Year: 1878




WOuId AstOnish the Arabs.
From the Kansas City journal.


-"But want to see your Arabs fold
their tent"


"Then come with me, or we'll be toe
late" said Mr.. Claude De Haven, guide
philosopher and press agent, and a great
many other things else.


"Now, listen," said the calm and bland
Claude, "for the whistle, and then keep
your eyes about you to learn the Arabs
secrets"


While the band inside were yet playing,
and before the spectators had left their
seats, shrill whistle was audible to ears
whose owners were not intent upon the
performance. Within short time after.
wards, (other matters preventing the nota-
tion Of time) every yard of the canvas wall
that had surrounded the great tent had
rustled TO the ground. An empty ring was
visible through the lattice.work formed by
the raised seats. The roof of the tent yet
rested on the supporting poles. The army
of short.sleeved or no shirted Arabs were
now visible, but no order was issued
and not word was uttered.
Some caught hold of the long ends of the
long pieces of canvas that lay on the
ground, and ran back and forth in the pro.
cess of folding them up. Some caught up
in their arms four seat planks at a time,
and delivered them to others who were
waiting below to receive them. The lights
from within then revealed the presence OF
scores of wagons backed up and standing
in great circle around the tent. In each
one staod man ready to receive and
stow away canvas or other parts of the
great tent, as it should be brought
to him. When all beneath the roof
had been taken away, the roof itself


First, all of the supports were taken
away except the great main pole in the Gen.
ter and those at the edges. Then the whis-
tie sounded again, Instantly the whole
spread of canvass fluttered silently to the
earth, like great white.winged sea fowl
softly covering her eggs. The center pole,
which pierccs the canvass, yet stood. Lac
ings which hold the huge sections of the
roof together were quickly drawn out, and
the pieces were soon doubled and redoubled
into great masses, each of which filed a
wagon. Three other large tents had been
taken down while the spectators were ap.
plauding the circus performance. One of
these was for the museum of natural curl
osities, one for the menagerie, and one
served as q green room for the circus tent,


At the depot there was an exciting scene.
1t is a railroad show, and the circus, mu,
scum, menagcrie and annex employ we
know not how many. Most of these are
platform cars. A long train of them was
drawn up on a side track. By the light of
faring naphtha lamps wagon after wagon
was drawn up an inclined plane upon the
rear car, and then run by hand from car to
car. This process was continued until the
train was full of wagons. Then another
train was loaded in the same manner.
Heavy beams at the edges of the cars pre-.
vent the wagons from running of. The
wheels of the wagons are blocked with
pieces of wood which are nailed to the
floor Of the car. Sheets of thick iron
turning vertically on hinges form
bridges from car to car for the wheels to
pass over. The horses are taken from the
wagons when they have drawn them to the
foot of the inclined plane. Then pulley
is attached to each wagon, and the strength
of one pair of horses is sufficient to send
It rapidly up the incline, the pole being
guided by two men. While all this work
was being done, most Of the performers
were asleep in their berths. 1t is in this
way that the Circus Arabs gather up their
duds and get out OF town.