was for me, up
in the top of the tent" said a girl
who does an iron jaw act. with that
gag in my mouth and that awful odOr
coming up all the time, I really got
scared, because my jaws would relax"
linen the ouluB TOOul NPdEOOHs bhC
cook tent opened and there was
TT Oh to the door, each person giving
ticket of some kind to a doorman. The
tent was divided into two parts by
canvas wall. On one side sat the per-
formers, and on the other side the
roustabouts, program boys and work
men. Each table seated about six
teen people, and there were many
tables. Nearly a thousand persons are
fed at each meal. There were roast
ri r1aGhad nnfafnRS.
! corn. stuffed olives, bread and butter
coffee, tea, or milk, and peaches.
Nearly all the people in the show
are married" said the aerialist across
the table. There is one bride-she
was married to a clown on the Fourth
of July. Nearly all circus people mar
ry right in the profession
It was an interesting meal, finished
surprisingly soon. On the way back
to the big tent, a big, shaggy collie
came bounding up.
Hello, Sheeny. old boy. good old
fellcw' cried one of the girls. He
used to be a performer, but he is IA
years old, so he was retired last year.
He used to do a dog, pony and ele-
plant act, and he was good in It, too
Dogs just love to act; you can hardly
hold them back when they think that
it's time to go on. Collies and ter
riers are the best performers among
| dogs, believe"
She stopped beside cage where the
performing dogs were kept. Beside
the cage monkeys were chained. Two
sat off by themselves, solemnly eating
| what looked like graham crackers.
They were exact duplicates of each
other.
"Those are Mike and Ike-Mike
and Ike, they look alike. Funny, aren't
they?"
She Wanted to Go Swimming.
Look, Frank, see what I found
with just little looking. Want one?
I'm going to give the rest to one of the
girls to send to her mother. You
know. I want to 90 swimming, but
can't get anyone to go with me. They
say there's a good place in the creek
over there I guess I'll go practice
pretty SOON"
Another girl spoke up. 'T played
your Topeka fair last fall in show"
she said.
Inside the dressing room again a
few girls were writing letters or teas
ing the little bride. The charming,
oval-faced Spanish girl was rummag-
ing in her trunk.
Look" she said in her gentle voice,
'See dis wat Florence geeve me for
my bebee," and she held out a. pair of
baby shoes. She shyly brought over
a picture of a chubby baby. Dat my
leetle Carmen. She ees in Chicago
now.~ Leddy take care of her vile
my 'usban' and me we are gone on
circus"
In the big tent performers were
Dracticing the girls in bathing suits