Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CIRCUS LIFE Journal's Staff Corres With. Forepaugh ? Atlanta * I have been traveling with a circus j .and I am bursting with information, J the visions of daring acts and the re membrances of tbings behind the scenes that show how hard the first class circus performer has to work. I ?aught on to everything around the show but thc snakes and they didn't keep still long enough to give me a chance. I have seen the sunny side of circus life and the side that isn't sunny. I have talked to circus people from tie proprietor to the lowest laborer. I have been the friend and close asso ciate of the 1 'reformed elephant" and have been used to demonstrate the immense sire of the giant in the side ?how. I have seen a ton of spangles on one side of the great circus tent and a ton of bread on thc other. I have seen a wagon load or money and a market basket) full of free tickets taken in at one performance and a w<tsh tub full of coin paid out. The greatest show in America to day is t?e combined Forepaugh-Sells Brothers' Circus, for it is a combina tion of two shows that were immense years ago, and under the combination additions hav? been made that place it ia the lead. The brains and money of the Sella brothers, the late Adam Forepaugh, James A. Bailey, P. T. Barnum and W. W. Cole have been placed in one l?ig jack pot. It will take more than four*"acres to win against thatcombi Wben'l was told to find this great circus and remain with it until I had ?cen everything in show life T thought the job; was an easy one, but I was mixed in my calculations.. Suppose a man were to tell you lio run after a town of 2,000 persons that was flying before a cyclone; catch it; go through it and get all the news there was in the place, what would you do? That would be an easy task compar ed to the circus story ^ for the cyclone would get tired and stop. The ch cus aevor does this. It is a whirlwind of novelties catried about by a tornado cf energy that beats all the freaks of the elements. There are many towns in Georgia, considered prosperous and ?rowing, : that have less than half as many persons in it as are with the ForepaughVSells Circus. For 28 weeks these people and ani mals have been whirling from one town to another like shooting stars in the skies. They have been here to - ?lay and there to-morrow, but it is the ?ame thing every day in the weolk, ex cepting Sunday, which is a day of rest and house cleaning. Last Saturday the circus was at Anderson, S. C., where it showed to a big crowd twice puring the day and that night was traveling swiftly towards Augusta. Early Sunday morning the 74 rail road car3 reached that town and the work of unloading began. It would take President McKinley a week to unload that train; Chauncey Depew coaldn't do it in less than ten days ; William J. Bryan would need two weeks; the Prince of Wales would need three, and I would want a month and an earthquake to shake thc things o?r if I had to take thc contract. The man who has charge of the transportation did this work with his army of helpers in less than two hours. There was not a profane expression, a harsh word or a rough act in the whole transaction. It was a case of hustle from start to finish. It was run and jump from the minute the train stop pod until everything had been done. . Then there was a little rest; fires were kindled, pipes were lighted and a quiet time was had the balance of the day. Tue first thing off thc cars was the cooking outfit, and the menagerie can vas, with the animal cages, close be hind. While the unloading was being done a stout man with a little bunch .f whiskers on his chin was tearing oyer ground to the circus lot like a fast mail train two hours behind time. That was Mr. James Jordan, thc boss canvasman, and he is said to be thc best in the country. Mr. Jordan has a pleasant face and an even temper, but he controls his men like a general would an army. He wasted no time in salutes, for every motion around a circus means something practical. Mr. Jordan's whiskers stand straight from his chin like they were being blown: out by a swift current of air coming from under his shirt collar. When he reached the circus lot he took a long tape line from his pocket and began to stake off the "oircus town." He measured off 320 feet straight and 110 feet across. Then he measured eqv.al distances between the 320 feet io three places. Every time he stopped a man drove a stake in tho ground. While this was being done five immense rolls of canvas were brought up and dropped between between certain stakes. Soon after came a wagon load af poles. They were distributed over the lot. One poll, as large as a tele ON SUNDAY. pondent Spends a Day ind Sell's Circus, Tournai. graph pole and inucli higher, was placed in the center, and the others were put in position. When this had been done thc rolls of canvas were opened and lashed together. Three big iron rings-one in the center and one on either side, were fasteued to the canvas and then stripped over three poles. Ropes were placed on the three rings and then the poles were shoved Bp and fastened to the ground. When this had been done 6trong men pulled on thc ropes and up went the canvas. After this came a forest of little poles. These were set out at thc sides of the canvas and fastened in loops made for them. This jfinished getting up the top, but left the sides open. As soon as the top was up thc ani mal cages began to arrive. The big wagons were driven under the tent by the time it was up. More canvas soon appeared and then the. sides, known to showmen as thc "side walls,17 were strung around. This made the menagerie tent complete. A herd of elephants came lumbering through the weeds. They were in charge of William ''Star" Chambers and Patsy Meagher Forepaugh. Chambers is in charge of thc ani mals in the menagerie and is person ally acquainted with each of them. He went to Australia with the Sells brothers years ago and will remain with them as long as both are alive. Mr. Jordan, after he had gotten the menagerie tent up, took his tape line and measured off 437 feet in the rear of it, with fifteen feet between. The 437 feet was for the show tent, and the fifteen feet was for what is known as ''the connection" between the two tents. The ground was measured off and the poles and canvas laid on the ground but not a stake was driven, for the laws of the State say that no work except that absolutely necessary shall be done on the Sab.bath. The horse tents were put up before you could turn around, and then I saw another man in authority. He was Jack Shu mate, the mau who has charge of over 500 horses for the circus. He is ab solute master in his department. He has an army of men under him, for there is an atteadant to every four horses. ? like Mr. Shumate. He is a plain fellow with an honest face and knows his business. I say he knew his business because he told me more about the horses than they know about themselves. They love him, too, and I believe that down in thc center of his heart he has a warm re gard and a high personal esteem for all of them. I asked him if the horses knew him, and he said "Listen." Then he stood between the long rows of touts and in a loud voice said: "Do you want your breakfast?" Every horse in the outfit raised his head and there was " a chorus of glad yesses, for no horse ever neighs when asked to eat. "Come in here and we will take a look at thc rosin backs," said Schu mate. Then he explained to me that a rosin back horse was one used in thc ring for bareback riding. They arc the broad-back horses, and the finest of rosin is sprinkled into their hair so that the feet of thc rider will not slip. The rosin is taken out once a week, generally on Sunday morning. Pipe clay is rubbed over the horse's back, and then this with thc rosin is washed out with warm water. If thin is not done the back of thc horse will blister. The most valuable horse under his care is "Gypsy,' ' a broad-backed ani mal almost pure white. She is used by several of the riders, and Shumate says $5,000 would not buy a hair oil her back. "If a rider makes a false step she knows it," he said; "and you can see hen settle herself and steady up to catch him. She has saved many a fellow from a broken neck." Anjther valuable animal iu de stables is "Duster." He docs what is kuown as a "manage act." This means that thc rider puts him through all manners of gaits and tickets. To thc public he is known as "a high schcol horse." Thc "Colonel," a great big bay horse, is an educated j animal. He counts, can tell the dif ference in colors, and does other in telligent things. While all the tents, horses, wibi animals aud other paris of thu public features were being gotten into shape thc cook tents had been fixed. There is quite a line of social distinction in circus life. On thc loft of the big tent was thc dining tent and kitchen for thc performers and heads of de partments, while around on tho oppo site side is the outfit for thc ?aborers. Suuday many of tho performers and those of thc executive staff of the cir cus went to thc Planters' Hotel just for a change. Many of them remained there until Monday morning. There was a feast though at the show grounds for all who were there. Why ail circus people love Trish potatoes is a mystery to me, but they do just the same. If you want trouble just cut Irish potatoes off the bill of fare. T saw a man working for dear life Sunday under a little tent over by the horses. He was thc harness maker and he is never idle. Two hundred yards from him was another tent. This was the blacksmith shop. . Mr. Chambers took me through the animal tent Sunday afternoon and introduced me to everything and everybody. He knows more different kinds of animals than you will fiad in the dictionary. He showed me the giant hippopota mus. "We had two," he said, "but one of them died in Columbus, 0., last year of dropsy of the heart." When I asked him how he knew what the disease was he said : "Oh, we took her over to a medical college and had a post mortem examination. She was sick only forty minutes. "This/" said Mr. Chambers, point-, ing to a*"beautiful animal, "is thc Parisian sheep." While I was admiring its beauty the Parisian sheep walked over to a cigar stump, picked it up between its teeth aud quietly chewed it up. "Here is the reformed elephant. He is called that because at one time he was painted aud advertised as the great white elephant. He kicked on the deception, however, and refused to allow himself painted one day, and since then he has been known as the reformed elephant." While we were looking at the ele phants a mau brought a table and a camp chair into the tent. Then he took several razors and brushes from a grip, along with cups and soap. He was the circus barber. He stood at that chair for ten hours and shaved mer*, like he was a machine. When night came every man that wanted a shave had been, accommodated. Just before sun down Mr. Jordan and his army of helpers took the me nagerie tent down and rolled up the canvas. This was done so that in case of storm or fire during the night there would be no damage done. After this every wagou was covered over and then thc herd of elephants was taken back to the cars. A man with a big stick began walking around the.cages. He was the night watch man and he was walking at daylight Monday morning. Just as thc sun was rising Monday Mr. Jordan and his men were on the lot. The men were armed with scythes and grubbing hoes. They had come to cut the grass and weeds from thc lot and make the three great rings. The rings were measured off while 100 men were cutting the grass and diggi?g up the stumps. Mr. Jordan took a little slip of pa per from his pocket. It was a dia gram of the lot and showed every tree on it that would be in thc way. With the diagram was a permission for the trees to be cut from the owner of the lot. "That is to keep 'em from suing us for damages for cutting trees." ex plained the boss canvasman. Thc lot was "cady, the rings made and the big canvas was up before Augusta had .roused from its slumbers. Early in the morning a man that had not said much to anyone on Sun day came on the lot. He was Allen Sells, a nephew of the Sells brothers, and his business is to get thc parade in order. Soon after he arrived the covers were taken from the wagons and a uniform for each driver was placed on top of them. Thc horses were made ready, and then came a bugle call for every man, woman and child to bc io position. A big elephant pushed some of the According to the novels of Richardson and his con temporaries, in the olden days men used to admire women who screamed upon the least provoca tion and fainted on all opportunities. Rich ardson's heroines were always toppling out of their chairs, fall ing in a "dead faint" in their lovers' arms, having their slays cut and their hands slapped, their tem ples bathed and their noses smclling salted. Both the women and the men have changed radically since those days. Thc modern mau does not admire the fainting woman, neither does he marry her. If by chance he does, lie is only a man, and lives to regret it. There is no reason why any woman should be a faint ing woman. General bodily weakness and nervousness in women are due to weakness or disease of thc delicate, special organs of theses. Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription isa scientific and unfailing remedy for all disorders of this description. It imparts health and strength to the sensitive and susceptible organs upon which a woman's general health is largely dependent. It quiet:! and tones up the nerves, restores thc vigor of youth, rounds out thc emaciated form, imparts the glow of health to the complexion and transforms weak, sickly, nervous invalids into new, healthy, happy women. It fits for wifehood and mother hood. " Won"it fail to describe HIV .?.u?Tering before using Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription," writes ]\Ir<. Sallie Key, of Tann..co. Granger Co.. Tout. "I had inflammation, irritation and profuse flowing ami was verv nen ons and suiTcrcu terri bly nt all times. >?v feet and limbs were cold. I h.ul palpitation of the hean, and my back was so weak that I could not turn myself in bed. The thought of food sickened mc. Mv kidneys were very badly affected. I had been "(ii.wu six months. I contd not t-h rp night or dav and had given un it'd hope-. Mv Ju:.,lx:::d ^..t in<- '.onie of Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prc crintiou. I took it Jbr Ave months and at I he? tidal that time could walk a mile and <ii> ult my own housework, r am sure I would be in tay grave il it had not been for thc ' Favorite Piesci iption.' " Send to Dr. R. V. Pierce, Buffalo, N. Y" for a free copy of the "People's Common Sense Medical Adviser." For paper-cover ed copy enclose 21 one-cent stamps to cover mailing ouly. Cloth-bound, .31 etamps. - ' - -?mr--MraM heavy wagons up hill so that the boi ses could pull them off the lot. Mr Sells jumped i uto a buggy, and riding behind three mounted policemen, lu started the parade. Roman soldiers riders, elephants, wild beasts, bandi of music aud hundreds of other thing. followed him. The clowns" were sur rounded by mobs of boys, aud lasl came the calliope. A young man in his shirt sleeves played on this machine almost cou stantly. His favorite was, 'There'] Be a Hot Time in thc Old Town To night." Thc steam issuing from thc smoke stack made this tune very ap propriate. Occasionally he turnee out that sweet ballad, "Mamie, Com? Kiss Your Honey Boy.'' While the parade was being made the ticket wagon was opened prepara tory to business. A big chair with a thick leather cushion was placed in i the front entrance. Under the seat I of the chair and fastened between thc legs, were a number of little drawers. That is the office of Colonel Lewis j Sells. He was there early, giving directions. "I want to see Mr. Sells." said a young man just before thc performance begau. Mr. Sells said he was that gen Lie man and then the young man said: "Will you pass the children of the Orphans' Home into the show?" "No," said Mr. Sells, "I can't do that. Wc are here to do all the good wc can but we can't do it ali. I will let them have tickets for half price, .though." "Have you any idea how many tickets we have given away this sea son?" Colonel Sells asked mc. I told him no and he sent a young man over to the ticket wagon to get the list. He came back with a long string of figures which, when footed up made a total of 140,000 free passes in 28 weeks. "We are prayed upon by all class es," said the big showman with a sigh as he put the list in his pocket. A young man jumped out of the ticket wagon with a big basket full of little scraps of paper. He went over to the fires at the cook tent. "There," exclaimed Colonel Sells, "look at that; those are free passes from the last town that he is going to burn up. What do you think of that?" . An hour after the street parade 10,000 people were seated under the big canvas watching three rings and an elevated stage. One of the most popular men around the show is Major Ray, the midget. He has been with the Sells brothers for years, and is well fixed financially. The major is a farmer when off the road and has 200 acres near Caldwell, Mo. He bosses a big gang of men on his place and makes good crops. The only midget that the major enjoys the society of is Mrs. Ray. His chum is Colonel Cooper, the giant. Two men that much depends upon i are Charles A. Davis and Frank O. Miller. Mr. Davis is the contracting press agent and looks after the newspapers ahead of thc show, while Mr. Miller makes the newspaper mon have a good timo while the show is in town. Mr. Davis knows the show business from start to finish; knows how to handle men and has the happy faculty of making people think they arc giving him information, while he is enlight ening them. The interests of James A. Bailey and W. W. Cole arc looked after by Dr. Thos. L. Evans, a distinguished young man who is an expert account ant. Last night the big show left Au gusta for Athens, and the work of loading and gettiug away was done in two hours. The only things left be hind by the boss canvasman, the boss hostler and the master of transporta tion were the ring banks and the atmosphere. If you have any idea of going into the business test your intellect first, for if you are not more than smart you will go broke. There are no idiots in the winning end of thc show business, and if you burn a circus man for a fool you'll get wise ashes. If you want to be a performer go peep into the circus dressing ronni. Yesterday I was in one of the dressing rooms when a big fat man came running in. lie was so fat he could barely walk. While 1 was look ing at him I heard a noise like escap ing steam and suddenly the fat man begau to collapse. I thought he was about to die, for in an instant he be came very thin, but then he elevated his shirt and then divesting himself of his clothing pulled off a rubber.suit that had been filled with air. Acrobats, riders, Roman gladiators, animal trainers, leapers and scores of others were all dressing and undress ing at the same time. Each man has a little trunk about three feet long and half as wide. He keeps his ward robe in this and tells when he is made up correctly by a bit of glass ia the top of it. Everybody with this great circus seems happy, and if there are any who are not they conceal their feel ings well and ther: is no complaining. There are no points overlooked in the big organization. Whenever the head of a department employs a new man he watches him carefully, and if he finds that the man is not strong or is aifing in any way he lets him go. As a result only big, healthy fellows remain long. When the show gets here to-morrow you will see the same system that was seen at Anderson, at Augusta and at Athens. Follow it every?vhere and you will see only one change and that will be the location. WALTER TAYLOK. A Sure Sign of Croup. Hoarseness in a child that is sub ject to croup is a sure indication of the approach of the disease. If Chamberlain's Cough Remedy is given as soon as the child becomes hoarse, or even after the croupy cough has appeared, it will prevent the attack. Many mothers who have croupy chil dren always keep this remedy at hand and find that it saves them much trou ble and worry. It can always be de pend ;d upon and is pleasant to take. For sale by Hill-Orr Drug Co. And we will keep them Shined THEE as long as you wear them. COME and see our SHOES and HOSIERY before buying anywhere ehe. We will SAVE YOU MONEY. Try us once, and you will try us again and again. School Shoes and Eubbers By the ?uii?ire?ls. Your money savers, J. T. LIGOIT & CO Onion Sets POE PALL PLANTING, Crimson. Clover, fled Clover, Bine Grrass, Orchard Grrass, Herds Grass. ?V?ge taWc Prep aralion for As - similatfng Iteloodand?egula ting t??StoBififJis ajadBowels of nessanditestjC?fliains adte C^Mjm,Morpbiite cor Mineral. KOT NASCOT?C. Keeps a??i-SrSA??UELPnUIE2 AbcStnrm * J?omUUSJu ytaitt Saod * Jlrpptnavit - }KrxS*cd - flerifod Su&tr ? ?&skjyr+o- Claver. J A perfect Remedy for Constipa f?oa. Sour Stomach.Diarrhoea.l Worms .Convulsions .Feverish ness and LOSS OF SLEEK Tac Simile Signature of NEW YORK. ?EXACT COPY"OF WRAPP?B, Bama .^IMH'HJL ?sT-'&iir1. WI THC CENTAUn COMPANY, NEW YORK CITY. O. D. ANDERSON & BRO. Strictly in it at Lowest Possible Priced. Two Cars Texas Red Er st Proof Oats, And all the country raised Oats vou want. Th6ae have to go. no matter what Cotton nells at. Pure Wheat Flour Rock Bottom Prices. We can give Country Merchants olose figures on CHEESE. OYSTERS. TOMATOES, SALMON, SARDINES and TO BAC t O. Everybody knows we beat the Town on SHOES, and we propose to keep up our reputation. BAGGING anil TEES guaran tend prices. ?S3~ Send us your orders Yours for Business, O. D. ANDERSON & BRO. CEYLON AND INDIA TEA, IS WHOLESOME. IT is manufactured in a scientific manner by cleanly machinery, and is PURE, so that a short infusion extracts all the good qualities. DIRECTIONS-Take half usual quantity, see water boils. Pour off after five minutes steepi TELLE Y'S CEYLON-INDIA TEA. "Two cups in one." Fragrant! Delicious ! ! SURPASSING COFFEE. Blue Ribbon, Genuine Mocha and Java, 25c. per lb. For strength and richness of flavor in the cup ic surpasses auy cottee on the market. It's a great seller. Don't Buy Fruit Jars-Buy Sealing Wax. Manufactured expressly for putting up fruit. You can use "any old thing,' and we guarantee the fruit to keep perfectly. Soliciting your orders, Very respectfully yours, JNO. A. AUSTIN & CO. OF ML MLAMJk M* W Still in the Lead ! They have the Largest Stock, Best Quality, and Certainly the Lowest Prices ! OTHERS try to get there, but they miss it every time. New, beautiful and select Stock of Furniture, &c, arriving every day, and at PRICES NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE. Here you have the Largest Stock ; therefore, you can get ;ust what you want. Herc you have the Best Grade of Furniture ; therefore, you can get Goods that will last. Here you have the very LOWEST PRICES ; therefore, you save good big money. B?2r* Come along, aud we will do you as we have been doing for the las forty years-sell you the very best Furniture for the very lowest prices. f?&m Thc largest Stock in South Carolina and the Lowest Price in the Southern Stn tes. New Lot Baby Carriages Just deceived. IL & \&&/ ssa isa D i pot Street, Anderson, S. C. THIS 18 NO FAKE ! That Jewelry Palace OE" ?EXT TO F. and M. BANK, Has the Largest, Prettiest and Finest loi of . . . XMAS AND WEDDING PRESENTS XIX TH JW CITY. Competition don't ont. any ice with me when it comes to prices. I don'' buy goods to keep. I want the people to have them. Gold and Stiver Watches, Sterling and Plated Silverware, Jewelry, Clocks, Lamps, Chip?. Spectacles, Novelties of all kinds. Rogers' Tripple Plate Table Knives 81.50 per Set. A world beater. WILL. R. HUBBARD.