Ringling Brothers Route Book, 1898

From: Red Wagon Annual. A Route Book of Ringling Brothers World’s Greatest Shows, Season 1898, Chicago: Central Printing and Engraving Co. Program, detailed day-by-day route and some staff & performers. Not included here are the articles, some text, many photographs. Permission to place the information from this route book on the Circus Historical Society website has been provided by Feld Entertainment, Inc.™, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey™. Circus World Museum's Parkinson Library provided the photocopy of this route book. All information should be checked with additional sources. There will be spelling and typographical errors.

Ringling Brothers’ Official Program

Ringling Brothers’ Military Band

Geo. Ganweiler, Conductor

Popular Concert preceding each performance. Numbers rendered from the following repertoire, and announced by placard displayed from band stand, corresponding with numbers of selections as below.

1. March
2. Overture, The Hermit’s Bell - Mallard
3. Scotch Melodies - Bonnisseau
4. Paraphrase: Sweet Alice, Ben Bolt - Luck; The Bride Elect (March) - Sousa
5. Scenes from Carmen - Bizet’s
6. Invocation to Battle (Rienzi) - R. Wagner; Dance des Sultanes - Polak Daniels
7. Overture, Hunting for Luck - Suppe
8. Descriptive Piece, Columbus - Herman. Synopsis: Torchlight Dance, The Sorrow of Departure, Fealty to the Flag, Anchors Weighed, On the Vast Waters, Chorus and Dance of the Sailors, Storm, The Storm Gradually Abates, Prayer, Melancholy, Mutiny, Columbus Quells the Disturbance, Land Ho! Salute of the Guns, Hail Columbia.
9. A Midnight Round of the Guard - Le Thiere
10. Fantasia (Maritana) - Wallace
11. Miserere (from Torvatore) - Verdi; Caprice, Why Not? - Gruenwald
12. The Evening Call (scenes descriptive of a young man’s call on his girl) - P. W. Reeves. Synopsis: Whistling Gaily on the Way, Arriving at the House he Rings the Bell, Cordial Greeting, They Indulgen in a Little Waltz, More Greeting, He Sings a Serenade, The Serenaders, Invited in and have a jolly time, including a Clog Dance on the kitchen floor, after they retire she sings “I Can’t Say Good Bye,” One More Kiss, Interrupted by the Steeple Clock, The Old Man appears, Consternation and Rapid Exit.
13. Fantasia on Foster’s American Song, My Old Kentucky Home - Sangey
14. Airs from Amorita - Czibulka
15. Gems from Offenbach’s Operas - Boettger
16. Overture, Poet and Peasant - Suppe
17. The Princess Bonne (Scenes Populaires) - Spencer
18. Hungarian Fantasia - Tobani
19. Paraphrase, In the Deep Cellar - Loronberg; The Stars and Stripes Forever (March) - Sousa
20. Overture, Festival - Leutner
21. Village Life in the Olden Time - Le Thiere. Night, Sunrise, Astir in the Village, Children Going to School, The Blacksmith Shop, The May Queen, May Pole Dance.
22. Popular Airs from the Musical Comedy Little Christopher - Tobani
23. A Hunt in the Black Forest (Descriptive) (Idyl) - Voeiker. Synopsis: Break of day, Singing of birds, crowing of rooster, Huntsman call to arise, Huntsman’s horn in distance to assemble, They mount and start, Call to halt and dismount as they arrive at the forest blacksmith, The smith at work, Call to assemble, Drink and sing the Champagne Song, They mount and start again, After game, Firing of guns, barking of dogs, Homeward Bound.
24. Overture, Light Cavalry - suppe
25. Ballet Music from Faust (Suite I) - Gounod. No. 1, Waltz of the Corps de Ballet; No. 2, Ensemble of Helen, Trojan Maidens, Cleopatra, Nubian Slaves; No. 3, Entry of the Nubian Slaves; No. 4, Solo Dance of Cleopatra.
26. Melodies from the Serenade - Victor Herbert
27. Robin Hood (Echoes from the Opera) - De Koven
28. Popular American Airs - Theo. Coates. Hail Columbia, Our Army and Navy Forever, Yankee Doodle, Star Spangled Banner.
29. Tone Pictures of the North and South - Bendix

Display No. 1 - Dazzling Introductory Pageant, presenting the Inaugural Ceremonies of the Grand Fetes of Ancient Olympus. A Brilliant Kaleidoscopic Panorama of Regal Magnificence, completely filling all the Rings, Stages and Immense Hippodrome Concourse.

Display No. 2 - A Potpourri of Phenomenal Performances, by Artists of Skill and Diversified Talent.

Ring No. 1 - Arthur and Dot Adair. Skillful and Intrepid Experiments with the lofty perch.

Stage - Ando and Little All Right. Surpassing Equilibrist and Balancer in Unique Surprises on the “Break-away’ Ladder.

Ring No. 2 - Cebelis, the Cuban Wonder. Unprecedented achievements of the world&rsqup;s greatest High Wire Artist, introducing Phenomenal Balancing and superb specialties.

Arena - Roach and Wilson. Unique Evolutions and Character Travesties on the Lofty Perch.

Ring No. 3 - Jerome and Van Dee. Wonderful Balancing Perch Act.

Arthur and Dot Adair

     

Left: Ando Family, Japanese Performers.    Right: Nicholas Ceballos, High-Wire Artist

Display No. 3 - Aerial Gyrations, by a Coterie of the World’s Most Famous Gymnasts.

Jones and Zammert. An Absurd Aerial Comicality, Side-splitting in its Rollicking Fun, on Revolving Ladder.

Alvo, Boise and Pickard. Kings of the Aerial Bars, Performing Fearless Feats of Skill and Daring, Suspended High in Mid-air.

Minnie Fisher. The Human Aerial Top! Cyclonic Flights through Space, 60 feet above the ground, Suspended by her Teeth and Spinning at a Terrific Rate.

King and Nelson. Comical Revolving Ladder Absurdities. Ridiculous Antics and Funny Freaks in Mid-air.

     

Miss Minnie Fisher, The Aerial Human Top

     

Left: King and Nelson, Comedy High-Ladder Aerialists, Clowns.

Right: Alvo, Boise and Pickard, Aerial Bar

Display No. 4 - Presentations of Perfect Equestrianism, by the World’s Foremost Bareback Champions.

Rose Dockrill. The Unrivaled Queen of Principal Equestriennes, in Dashing Finished Arenic Novelties.

Elena Ryaland. Peerless Principal Bareback Equestrienne, in Novel, Up-to-Date Exploits of Unapproachable Merit, in Full Evening Dress.

Miss Lizzie Rooney. The Petite and Accomplished European Artiste, in Principal Equestrian Feats.

Miss Rose Dockrill, Equestrienne

     

Miss Lizzie Rooney, Equestrienne

In conjunction with the superb Principal Bareback Acts, a Coterie of Comical Cranks, in Mirth-Provoking Absurdities - “Dutchy” Bickel, Harry Watson Jr., James West, Frank Jones, George Zammert, Carl Mayo, Phil King, Frank Oakley, Charles Nelson, Arthur Adair, and a Company of Clowns.

Display No. 5 - Peerless Presentations of Premier Acrobatiques, by the Recognized Champions of the Circus World.

The Great Millets. Acrobats Supreme. The Highest Salaried and Most Skillful Performers in their line extant. The only Arists presenting Double Forward Somersaults from Shoulder to Shoulder.

The La Peers. The Latest Conceits and Most Elite Novelties in Artistic Acrobatiques eve presented to an American Audience.

The Da Comas. First Appearance of the Latest European Sensation, a Troupe of Ladies and Gentlemen in Full Evening Dress, Executing the Most Intricate and Difficult Feats Ever Attempted. The only Lady Double Somersaultist in the World.

Thos. Vandee and Wm. Jerome. Marvelous Exhibition of Acrobatic Novelties, by Artists of Exceptional Skill.

The Dacomas, costumed as they appear in the acrobatic act

     

Left: The Millettes, acrobatic marvels. Right: Thos. Vandee and Wm. Jerome, Acrobatic Novelties

Display No. 6 - A Novel Series of Attractive Vaudeville Specialties, by the Foremost Foreign Talent.

Ring No. 1 - Herr Drayton, Original Specialties with the Dancing Barrel and Maltese Cross. King and Nelson, Clownish Comicalities on Lofty Stilts.

Stage - Bickel, Watson and Zammert. An Odd Conceit, to make you laugh. The Pranks of Zammert’s “Clown Giraffe.”

Ring No. 2 - Jules Turnour, Carl Mayo. High Stilt Antics and Clownish Freaks and Frolics.

Arena - Ando, Skillful Digital Manipulations and Expert Juggling in Japanese Style. Arthur Adair, High Stilt Specialties and Daring Innovation.

Ring No. 3 - John Rooney, Delicate Feats of Balancing, Somersaulting and Acrobatism on the Bounding Rope. M. Ceballos, Startling Eccentricities on a Lofty Pyramid.

Bickel and Watson, Comedians

Display No. 7 - Amusing and Instructive Number, Illustrating Marvelous Animal Sagacity.

Dan Leon. The Marvelous Equine Wonder, “Sultan,” in a Series of Superb Performances, Evincing Almost Human Intelligence. Performed by Dan Leon.

“Silver King,” the Perfect Horse, conceded by competent judges to be the handsomest and best educated equine in existance.

A Coterie of Clowns. The World Famous Football Dog, Concededly the Most Perfectly Trained Canine in existance, with the clowns.

John Slater, Enlivening Exhibitions by a Troupe of Skillfully Trained Ponies in Up-to-Date Novelties.

Laughable, Roaring, Rousing Interlude of Patriotic Singing by a Company of Fifteen Comical Fellows, led by the Inimitable Clown and Singer, Charles Carroll, “What Didn’t Dewey Do?”

Charley Carroll, Emperor of the Calliope and Singing Clown

Display No. 8 - Grand Ensemble and Tournament of the Champion Leapers of the Circus World. Introducing Tremendous Single and Double Somersaulting over Horses, Camels and Elephants, by the foremost living artists, including William Vandee, John Rooney, Eddie Devan, “Dutchy” Bickel, Harry Watson Jr., Thos. Jerome, Charles Fisher, Al. Millette, James West, Arthur Adair, Ernest Alvo, and two scores of equally famous gymnasts.

Display No. 9 - Marvelous Examples of Equine Perfection, Exhibited by Peerless Equestrians.

Miss Minnie Fisher. The Princely Spotted Arabian Stallion, “Sultan,” guided through a Superb Manege Act by Miss Minnie Fisher.

John Rooney. Extraordinary High School Manege Act, Introducing the Marvelous “Mizpah,” the Only Retrieving Horse in the World.

Rhoda Royal. “Capt. Kidd,” and example of the Perfectly Educated Manege Horses, in New Entrancing Tricks.

     

Miss Lizzie Rooney, Equestrienne

John Rooney, Champion Bareback Somersault Rider

Display No. 10 - Pachyderm prodigies that play musical instruments, waltz, form groups and pyramids, and perform all functions of humanity except speech. The herd includes Dancing, Acting, Musical Elephant Comedians, presenting beyond all question the greatest and most astonishing examples of elephantine sagacity ever known. Reasoning power seems distinctly proven, and their capacity to think and act with humanlike alacrity is manifestly apparent. Introduce and performed by their trainer, Prof. Lockhart.

Display No. 11 - Unique Novelties in Vaudeville, by eminent Exponents of Artistic Perfection.

Nettie Carroll, Intrepid Innovations on the Dangerous High Wire. Little All Right, Oriental Balancing and Bending upon a Pyramid of Tiny Wooden Cubes. Herr Drayton, Herculean Feats with Huge, Solid Cannon Balls.

Paul Brachard. Marvelous Bending and Posing, Unique Novel Feats of Contortion and Sensational Teeth Balancing. Joseph La Fleur, Wonderful and Startling Pyramid of Chairs.

Pascatell, The Champion of all forward Contortionists in surprising specialties on the lofty pedestal and trapeze. Rajan, Marvelous Feats and Headlong Dives from a ladder, 40 feet high, to the ground.

Jessie Leon, The Queen of High Wire Artistes, introducing a bevy of beautifully trained Doves. Bonheur Sisters, Graceful and Finished Contortion Act, by the most Accomplished and Finished Artists.

     

Left: Nettie Carroll, Flying Rings and Tight Wire Artiste.

Right: Bonheur Sisters, Contortionists & Vocalists

Display No. 12 - The Unquestioned Trio of Champion Bareback Riders of the World.

Wm. Devan, Principal Bareback Somersault Event, The Greatest Display of Novel Feats Ever Attempted in the Circus Arena.

Wm. Demott, Peerless, and Unchallenged, Dashing, Principal Act, introducing the most Intricate Somersaulting, Pirouting and Leaping.

John Rooney, The Dashing, Intrepid and Undefeated Bareback Champion of the World, in Fear Defying Examples of Equestrianism. Excelled by none.

Display No. 13 - Latest European Novelties in Aernal Performances.

Dot Adair. Dashing Evolution of an Intrepid Aerialist, introducing Flying Ring Sensations.

Mlle. Turnour. Marvelous and Thrilling Exploits upon the Flying Trapeze. Unapproached by any living artist.

Joseph La Fleur. The Marvel of the Century, Thrilling Whirlwind Dives and Plunges. Somersaults from Dizzy Heights to the ground.

Mlle. Carroll. Fearless and Original Diversions on the Flying Rings.

Millie Turnour, Aerialist

Display No. 14 - The Famous Clown Band of Musical Mimics. The most ludicrous musical absurdity of the century.

Display No. 15 - The World’s Undisputed Premier Aerialists.

The Flying Fishers. Aerialists Supreme! Astounding Sensational Double Return Somersault Act in Mid-Air. First time in America.

The Famous Dacomas. Dazzling Brilliant Quadruple Return Act, Double Mid-Air Somersaults Across the Entire Arena. The Dashing Novelty of the Age.

The Fisher Family, Aerial Artists

Display No. 16 - The Most Magnificent and Perfect Congress of Premier Equestrians on Earth.

Elena Ryland, Grand Principal Bareback Specialties, by the Beautiful and Accomplished Arenic Queen.

Mike and John Rooney. The most perfect, refined and fascinating Double Jockey Act ever performed, introducing absolute departures and novel features. Running leaps from ground to back of horse, marvelous somersaulting, mounting, etc.

Rose Dockrill. The Peerless Queen of Equestriennes, in Dashing Finished Arenic Novelties.

Grand Hippodrome Sensations. Hotly Contested Trials of Speed and Skill.

First Event - Gentlemen’s Jockey Race. Three times around the track. Horses: Hazard, Tornado, Thunderbolt. Riders: Geo. E. Cole, green; John Slater, red; Harry Blanchard, black and yellow.

Secont Event - Man against Horse (Handicap). Man 3/4 way around the track. Horse once around the track. Horse, Fletcher. Rider, John Slater, red. Runner, W. W. Cheyenne, purple.

Third Event - Miniature Roman Chariot Race, twice around the track. Juvenile Contestants driving Shetland Ponies, 4 to each chariot. Drivers: Geo. Gole, green; L. Dillon, red.

Fourth Event - Ladies’ Jockey Race, three times around the track. Horses: Salamander, Billie Buck, Allard. Riders: Jessie Leon, purple and gold; Minnie Johnson, red and white; Minnie Fisher, black and white.

Fifth Event - Shetland Ponies ridden by Monkey Jockeys. Twice around the track.

Sixth Event - Roman Standing Race, three times around the track. Horses: Danger, Sultan, Rider W. W. Cheyenne, purple. Horses Chicago, Avalanche, Rider, Frank Jones, red.

Seventh Event - Exciting contest between the most expert Leaping Ponies and Horses on earth.

Eighth Event - Clown Race. Shetland Ponies to Sulky, once around the track. Spader Johnson and Jules Tournour, Contestants.

Ninth Event - Shetland Pony against Thoroughbred Horse, once around the track. Horse, Napoleon, Rider, L. Dillon, red. Pony, Spider, Rider Geo. Cole, green.

Tenth Event - Terrific 4-Horse Roman Chariot Race, three times around the track. Horses: Battle A T, Trooper, Sampson, Sheridan, Harrison, Cyclone, Mermaid, Zenobia. Drivers: Rhoda Royal, red; John Slater, white.

The Song of the Wheels, W. D. Coxey.

I sing no song of Orpheus - Of melodies divine; No song of Grecian goddess, - No bacchanal to wine; No tribute to a name - No “high-falutin’ ” sonnet To wreathe the brow of fame. But a little song of travel, A rhyme of rail and train, Arranged in simple measure, With an everyday refrain; A melody of motion - To the sleeper a delight; The song the wheels keep singing On a circus car at night.		Have you ever listened, In the quiet of the night, To the rattle and the prattle Of the triple trucks in flight - To the music of the journals, The pounding of the rail, Whirling through the darkness, Down the iron trail? Seeming now to whisper, Now to sob in pain, Then to roar with laughter Like a thing of brawn and brain; Soothing now to slumber, Screeching now in fright - Oh! there never was such music As the wheels give out at night!
	Many a song seraphic, Many a strain divine Have touched the chords of feeling In this breast of mine, But still, the rarest music That ever winged its flight, Is the song the wheels keep singing On a circus car at night.

Top

Staff

Big Show Band

Conductor, Geo. H. Ganweiler
Clarinets: Geo. A. Balcom, Geo. V. Gray, Theo A. Breedy, L. A. Matthews, V. Hoffman.
Basses: J. E. Rossette, R. Breed, W. H. Van Cleve.
Flute and Piccolo: O. J. Fass.
Horns: Wm. Koch, E. Brady, C. W. Cleveland, C. Shields.
Euphonium: A. A. Kennedy.
Trombones: E. W. Smith, J. A. Moran, H. Rickley.
Cornets: J. F. Blattner, H. Robinson, Wm. Herket, G. O. Repasz, A. Goodrich.
Drums: L. A. Peterson, E. B. Henderson.

Big Show Band

Wardrobe Men

Fred L. Shafer, Superintendent
Archie Booken, W. S. Brownie, Charles Beck, Frank Sayers, Clifford Bouche, Fred. Lewis

The War Show

Al. A. Conlon, Manager
Chas. Goff, Superintendent
Matt Schormmer, Boss Canvasman
Assistants: Nick Baker, C. Blakeley, Will Egan, John Welsh, J. Rice, M. O. Richards.

Sleeping Car Porters

Paul Cunningham, Superintendent
Porters:

Paul Cunningham, Car Olympus W. F. Hickley, Car Alvena Geo. W. Swift, Car Caledonia Chas. Ansell, Car Patronius J. F. Peterson, Car No. 38 I. C. High, Car No. 52

Fred. Railton, Car Henderson Dwight Briggs, Car Arcadia Wm. Alexander, Car Maximus Louis Ott, Car No. 12 Frank Fischer, Car No. 44 Frank Lemons, Car No. 56

Concert

Fred. Madison, Stage Manager
Wm. Koch, Leader of Orchestra
Artists:
Lovenburg Sisters
Goodwin and Keating
Fred. Madison
Charles and Nettie Carroll
The Bonheur Sisters
Bickel and Watson

Canvasmen

Big Top:

J. H. Snellen, Superintendent Lee Coleman, 1st Ass't John Parent, 2nd Ass't C. Cline, Back End Blue Seats C. White, Front End Blue Seats

Frank Wise, Reserved Seats Ja. McDonol, Reserved Seats John Devaine, Back Blues Joe Morrow, Front Blues John Brady, Stake Wagons No. 6 and 8

Fred MacKenzie Joe Dowd W. H. Merry Alfred Hasting Geo. Graham Bob Mock Ed. Sharp Harry Kline Harry Fulton Ed. Gilstrop Arthur Jarvis Wm. Vose Geo. Groh Robert Wellford Ralph Meedutt Al. Myers Ike Stiffle Geo. Harris Luke Harris Andy Bowen John O'Brien John Connors Thom. Cornfield Ike Hughes

Joe Smith Geo. Wilson Frank Stump Wm. Cook Geo. Walsh John Dunlap Ed. Drugan Fred Schady Mike Tierney T. J. Hagan Mike McGrath John Harper Henry Hopkins Gottlieb Robeck John Armstrong Fred Osburn Wm. Stockman L. R. Ragsdate Robert Mack Mike Donnovan Willish Shattrock Wm. Wilson Wm. Donnels

Garrett Keating Jas. O. Boile John Mahoney S. S. Moore R. H. Taylor Geo. Hose Pat. Foley Jas. Stevens John White Ed. B. Rise B. Fringers Frank Earl Pat. Rine Barney McCloskey T. J. Shay Robert McManus Frank Murray H. Hanley Wm. Farsee Frank Wind Thos. Calhoun Mike J. Conway

Ushers:

Walter King Mike Burns John Dowd Fred MacKinzie Geo. Graham Joe Kline

H. S. Johnson Ed. Rise Fred Schady Al. Hastings W. H. Murry Robert Mock

Menagerie Canvasmen:

Frank Andrews, Superintendent

Joe Delgarn Wm. Sprague Harry Miner Walter King Henry Hecht Wm. Davis Wm. Stewart Col. Brown Wm. Sullivan Jas. Martin

Harry Williams Geo. Pogue Frank Carlile Ivor MacBath, Stake Wagon No. 44 Joe Dokes Frank Braum M. DeRoville John Spook Fred. Whitman

Front Door Men: Joe Dilgarn, Wm. Sprague, Harry Miner, Geo Develin

Horse Tent Canvasmen:

John Boon John Myers Willis A. Davis H. S. Johnson Joe Kline

Fred Smook Charles Cary Ed. Long Charles Soopers

Ring Stock Men

Rhoda Royal, Superintendent
Trapping Master, John Duffey
Carriages and Traps Men: Harry Forse, Wm. Cardell
Stallion Men: B. N. Miller, Henry Huydahl
Rosin Backs: Harry Smith, Wm. Young, Frank Mays, George Wright, Wm. Trimkl, Dan Cumoran, John Ramosey
Hippodrome Stock: Wm. Mc Ginis, Ramond Thomson, Wm. Gly, Pat. Fullon, Al. Thomson, Fred. Ames, Henry Fisher, George Akins, John Lowery, George Bates
Pony Drivers: M. M. Callistar, Frank Mu?lein, Lewis Minkler, Burt Smith, Guy Mathias, Richard Retallick, Archey Mc Bride, John Long, George Hall, George Tilloson

Trainmen

Robert Taylor, Superintendent
Chas. Brown, Assistant Superintendent
Wm. Berk, Car Repairer
Watchmen: E. D. Gardner, 1st train; E. Farley, 2nd train; Lewis Ott, 3d train; Wm. Berg, 4th train.
Poles: H. J. Shephard, Paul Speering, Geo. Watson, John Furrer
Chalkers: John Richard, Ed. Bragdon, S. C. Wells
Trainmen: Tom Roberts, Wm. Miles, Henry Ward, Jas. Aldt, G. E. Carroll, Frank Bruton
Chandelier Man: John Pheiffer.

Property Men

Chas. O. Miller, Superintendent
Wm. Quirk, Assistant Superintendent
Frank Knott, Superintendent of Dressing Room
Ring No. 1: J. L. James, Frank Smith, Geo. Witty, Chas. Richards
Stage: Henrey Schreck, James Woods, Willis Jones, Lawrence Hobdy
Ring No. 2: Geo. Brown, John Dolan, Edward Bohn, Joe Strauss, Art. Boyd
Ring No. 3: Barney McNeill, James Crawford, Justice Jackson, Fred. White
Geo. Rees, in charge DeComa's Rigging
Barney McNeil, in charge Fisher's Rigging
Sid Boyd, in charge Alvos Rigging
Outside Men: Joe Goss, Jack Lynch, Elize Parker, Geo. Hine, Fred. Knapp, Stanton Abbott, Jack Daley

The Side Show

Geo. Connors, Superintendent
John Hamilton, Superintendent Side Show Doors
John Jennings, Superintendent of Canvas with eight assistants

Freaks and Performers:

Ali Ben Dib, Arab Troupe La Belle Isham, Arab Troupe Helen Mathews, Long Haired Lady Bertha Carnahan, Little Lady Major Rhinbeck, Little Man C. A. Bonney, Musical Albino & Imitator

James Wilson, Expansionist and Strong Man Prof. Silver, Magician Sig. Arcans and Sister, Impalement Act Princess Anni, Serpent Queen Alexander Family, Bell Ringers

Outside Stands: George Connors, John Blaney, Fred, Madison, Cal. Towers, Asa Cummings, Harry Peel

Side Show Band

Clate Alexander, Leader
Drums: Asa Cummings, Frank Horn
O. A. Menges, Tuba
John Hazelwood, Baritone
A. J. Ross, Slide Trombone
Walt. Menges, Alto
Cornets: Leon Wheeler, Clate Alexander

Side Show Band

Animal Men

Wm. H. Winner, Superintendent
Camel Men: Tom Brady, Charles Clement
Keeper of the Hippotamus: Wm. H. Spencer
Den Men: John King, Chas. G. Evans

J. Rafter John White John Colliton Louis Wheeler George Becker John Hatfield

James Burd Dice Eugene Knowlton Fred. King A. H. Clausen John Rhittenbock Dor. McMillon

Baggage Stock Drivers and Grooms

Spencer Alexander, Superintendent
Wm. Forquer, Assistant Superintendent
Rupass, Boss Repairer
Blacksmiths: All. Flury, Fred Teple
J. Burroch, Harnessmaker

George Stump James Hickey Charles Baldwin W. Eather H. McNal?? Henry Welch All. Myers Tim Wilson Otto Zigler J. Weiland G. Miller J. Jacobson G. Snow J. Daulton E. Cordel? J. Ryan G. Hutton C. Coushing J. Kingston J. Hosteter G. Kinston

F. Boam W. R. Robbins H. Hansen H. Speck D. Ervin J. Green M. Newman L. Marshell J. H. Shafer Just. Korman Otto Pulman C. Nordike A. Homes S. Kenny Peter Calahan Hurman Iseline W. Crosby E. McCune J. Rugu Swarts E. Delaven

W. Hill F. Dorson J. Fletcher Doc. Konners J. B. Kirshner G. Ellis W. H. Beebe L. M. Miller Alh. Wooddered Nick Strouse Charley Talworthey Skip Merran R. Rolond H. Winsell Tom Frasher C. Linzey F. Allbert G. Painter H. O'Connor Burt Kruger

Chandelier Men

C. N. Roy, Superintendent
Wm. McCarthy, Lon. Tarr, Wm. Daley, S. E. Vandenberg, J. T. Galiger

Refreshment Dispensers

A. E. Parson, Manager
Frank Parson, Assistant Manager
Fred. Railton, Side Show Stand
Main Menagerie Stand: Geo. Harrison, Sam Lord, John Reynolds, Chas. Stewart, John Walsh, T. Cohn
Menagerie Stand No. 2: Chas. Allen
Main Outside Stand No. 1: Frank Parson, Geo. Scott, Chas. Caswell, John Barstow
Main Outside No. 2: Ed. Smith, Ed. Scott
Main Outside No. 3: Fred Railton
Main Outside No. 4: John Walsh
Main Outside No. 5: Sam Lord
Seat Butchers:

John Walsh Geo. Stott Sam Lord Chas. Jameson Ernest Foster

John Reynolds T. Cohn Chas. Allen Chas. Stewart Leo Bottler

Geo. Harrison John Crane Chas. Caswell John Barstow

Top

The Brigade in Advance

The “Brigade in Advance” and the Show are so indissolubly associated in interest that either would be superfluous without the other. The show could hardly exist without the advance, and equally the advance is dependent upon the show for its existence. What affects one affects the other. The show is a world in itself. So is each department of the advance. For several months during the year the people of the show come in daily contact. Each learns his companion’s peculiarities. The joys, the pleasures, the misfortunes, the sufferings of one become the concern of the many. Lasting friendships are formed, and the end of the season is the occasion for many a regretful parting. All this is equally true of the advance. Each advertising car is a community in itself. Every ripple on the surface of life is reflected more or less in the life of all. Things that in the outside world would be unnoticed, become momentous happenings in these little communities. Events too infinitesimal for record in the life about them, are the occasion of many a day’s jest and comment. These notes of a season on the road seem trivial enough. In reality they have leavened many a quiet hour with mirth or sadness, or passed current for many a day as happenings of more than transient interest. In the paragraphs that follow, each rounds out a week in the story of a season ahead of the white tents.

Car No. 1. - The Royal Irish Mail

Managers: A. G. Ringling, Kerry Meagher.

Billposters: Wm. Shea, Boss Billposter.

O. M. Ballard B. G. Scanlan Chas. Snowhill Chas. Treager C. M. Conner John Graves E. J. Bishop James Gouran Fred. Bates

W. H. Hoskins T. K. Titus T. F. Scanlan E. F. Bluski Joseph Howard Sam Hamant Orin Stevens Bert Personett J. W. Westbrook

Lithographers: Kurt Eisfeldt, Nic Petit. Gus. Eisfeldt, Programmer. J. J. Cook, Manager Official Program. W. D. Coxey, Press Agent.

Car opens at Belleville, the first stand of the season out of St. Louis. Delayed in transit from winter quarters by washouts, but a little diplomacy on the part of Manager Meagher gets it into town on time. John Graves is picked up at Pana. Treager, Snowhill and Hamant are Belleville boys and congratulate themselves on the fact that the car has to come after them. A delegation of admiring citizens comes down to see the Belleville contingent off.

Louisville leads off the second week, after a long Sunday run from Murphysboro, Ill. Rain Monday. One of the new men, with the smallest route on record, excuses himself on the plea that he “was afraid of gretting his paper wet.” A. G. Ringling meets the car at Louisville, and goes through to Lexington en route to Eastern opposition stands. Ramsey, the Louisville and Lexington billposter, also a guest of the car. Arrive at Lexington at 9:30 P. M. in a heavy storm. “And the next day it snowed.” At Mt. Sterling, Mike Conner digs up the town character, he is as black as the ace of spades, tips the scale at 98 pounds, can stretch five feet three inches, and thinks he is 47 years old. He is known locally as Little Ben, the showman’s friend. Ben wears his high silk plug in honorof the circus crowd, and comes in for a lot of attention. Has his picture taken by the manager. At Huntington we discover that the notorious Sam Myers, a contract crook, has been representing himself as an agent of the show, and has decamped, leaving his board bill unpaid. Charleston, W. Va., is Friday’s stand. The hyphenated member of the circus syndicate billed in ahead of us. A. G. Ringling has answered the guns of the enemy with a heavy fusilade of flashy paper and a merry circus war, which lasts until show day is inaugurated. Hoskins, who lives at St. Albans, near Charleston, meets an old acquaintance — an ex-Confederate and asks him whether he intends to enlist for the war. “Wal, I’ll tell ye,” says tho old Johnny Reb, “it ’u’d be mahty tough to wear a blue uniform, but ef the band ’u’d play ‘Dixie’ we reckon it ’u’d be all right.” Bat Scanlan left back to look after the opposition billing. Ronceverte closes the week. Car arrives late after a long freight run and a narrow escape from a collision in the mountains.

Washington. Two-day stand. Car arrives late Sunday. Buffalo Bill in opposition. A. G. Ringling in charge of the billing. McKinley sends his famous war message to Congress, and the city is in a fever of excitement. The press agent and W. H. Horton, special agent, leave from Baltimore to return to the opposition at Charleston. R. W. Peckham, one of the contracting agents, handles the advance press in the interim. At Lancaster, the home of Dailey and Goodhart, everybody wants to know when “Tommy and George will be home.”

Strict authorities at Williamsport. Making paste on Sunday prohibited. Plenty of opposition at Connellsville. Two other shows billed in ahead. Persistent rain at McKeesport.

Pittsburg — Two days. Toughest town in America to bill. Butler town authorities object to high billboards. Several days of opposition.

Buffalo keeps the gang hustling. Soldiers off to the war attract attention. Everybody decorates, and the penitentiary flashes a big stretcher, “ Welcome.” The press agent rejoins at Rochester. Brings miserable weather. Peckham returns to the extreme advance. Treager begins to talk baseball, and there are rumors of coming combats on the diamond field. Bat Scanlan calls for Spanish stew at Syracuse, and the manager says: “Remember the Maine, Bat.” The order is rescinded. National guardsman, standing near the car at Schenectady, tells his girl that he “wanted to enlist powerful bad, but he thought it would he cruel to leave his mother.” And the girl says: “Mighty good thing some of you toy soldiers have mothers!”

Sunday and Monday in Troy, N. Y. Ed. Bishop joins. Gets a noisy reception. Is unusually subdued. Declares he has eschewed tanglefoot whisky and all other earthly forms of frivolity, and has been expelled from the Swearers’ Club for non-payment of dues. Shea says, “Rodents,” and the timbers in the car groan. At North Adams, Cook is so busy hunting copy for the program, that he can’t find the car and sleeps at the hotel. Foxy Italian gets three contracts for the side of his fruit shack, and then tries to rent it to an opposition show. Rain at Pittsfield. Everybody in Springfield glad to hear the show is coming again. Band returning from state encampment at South Framingham arouses enthusiasm by playing, “We’ll Rally ’Round the Flag, Boys.” Everybody talks war. Cook creates consternation by declaring that the St. Paul has been captured by the Spanish. Week closes at Athol, the home of B. M. Drake, a former contracting agent of the show, whose death occured in the west during the season.

Rival bill-posting firms at Worcester. The one we don’t use gets out ahead of car and contracts daubs in suburban towns. Public sensibilities jarred by seeing the discarded, but venerable, old city hall, a relic of colonial days, covered with the pictorial announcements of the rival firms. Snowhill says, even Belleville wouldn’t tolerate anything like that. Cook finds relatives at Marlboro. Conner discovers a rube on a country route, who gets interested in the “hip” bill. “Wal, be gosh,” says the rube, “them hogs be purty nigh fat enough to kill.” Kurt Eisfeldt has a ‘cinch’ at Lowell, where he has been associated with the “opery” house during the winter. At Lawrence the manager takes an involuntary soup bath at the dinner table. The girl who drops the soup plate on him giggles and vows she’ll never, never do it again. The manager leaves the table swearing a blue streak, and takes the edge off his appetite at a neighboring refectory. Bishop discovers an oddity in signs at Salem. It belongs to a shoemaker and reads in rhyme:

“Blow, blow, ye gentle breezes,
All amongst the flowers and treeses;
Sing, sing, ye gentle muses,
Whilst I mend your boots and shoeses.

Everybody glad to see Providence again. Bill show here. Belies its name. Anything but “billed.” Completely swamped by the circus pictures. Another comedy “coon,” little Tommy, a seven year old ethiopian, who wings like an old-time minstrel, wants to “join out.” Car has to sneak out of town to get rid of him. Rain at Norwich. Brady, of the American House, makes it pleasant for everybody. The local military company tramps five miles in the mud, and Tom Scanlan declares he’d rather be a Swede than a soldier. Hartford and New Haven are persistently wet. Joe Howard, our old salt, who served with “Fighting Bob” Evans, at Valparaiso, says it is just like being in the navy, except for the salt water. At New Haven Bishop says, he knows the local billboards so well, he could cover them at night backwards and with his eyes shut. There is a suspicion that the old man has transferred his membership from the Swearers’ to the Liars’ Club. At Waterbury Bat Scanlan tries to jolly a man out of a daub, by telling him he always wears a Waterbury watch out of admiration for the town.

Bad hotel at Winsted. Chickens on a strike, and eggs scarcer than hens’ teeth. Two enterprising town girls apply to Stevens, the programmer, for a job “passing bills.” “Steve” falls into a trance and the girls are frightened away. At Amsterdam the Juno that presides over the dining room, announces, “There’s a plate o’ puddin’ and one piece o’ pie — who wants it?” And everybody says, “No!” At supper time the manager takes pity on the gang and changes the hotel. A. G. Ringling visits at Little Falls. Pawnee Bill paper-up. At Weedsport Stevens graduates from programmer to billposter and throws up his first sheet of paper. Bluski, by the merest accident, of course, covers the tyro with paste. Gus Eisfeldt succeeds Stevens as the manipulator of the stamp and ink pad. Bates and Westbrook close.

Long Sunday run across Canada, from Niagara Falls to Montpelier, Ohio. We display an American flag in the Queen’s domains. The Canadians give three cheers and a tiger for “Old Glory” and the gang reciprocates by yelling, “God save the Queen.” During a twenty minutes’ wait at one of the stations, the Canucks are entertained with the “Wabash” and other selections by the Green Car Quartette, accompanied by Hamant on the banjo. Two rival brass bands at Montpelier furnish amusement. A tent show card tries to drain the noise of the local organization which is billed for a benefit at the town hall. The town board claims the victory, but the show gets the money. At Hammond the car is left two miles from the hotel, and the gang has a long drill for breakfast. Graves has a new story. A German farmer, on a route out of Dubuque, critically examines the date figure “one,” in red and blue. “Vell, vell, vell, but dose Ringdole Brudders vas batriotic.” “Why so?” “Vy, de vay dey govers all der valls mit Amerigan flags.” Vat’s your date?” “Why, that’s it — you’re looking at it.” “Chiminy, Grismas! — I dought dat was a flag!” First big show at Cedar Falls, Ia, and the advertising brigade attracts unlimited attention. Citizens, in their anxiety to get the show, furnish lot, license, billboards and even newspaper advertising.

Sunday at Cedar Rapids. Bluski at home. Pilots the boys around to keep them from getting lost. Base ball in the afternoon two miles out of town. Drawn battle in the rain. At Cresco the baseball enthusiasts have a little practice with the new outfit secured at Dubuque. Lose two days making run to Scotland.

Laid out at Woonsocket over Sunday. Second baseball battle of the season. Treager and Titus lead the opposing nines and the Treagerites win a glorious victory. Cook sees snakes, several hundred of them, near the hotel. At Scotland Cook gives a Yankton Indian a cigar and makes a hit with the noble red man. Hoskins takes a box brigade and bills Webster. The car runs through Webster and makes up one of the lost days. Hutchinson also fails to get a visit from the green car. The Hoskins brigade bills the latter town, and Bat Scanlan discovers a Robinson billboard at Litchficld and covers the back of it. “Just to get a depot showing,” he explains. At Sleepy Eye, Hamant entertains the hotel crowd with his banjo and a collection of German melodies. The local daily posts a bulletin that Dewey has given the German squadron sixty minutes to get out of Manila harbor, and the German-Americans crowd around the bulletin-board and roast the “Dutch.”

Lay over at Tracy. Furious baseball battle, third of the season. Treagerites go down in defeat — 32 to 13. The teams: Treager, Tom Scanlan, Stevens, Meagher, Snowhill, Howard, Bishop, Hamant, Kurt Eisfeldt. — Titus, Conner, B. J. Scanlan, Shea, Hoskins, G. Eisfeldt, Graves, Bluski and Pettit. At Brooking, an Indian team from Flandreau, plays the nine from the state agricultural college and Treager declares the game is worthy of professional players. No one questions it. Treager’s dictum on baseball matters is always accepted as final. At Tracy, Ballard wants to kill the town marshal for shooting a dog. A stuffed goat at the hotel at Le Sueur makes a great hit. It has a large and well developed bleating apparatus, which readily yields to pressure, and the gang declares that its intonation of “Ba-a-lard” couldn’t be surpassed by luring man or beast. Everybody has a go at the goat, and Shea suggests taking up a collection and buying it to bleat the gang out of bed Sunday mornings. Nic. Pettit closes, owing to illness in his family. En route from Le Sueur to Windom, pass a certain show at St. James, which is being loaded at the request of the city authorities, who refuse to permit a night performance, owing to the tough character of the outfit. At Luverne, Koettler and Braddock, from Number 3, discover us at the end of an excursion route out of Pipestone, and spend the evening amusing themselves and the gang with excursion pipe-stories. Hoskins sick at Estherville, and “Dr.” Meagher prescribed a blue mass pill and a bottle citrate of magnesia.

Forest City. Hamant and Conner sing into the phonograph and have the novel experience of hearing their own voices reproduced. Rumors of Shafter’s repulse at Santiago makes everybody blue in spite of the fact that it is the “Glorious Fourth.” Snowhill makes a dummy fire-cracker, two feet long, with a hisser for a fuse. Conner creates excitement at the way stations, by “firing” off the monster, and the car moves away amid a storm of laughter. News of the Schley-Sampson naval victory received at Goldfield, en route to Algona. Great excitement all along the line. Arrive Algona 2 P. M. Third game of baseball. Treagerites badly worsted. Game played on the fair grounds, a mile and a half out of town, in the presence of one spectator, who managed to endure four innings before resorting to flight. Grand display of fireworks and paper-balloon ascension at night.

Joe Gouran “joins out” at Peoria. Pawnee Bill follows in Bloomington. The press agent runs against a snag in Lafayette and leaves without making contracts with two of the local papers. Later on the publishers see the light, and their pages are illuminated with the circus “ad.”

Ballard visits kin folks at Indianapolis. Titus spends Sunday with his people at Marion. Hamant closes and returns to Belleville. The manager tells of the wonderful steaks at Portland — juicy fellows, swimming in grass hither. Every one prepares for a feast, and gets it — not. Bert Personet, of Marion, joins at Decatur, and discovers a sign in which the punishment fits the crime. It reads: “Coffee Bros. & Baker, Restaurant and Bakery.” “Windy Bill” Smith meets the car at Hillsdale and tells the gang has to live on nothing a year and grow fat on it.

Sunday at Battle Creek. Blistering hot. Gang take bedding and sleep on flat cars. Jack Holland tells how he sent Hamant on his first country route, and discovered the next day that the novice had forgotten to post the dates. Hot box on run from Lansing to Greenville. Getting out of Greenville, train runs down a grade and can’t get out. Reach Alma too late for hotel supper. Lunch at snake stand near the depot. Very bad. “Ef youse fellers had only a whistled and a-let me know, I’d ’a’ had somethin’ t’ eat fur yez, ” the proprietress informs us. At Cadillac some of the gang try their hand at fishing, without success. Bluski digs up the latest novelty in signs. It is in the city park, and reads: “No lyin’ in the park or bummin’ on benches.”

Bay City. Everybody takes in the lakeside resort. Long run to Port Huron. A. G. Ringling joins at Owosso, and notifies Meagher of his transfer to the financial department back with the show. Run from Ann Arbor to Toledo Saturday night. Most of the gang leave the car, and on returning to the station discover that the “Royal Irish Mail” has been moved four miles out of town. Have to wait until 2 A. M. for its return.

Meagher leaves from Toledo Sunday afternoon for the show. Everyone wishes him success in his new departure. A. G. Ringling takes charge. Stevens gets his first country route at Vincennes.

Car detained in Vincennes, Monday, waiting for shipment of paper. Carload delivered thirty five minutes before train time, Tuesday morning, and all loaded without delaying train. Car runs through Carmi. At Harrisburg a provincial asks the manager if the show is “comin’ binding.” He means “altogether”, without being separated. At Cairo Cook gets into society and is invited to a fashionable al fresco dance. Comes back with a story of a country hop, where all the dancers were barefooted and the fiddler had to carry a pair of tweezers to pull the splinters out of the dancers’ feet. Three days in Kentucky increases the consumption of quinine, calomel and bitters. Metropolis, 111. Hottest Sunday of the season. Hotel mile and a quarter from car.

Metropolis, Ill. Hottest Sunday of the season. Hotel mile and a quarter from car. Bishop, Bluski, Gouran, Conner, Personett and Tom Scanlan sleep under the trees and are overtaken by daylight in dishabille. Howard, Treager and Snowhill spend Sunday at home. At Sparta car gets a new drawbar, and car repairer declares: “’T aint much for nice, but it’s h__l for strong!” Car left in the wilds of East St. Louis, en route to Edwardsville, and gang walks two miles for supper. Later the Irish Mail is moved, and Hoskins, Eisfeldt, Ballard, Stevens, Titus and others have to chase it three miles out of town. Train held, and switch engine sent out to scout for the lost ones. Finally corralled. At Shelbina Manager Ringling gets a message from a physician at Brookfield notifying him that E. M. Burk, contracting agent, is sick in bed. The press agent jumps out to the rescue, and finds Col. Burk suffering from a severe attack of malaria.

The press agent makes Unionville and Clay Lambert contracts Bloomfield and other towns pending Burk’s recovery. En route to Unionville the manager buys a dog. Burk visits during his convalescence. The manager gives his canine bargain a kerosene bath, and the dog sheds his tail hair. Base ball at Unionville. Closest game of the season, 39 to 34. Capt. Treager comes off victorious, and the press agent, officiating as umpire, narrowly escapes being mobbed for giving a rank decision. Kurt Eisfeldt gets a split finger and drops out of the game. The manager comes to the rescue and does heroic work in the field. Col. Burk meets his match at Farmington. Runs against the “pump snake man.” The unwashed peddler of “yankee fiddles” swears he knew a farmer who teached the snakes with so much consideration, that they used to form a hose and pump water into the horse trough from a pond half a mile away. The colonel falls into a semi-trance and acknowledges himself outclassed. At Mt. Pleasant, Burk leaves again for the extreme advance. Titus leaves for home in poor health. Stevens is taken ill on a country route out of Chariton.

The manager goes gunning at Leon. Takes his new dog along. The dog hears the report of the gun, and runs away like a scared rabbit. And that’s the last of the dog. Rain en route to Osceola. Change in the weather. Overcoats at Beatrice. Straw hats called in and local hatters do a thriving trade.

Arrive at Mankato Sunday in a disagreeable rain. Hotel mile from depot. Train that takes us to Herrington crashes into a hack at Wichita, killing live persons and injuring several others, Sept. 13, and 13 persons in the hack. Discover a new Kansas remedy - “Grasshopper capsules.” The live grasshopper is enclosed in a gelatine capsule and the dose is swallowed in one gulp. Conner thinks he is stung by a tarantula and spends a sleepless night with his hand bandaged in a tobacco poultice. Fair in full blast at Enid. Nothing visible but dust. Hail late in the afternoon.

Gain a day at El Reno. Bill the town at night. Best billboards of any town of its size in the country. All high-grade flooring lumber. Jessie J. Sinclair, billposter. Heap big “injun” and squaw. Hot bargains in Indian bead work and elk teeth. Cook describes a Enid populist: “He had whiskers — whiskers that came down to his feet, in Enid — in Enid, they did.” Truthful James also evolves a new description of the "middle of the road populist: “He’s the fellow who walks in the middle of the road to keep his whiskers from getting tangled in the wire fences.” Car leaves Monday, a day ahead of time. Bat Scanlan has a breakdown out of Shawnee, and gets back next morning. Howard has a “pipe” story about sleeping in a house with one room and a family of twelve. Muskogee, Indian Territory, Thursday. One “guy” says to another: “Say, Bill, where’ y’ git that new hat?” And Bill says: “Oh beat a fellow stayin’ awake for it.” Sam McCracken, special agent, joins the car direct from the show, and goes ahead to Ft. Smith. The manager corrals a wild coon. Gus Eisfeldt buys a tame one. A monkey and parrot time at night. The manager gets up a half-dozen times to separate the belligerents, and finally quelches one of the “varmits” by shutting it in a locker. Armed neutrality until daylight. Several two, three and four-day routes out of the territory towns, and the boys see all the Indian country they want, and more. Some one asks at Vinita, whether the tough element behaves on circus day. “They have to,” is the reply. “We have eight deputy marshals, one has a record of dropping thirteen men, and another nine, and the rest of ’cm aint no slouches.” Iron Mountain train live hours late out of Wagoner, en route to Ft. Smith, owing to the train being held up by bandits near Kansas City. At Ft. Smith, town man claims Eisfeldt’s tame coon. Goes away for reinforcements, and the wild coon is substituted. Claimant returns and picks up the animal. There is a grin on his face and a look of severe confidence in his eyes. They didn’t last long. The coon opens up and in thirty seconds is master of the situation. Nobody tells the town man to drop the coon. They don’t have to. He has sudden and pressing business on the outside. And the gang! - oh the gang doesn’t do a thing to the town man.

Pine Bluff. Mike Conner announces that he has completed all arrangements for his new show, “Frozen Ideas.” Describes his new twenty-four sheet stand with an electric fan in the centre. “The fan,” he explains, “is to create a draft.” Kurt Eisfeldt discovers a man named Beard, and forgetfully asks whether “Mr. Whiskers is in.” Stevens has a country route and reports a thrilling adventure with Arkansan goats. There are a hundred or more of the odoriferous quadrupeds, and they devour the circus paper as fast as it goes up. Several athletic goats capture the top sheets by executing a top-mount on the back of a colossal William goat. It’s a strong story, but it goes. Everybody talks about the close, and speculation in regard to the last stand is rife. Railway guides are in demand. History is repeating itself. The same thing occured last year, and every other year in the history of advance. The end will be greeted with mingled pleasure and regret. Another season will be a memory. Speculation in regard to the next will have begun.

Car No. 2.

George Goodhart, Manager.
Billposters:
H. B. Malone, Boss Billposter

John Hartman Chas. Adkins John Raymond Claude Long Dick Leslie Frank Colbert

Frank Mikesell Frank Baeder Ed. Gleim George Myers Henry Mahler

A. A. Reeves, Lithographer
Milt Hagan, Lithograph Board Man
Foster McLeod and Jas. Tucker, Banner Men
Wm. Fritsch, Programmer

Ordered to report at St. Louis April 7, but a quick switch sends the gang hurrying to Belleville. The car is there, ready for the No. 2 brigade to take possession. Miss Murphyshoro. and go direct to Louisville. No. 1's paper in bad shape owing to heavy rains, and plenty to do. A day ahead in Charleston and hot opposition. Long and Leslie left behind to assist Morton from No. 1. Men sent ahead to make Ronceverte, and the car makes a run of 388 miles to Washington, D. C.

No. 2 stands alongside the Buffalo Bill No. 1 at Washington and Baltimore, and the men fraternize. The knowing ones say it looks suspicious, and intimate that the opposition has been purposely “worked-up” to create talk. At York Adkins gives a boy a bundle of circus newspapers to distribute among the stores. Ten minutes later the boy comes back with three cents and all but three of the papers. “I couldn’t sell any more,” he says. Two days at Lancaster, the home of Manager Goodhart, Hartman, Raymond and our “Little Dutch programmer,” Billy Fritsch. Opposition here, but everybody is anticipating the coming of the “World’s Greatest,” and only good weather is needed to insure record-breaking business. Manager Goodhart entertains the gang at his home.

The first shipment of the new, illuminated half tone book received at Bellefonte. All agree it is the handsomest bit of colored distributing matter ever used to advertise a circus. Plenty of opposition this week, and No. 2 is kept hustling. At Connellsville many a man will long “Remember the Main” show for the way in which it was swamped in the billing.

General gathering of rival show agents at Pittsburg. Fred, Beckman and E. H. Woods, of the Buffalo Bill, in advance of the opposition. At Butler both the Wild West and Main shows try to shut us out, but without success. At Ashtabula Milt Hagan is visited by his wife, a member of the profession, engaged at a local place of amusement.

The fight between Jack Petty and Jim Dailey proves a magnet for the boys at Buffalo. At Utica all hands are invited to visit Sig. Sautelle’s circus, and the proprietor makes an eulogistic announcement of the coming of the big show.

Trouble galore at Troy. Rival billposters, and rival claims for billboards contracted for the “World’s Greatest.” More Wild West opposition, but town beautifully billed in spite of all obstacles.

At Marlboro it is learned that Charles Knox, an old time billposter, is at South Framingham, sick and in need. He is well known to the men of No. 2, and a subscription paper passed around for his benelit receives everybody’s signature and a liberal donation. A telegram is sent to the benefciary, and as the car passes through South Framingham he meets the car and is handed the testimonial. His gratitude is as unbounded as the assistance is deserved. Sandy Grant, “every body’s friend,” and incidentally manager of the opera house, visits at Lawrence. Impossible to do routes here owing to heavy rain, and men have to be left behind.

Sunday at Providence. Pawtucket “does up” New Bedford in the ball field, and some of the gang “lose out.” Memorial Day gives the car a quiet Monday. At Bridgeport nearly everybody discovers old friends and acquaintances. “Bob” McGrath, an old-time billposter, revives old memories and half-forgotten circus stories at Waterbury.

A beautiful lake in the vicinity of Winsted contributes to the pleasure of Sunday in this quietly peaceful little Connecticut town. En route to Poughkeepsie hot boxes create temporary excitement. The car is ordered “laid-out,” paste and paper is hustled into the baggage car and a brigade sent ahead to bill the town. The car, however, succeeds in getting through during the night. Hotels changed at Amsterdam. No explanation necessary. A. G. Ringling visits at Little Falls, and outside towns are lithographed on account of opposition.

En route to Montpelier, the car is side tracked at Detroit, owing to hot boxes. Car is late in arriving. Reeves and Adkins engage in a novel contest. Each wagers the other he will have the longest whiskers at the end of the season, and a new hat is the forfeit to the winner. At Dubuque, Reeves breaks the record for No. 2, in a town of that size, using 2,000 window lithographs in good locations. Owing to opposition, most of No. 2’s billing for Cedar Falls is done at Waterloo, the “big suburb” of the Falls.

Meet car No. 1 of the Sells-Forepaugh show at Cedar Rapids, while waiting for the train to West Union. The erstwhile enemy is treated to lemonade, which is always “on tap” Sundays on the intermediate advance car. At Owatonna, Leslie, who is sent ahead to do a country route, is found seriously ill on arrival of the car, and a few days later leaves for his home at Marshall, Ill.

Spent Independence day at Le Sueur, Minn. Fishing, the order of the day. Embryo Izaac Waltons, all want a “go” at the rod and tackle, and country route romances give way to fish stories for the next two weeks. The car gets a pair of new wheels at Estherville.

A. G. R. visits again and at Eagle Grove induces the manager to take a “short” walk to the river. The river is three miles away and the manager returns with blistered feet and an abiding antipathy for short walks. The lay over at Marshalltown, en route to Hampton, is enlivened by a pleasant visit with the city billposter.

Out of Peoria, Baeder has a breakdown on a country route and returns at noon. Does the route successfully the following day. Martinsville is billed with a box brigade to gain an extra day for Indianapolis.

Two days at Indianapolis. Insignificant opposition with a small Wild West outfit. At Hillsdale the Georgia Minstrels entertain the gang.

The boys line up in front of the car at Battle Creek, Mich., and have a family photograph taken. Between Grand Ledge and Greenville, a careless engineer succeeds in breaking one of the Janney hoods. Hagan makes a country route out of Greenville and asks a fanner’s permission to cover his barn. The farmer says “yes” and Hagan gives him a ticket. Then he goes to the wagon for paper, and on returning is paralyzed to discover that the farmer has tacked the ticket on the barn. “I ’lowed that’s what you wanted me to do,” says the unsophisticated agriculturist.

Three days at Toledo Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Big Sunday showing. One empty on Main street has 450 sheets of paper. Tucker looses his famous dog, “Paste.” Adkins begins to look like “Rip Van Winkle.” Dick Leslie rejoins at Marshall, Ill., fully recovered in health. More wild-west opposition at Cairo.

At Hopkinsville, Ky., nearly everybody goes to see a ball game between rival negro teams, and a hot time is anticipated. The visiting team has come unprovided with mask and gloves, and the home team refuses to furnish them; consequently the game is called off and a disappointed crowd tramps back to town.

En route to Shelbina, a brakeman trying to couple car to train, has three fingers taken off, and a few nights later another Burlington brakeman loses his hand in the same way. Frank Colbert springs a “new one” at Shelbina: “I says to a farmer, says I, ‘Let me put a few pretty pictures on your barn?’ and before the guy can say anything, a parrot back on the porch yells out, ‘Certainly for a family ticket.’ “ This tale of undoubted veracity secures Colbert the sobriquet of “Parrot.” Reeves arrested at Macon City for posting bills without first “seeing the authorities.”

John Raymond has a narrow escape on a country road out of Unionville, Mo. He crosses a small stream in the morning and returns late at night, after the bridge has been washed away by a sudden rise of the water. Thinking the bridge is still in place, the driver urges his horses forward, and men, team and wagon plunge headlong into the stream. Paper, brush and paste can are lost, and men and horses narrowly escape drowning.

Impossible to bill at Leon, owing to heavy rains. The hardest week of the season. Rains every day, and paper from No. 1 badly washed everywhere.

As the end of the season approaches, interest centers on the Reeves-Adkins whisker contest. Adkins is still in the lead, but Reeves may yet win by a hair. Dan Malone, the Tom Ochiltree of the gang, has lost caste, and his wayside tales are recognized as the vagaries of an over-productive imagination. Even the rubes won’t laugh at them any more. Fritsch engages in a new busines - selling postage stamps to the gang and thinks he will raise enough to go to housekeeping. Frank Baeder, once the life of the car, has lost his voice and his comedy smile. “They” say, early rising and long routes are killing him. Humors are rife that John Hartman is to take one of Lancaster’s fairest belles to the altar at the end of the season. John only smiles and says, “I don’t say anything of the kind will happen, but if it does well, the latch string’ll be open for any of the gang that gets around my way.” And the gang agrees that it’s a long time between seasons, and there are worse places than Lancaster to “blow” into during a hard winter.

Car No. 3.

Tom Dailey, Manger
Louis Knob, in Charge of Paper
Excursion Men:

A. C. Abbott Geo. Choffin A. J. Choffin Ed. Braddock D. F. Cline Jerome Diehl Tom Cahill

L. C. Piepenbrink Warner Willey E. R. Wentworth Fred Kettler Louis Eisner Tony Crandall M. C. Service

The “last shall be first” is literally fulfilled in St. Louis, where No. 3 opens the season a week ahead of the “Irish Mail.” To be precise, the excursion car opens March 23, and bills “the city at the end of the bridge” for the opening of the big show at the magnificent Coliseum. Bad weather necessitates re-billing the second and even the third week to some extent, and there is no time for play or pipe stories. The record in the city is 13,983 sheets, with 4,000 sheets of window work. The excursion billing aggregate 8, 277 sheets. No. 3 also thoroughly banners St. Louis.

Everybody is busy at Belleville getting the work organized for the season. At Harrison, en route to Murphysboro, Braddock and Abbott step off the car, the train pulls out and the disgusted couple have to count railroad ties for two miles into town.

Louisville. First Sunday out. Some of the boys see Pittsburg and Colonels play ball. Excursion routes heavy and numerous. At Lexington everyone is greatly interested in the movement of troops to the front. At Mt. Sterling car is sidetracked three hours while troops are passing through. Tom Cahill, a new excursion man, gets mixed in his trains out of Huntingdon, and is gone three days and a half. He is given up for lost, and the manager is about to advertise for a “lost, strayed or stolen” bill poster, when the delinquent turns up. Out of Charleston Braddock gets permission from a colored aunty to cover the side of her shanty. He starts to throw up a monkey hill, but she stops him. “Say, show man,” says the old mammy, “don’t yo’all put up dat t’ing. De las’ circus man put up a monkey an’ de white folks done call me monkey evah since.” And Braddock gallantly compromises with a “hip” bill and the Lockhart elephants.

At Washington bad handling causes the car to lose a step. A. G. Ringling here. First installment of colored books received. Bad weather in Baltimore. City splendidly bannered by opposition brigade under direction of A. G. Ringling. Mrs. Dailey and Miss Marguerite Dailey, the manager’s wife and seven year-old daughter, visit. Car runs through York. At Lancaster, the home of the manager, everyone gives him the glad hand and suggests the desirability of a “comp” or two. “Are you friends of mine?” asks the manager. “Why, certainly,” is the response. “Then buy your ticket and support the institution that pays me my salary.” Another step smashed by a careless train crew. Freight trains are the order of the day - and night - and everybody wonders how much of the car will be left by the time passenger runs are a reality again.

Bad run into Williamsport. Arrive at 1 p. m., via “freight express.” Another rough freight run into Bellefonte. Kettler declares it gives him mal de mer, and one of the new men says, “yes, I was afraid of gettin’ thirsty, too, and I got a bottle o’ sody pop at the last town.” Meet W. H. Horton at Johnstown, with opposition brigade. Pleasant visit with Wm. Kolder, of the Cambria Theatre. Mrs. Dailey leaves for home from Connellsville. Find that No. 2 has already drained the opposition here. Owing to delay in arriving, McKeesport has to be billed late Saturday night in a heavy rain.

A. G. Ringling and his brigade at Pittsburg. No. 3 uses 7,496 sheets of paper in the “Smoky City.” A. G. R. secures Duquesne Theatre boards and an old building at Sixth and Liberty streets, thus giving the “World’s Greatest” the best location in town, in the face of strong opposition. One show ahead of us and another to follow at Butler, Chas. Medley, manager of the opera house at Beaver Falls, and Chas. Keiss, both former excursionists on No. 3, visit at New Castle.

Buffalo has plenty of work for the excursion tourists. Chas. Fillbrick and other local bill posters “drop around” and tell us “how it happened” in the old days when they were “on the road.” Heavy excursion routes out of Rochester. Preacher calls on the manager and asks for some “bills to peddle among his congregation,” ten miles out of town. “Won’t cost you anything,” he says, “always like to advertise a moral show.”

A. G. Ringling’s brigade is in full possession of the town at Troy, but excursion routes loom up big. Kverybody looking for the show and a big day anticipated. At North Adams George Choffin has his coat ground under the wheels of a railway train. He lays the coat on the platform while he covers a daub and the suction of a fast train draws it under the cars. Choffin, holding up the disintegrated garment: “Well, what do you think of that for a railroad cut?” Very stormy day a Springfield. Ellsner and Herod close. The manager renews acquaintance with Perkins, the genial city bill poster.

Decoration Day Discovers No. 3 in Worcester. W. H. Horton joins as route inspector. Joe Plant, Dave Holbrook and J. McCloskey, old time bill posters, visit. Another big rain storm at Salem, Jas. Lyons, who was associated with the manager during the season of 1891, visits.

Providence forgets its Puritanism and has a Sunday base-ball game - that is to say it tries to have, but the players fail to materialize, much to the disgust of the excursion “bill” gang and several thousand other reputable American citizens. Robt. McGrath, an old-timer, drops in at Waterbury, and gives the gang a few pointers on success, of which he has had a well-deserved share.

At Winsted the car is anchored under the windows of a pin factory. Some of the boys are still writing six page epistles to the fair pin makers. All the gang are supplied with pins ad lib., and one of the exceptionally lucky ones is presented with a handsome pair of sleeve buttons by a pretty admirer. At Niagara Falls several men representing a small opposition show are arrested for helping themselves to our boards without asking permission, and fined.

Montpelier! “Westward, ho!” is now the cry, and everybody in the car heaves a sigh of relief. Drummer eulogies New England and the landlord says: “Oh! yes the East is the greatest country on earth — to a man who never saw the West.” Daubs are plentiful again, and Kettler’s scheme to anchor 24-sheet pictorial banners on captive balloons falls flat. Hammond brings us still nearer to the “wild and wooly” west. Town guy tells of a man “just west o’ town” who pawned his old gray mare “to git money to see the last show.” And Abbott says: “Pshaw! that’s nothing; we ‘hang up’ several hundred elephants every day, and we don’t have to pay to see the show, either.” On the run to Sycamore the Belt Line damages the car and runs it in the Chicago yard to be repaired. As soon as the city limits are reached everybody drops off. The car is lost in the labyrinth of terminal tracks, and finally reappears at 5 a. m. the next morning at the Northwestern depot. The boys came straggling in, one after another, after spending the entire night looking for the excursion “box.” At Dubuque Knob and Cahill meet with an accident. The bottom drops out of a barrel of paste they attempt to load on the car, and the “dope” covers them from head to foot. It’s fun for the gang but tough for the victims.

Indian curios prove a strong magnet at Pipestone. Everybody invests in redstone pipes, napkin rings and watch charms. A miniature reproduction of an elephant is very much in favor. Scotland is passed by to avoid losing time.

No. 3 celebrates the Glorious Fourth at Webster. The quietest day on record. The town is “locked up,” and the residents go to other places to help their neighbors celebrate. A traveling man and the hotel porter furnish the only excitement of the day. The former defends the Spaniards and the latter knocks him down and literally wipes the floor with the defendant of the Dons. A man who has been in Cuba says: “Great, ain’t it? only needs a couple of machetes to make it the real thing.” While lying at Sleepy Eye advertising car No. 1 of the John Robinson’s Show passes through. Wm. Dale, manager, and George Cook, programme manager, extend fraternal greetings.

Forest City furnishes a surprise. The landlord invites the boys up to the desk and turns on his phonograph. The voices of Sam Hamant, Mike Conners and W. D. Coxey, of car No. 1, readily recognized. Tony Crandall closes at Eagle Grove, to join the “Other People’s Money” company for the fall and winter season.

Peoria offers opportunity for heavy railroad billing, and gets it. Over 6,000 sheets in country and 450 renewed in town. Dan Cline, former city bill poster, meet many old acquaintances. Someone asks: “Which do you prefer, Dan, traveling or being located?” “Oh, staying in one place is all right in its way,” says Dan, “but you’ve got to travel if you want to see the country.” At LaFayette Kettler closes to join the advertising staff of Bijou Theatre, Chicago. W. C. Kelley and L. G. Piepenbrink join.

Indianapolis gives No. 3 a big day. Billing runs into the thousands. Bill poster asks a Hoosier, on a country route, which he intends to visit, the circus or the Wild West. “Hev’ th’ got animals with t’other show?” asks the Hoosier. “No,” is the reply. “Then,” says the Hoosier, ‘that settles th’ Wild West. I ain’t a-perilin’ my soul’s salvation by goin’ t’ no show without animals.”

En route to Bay City Twesne stands on the platform of a way station and lets the car pass him. As that is the last train for 48 hours he is compelled to walk eleven miles to get a Flint & Pere Marquette train for his destination. Heavy customs exacted by the Canadian officials on paper for billing Sarnia and vicinity excite the manager’s wrath, and compel him to say mean things about the Queen’s government in seven Irish dialects and a smattering of Lancaster Dutch.

Toledo gives a quiet Sunday and a Monday of heavy excursion billing. En route to Vincennes Choffin and Kelley fail to awake and are carried through the town. Have to walk back several miles at a double quick pace in order to catch the car which leaves at 6:10 a. m. Buffalo Bill men follow us at Vincennes and precede No. 3 at Carmi.

Wentworth closes at Cairo. Town heavily bannered. Kentucky towns produce nothing but promises of good business and an exceptionally pronounced brand of malaria.

At Sparta W. C. Kelley is slightly injured by being caught between the car and a pile of lumber. Closes. At Edwardsville receive first installment of new excursion one sheet. Warner Willey closes at Louisiana owing to illness.

Unionville brings a heavy storm. Rains hard all day. Paper has to be renewed in town and country. Bloomfield has to be made in an hour and fifty minutes in order to make the next train. Twesne drops out at Farmington.

Cline makes a railroad route out of Shenandoah, and agriculturist says: “Them boys showed in Imogene seven or eight years ago.” Cline says: “I guess not.” “Oh! yes, they did — I know better.” (Looking at the portraits.) “That feller in the middle druv the band wagon, and he was so doggoned red-headed his hair looked like a house afire.” At Auburn the county fair is in full blast, and the town is full of Hi’s and Jonases who look upon the bill-posting brigade with wonder and half defined suspicion. At Beatrice the boys lined up to have their picture taken, with the car for a back ground. At night a hobo stops under the car window and wants to know when “this caboose goes out.” He is informed that he will have to walk to the B & M if he wants to jump a freight. “Oh! that’s too far, I can’t walk it.” “Hire a hack, then.” “Well,” and thoughtfully, “that’s a good idea. What’ll you chip in towards it?”

The Indian country seems to bring the end of the season in view. This is intensified by reports of yellow fever in the South. Texas comes as a surprise. Bill posters who have been offering big odds on Cape Girardeau as the closing stand try to hedge. Nevertheless all feel that the end cannot be long delayed; a few days or weeks at most. Winter plans are as plentiful as negroes on a Louisiana show day. Abbott forgets to spring his “pipe” stories, Knob plans new novelties in theatre “props,” Cline springs a proposition for a bill posters’ syndicate to control a new scheme for illuminated bill boards; several other whisper mysteriously of “angels” who propose to back them in repertoire novelties, and every other man solemnly declares that “this is his last season on Number Three.” And next season? Oh! - the boys will be on hand as usual. The fall plans will vanish under the cold frosts of winter; the hardships of life ahead of the white tents will be forgotten; the pleasant side only will be remembered and eager and willing they will return — most of them — to the fascinations of a life that is irresistible to nine out of ten men who have ever been absorbed into it.

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The Tour of 1898

St. Louis, Mo. April 11th to 20th. The season of 1898 marks the fifteenth annual milestone in the history of the World’s Greatest Shows.

It was fourteen years ago last spring that the original nine wagons upon which everything comprising what was then called the “Old Yankee Robinson and Ringling Bros.’ Great Double Shows” were first hauled from town to town by a very “measly” lot of horses.

Fourteen years is not a long time when reckoned by years, but when computed by days and all by all the events crowded into those days, a great long panorama of past history and events unfolds itself to the memory and makes those few years seem like an age. Circus life is brimful of these events, and each season has enough of them to fill a book. Therefore, almost every show publishes a volume at the end of each season known as a route book, which chronicles the events of the season, and that is the apology for the publication of this volume. To tell the most important happenings and many of the minor ones and to incidentally leave a memento of one of the most important seasons in the history of the great show in the hands of the hundreds of employees who each in his or her way contributed by personal effort toward the success of the season of 1898, is the mission of this little book. To many out of the profession, there may be much of interest in the following pages. And then again, there may not be. It rests entirely with the disposition of the reader, whether he interests himself in the world as it exists outside his own immediate sphere, or not. To cut what might become a long introduction short and avoid unnecessary and perhaps tiresome digression, the Ringling Brothers’ World’s Greatest Shows opened the season of 1898 in St. Louis. Mo., in the immense Coliseum building extending from 13th to 14th streets, and from Olive street two blocks toward Washington avenue. The season in the big structure lasted from April 11th to 21st inclusive, and was a marked financial and artistic success from the opening night to the finishing performance.

St. Louis had never before seen a circus in a building, and the people of the great city on the banks of the “Father of Waters” were on the qui vive for months before the inauguration of the great event. For a number of years previous to the season just past the opening of the World’s Greatest Shows had occurred in Chicago in the Tattersall building, and the transfer of the great opening made many St. Louisans feel that the trend of big amusement events was toward the metropolis of the Great Southwest.

Opening day, April 11th dawned bright and clear. For almost two weeks previous the trainloads of circus paraphernalia had been arriving, and preparatory to the event rehearsals by the army of artists, performers, musicians, etc., had been given. The preparation of aerial and other acts requiring apparatuses to be adjusted to the dome of the Coliseum had been completed.

April 11th found every person on the roster present, every rope in its place and a crowd on the streets of St. Louis such as the city had perhaps never seen before.

The parade was advertised to leave the Coliseum at 8:30, and promptly at that hour it started. The entire route was lined with dense throngs that filled every available point of vantage, windows, balconies. doorsteps and sidewalks, while the streets held the overflow. The street cars of the entire downtown district were in a condition of chaos and for over four hours the entire city was given over to the circus. Though the 400 horses in the parade were green from winter quarters, and the score of elephants had not seen street cars in five months, the casualties, aside from one, were few and insignificant.

A team of eight horses on the yellow band wagon became unmanageable on Easton avenue, but with rare presence of mind and consummate skill George Stump, the driver, seeing that he was powerless to check them, kept them in the middle of the steeet until he met an electric car, against which he dashed. The sudden shock had a quieting effect on the team, one of the “wheelers” being thrown under the car wheel, resulting in a broken leg, thus averting what might have been a terrible catastrophe, with great loss of life. The side show band, who participated in this mad flight, were not slow, at this point, to escape from their perilous position on the wagon, and with blanched faces thank their lucky stars they were still numbered with the living. The horse ridden by Miss Geyer also became unmanageable and rearing, threw her backwards on the rough pavement, but luckily she escaped with a few slight bruises. Another accident was the severe shaking up received by a negro lad who, becoming tired with walking, attempted to reach a seat under the big band chariot on the axle, but slipped, and a crushed foot was the sad result. But one accident marred the even tenor of events during the ten days following, this being painful injuries received by Miss Rosa Dockrill, who fell from the horse during her principal act and struck the ring curb. She was in her accustomed place, however, in two weeks’ time. Although our engagement here was filled with “war” and “rumors of war,” the notable “Declaration of War” being made while here, and public excitement was at its highest tension, yet it seemed in no way to affect the large crowds who wended their way twice daily to the Coliseum building, and public interest never lagged from the opening to the close. It was from this city, April 14th, the telegram was sent to the secretary of war, Russell A. Alger, which received universal commendation and showed the patriotism of “The Famous Five.” The appended extract from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch will fully explain:

Elephants For Cuba.
Ringling Brothers Make a Tender of Their Herd to the War Department.
For the Artillery Service.
They Have Been Used Successfully in India and Could be Utilized in Various Ways.

Ringling Brothers have decided to offer the government the use of a herd of twenty-five trained elephants for light artillery service in Cuba when war shall have been declared.

The value of the elephant in such service has been fully demonstrated in India, Burmah and elsewhere in the East. Its great strength, endurance, docility and sagacity make it almost invaluable in places where horses and other methods of transportation are unavailable. Elephants are not only useful in hauling heavy artillery over rough roads, underbrush and fresh trails, but guns of lighter caliber can be strapped to their backs and they can be trained so that they can be fired from that vantage, and the elephants remain perfectly still, unfrightened by the noise and concussion.

Alfred Ringling, who originated the plan, thinks the animals can be utilized in various other ways. They are great swimmers, and they could be used to transport troops and supplies over unbridged streams in the interior.

The animals could be equipped with coats of mail, as they are in India, and a herd so armored would form a movable fort of great utility in the open field, and would be a shelter behind which a considerable force could operate at considerable advantage.

Some of the elephants did service in the Indian mutiny. They live to a great age and the young elephants which did duty then are still in the prime of life and vigor. Natives of the tropics, the animals would not be affected by the climate of Cuba, as is the case with imported horses, and as the Ringlings have elephant keepers and trainers who are willing to enlist to direct their movements, they think their herd would prove a valuable addition to the American forces in Cuba, should that country be occupied in carrying out the plan of armed intervention.

With the approval of his brothers and partners, Alfred Ringling made a formal tender of the herd Thursday in the following telegram to the Secretary of War:

St. Louis, April 14.
Russell A. Alger, Secretary of War.
Washington, D. C.:

In the event of war can we place at the disposal of the War Department twenty-five elephants for special artillery service in Cuba? Some of them have served in the Punjaub. and neither the climate, food, swamps nor underbrush of Cuba could interfere with their utility. In the heavy underbrush they would be particularly useful, where horses cannot travel freely. They could be armored so heavily as to be utilized as moving forts. We have men here fully competent to handle the animals, who are anxious to enlist, and the value of elephants in light artillery has been fully demonstrated in India.
Ringling Brothers.

Belleville, Ill. Friday. April 22. The road season of 1898 was formally opened here. Of course there was the usual hand-shaking of old friends of former seasons; the pleasures and hardships of the past winter discussed; the sizing up of new forces. etc.; the spread of canvas examined by critical eyes and compared with other shows, and former seasons; the band, parade and performance receiving its share of attention from the employes - thus in its baptism of criticism, favorable and unfavorable, the World’s Greatest Shows inaugurated its fifteenth road season. The side show people began their season here as the “Museum of Wonders” was not a factor in the St. Louis engagement. August Neubauer, who was with us in ’97, lives here and spent the day with his musician friends. We had a rainy day here, which, however, failed to dampen the ardor of our large and enthusiastic audience.

Murphysboro, Ill. Saturday. April 23. A rainy day greeted us here. The lot however, was grassy and situated near Logan Park, so named in honor of the late John A. Logan, who was once a resident of this little city. Owing to the inclemency of the weather, no wardrobe was used in parade, and all were more or less drenched. Guy Repaaz, of mounted band fame, rode a notionate animal who conceived a sudden ambition to desert the parade and investigate the interior of “a blind alley.” Well, Guy went into the alley with the horse and there we left him. By the time he had dismounted and turned the horse around the parade was lost in the distance, the Bell wagon was also left on the lot on account of the deep mire. Business big in spite of the war of the elements.

Louisville, Ky. Monday. April 25. Arrived late on Sunday. Long run from Murphysboro. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fisher visited by the former’s brother and sister-in-law; also by their son Horace, who is intending school at Louisville. Horace Fisher was one of the gymnasts of the World’s Greatest in ’97. Major Rheinbeck, midget, joined the side show attractions. Tremendous business both afternoon and evening.

Lexington, Ky. Tuesday. April 26. This is in the heart of the famous Blue Grass region, the home of beautiful women, fast horses and fine whiskey. The wardrobe men were given charge of a troupe of trained dogs, which arrived here today. Their musical qualities were not up to the standard, but as fighters they were the limit, at least so Shafer avers. Weather beautiful. Arrived late. Long haul to lot, and considerbale trouble was experienced in getting our heavy wagons placed in the soft grounds. In spite of these disadvantages the parade was only one hour late. Business was good at both performances. Jas. Schrader, a candy butcher, was called home by telegram as the company of militia, of which he was a member, was ordered out for duty. Wm. Wilson joined the “little store” force.

Mt. Sterling, Ky. Wednesday. April 27. Fine day. Arrived early. Parade out on time. Everything is working as smoothly as if the show had been out for months. Everyone has learned his place and the clock-like regularity so much wondered at by the thousands who view the working forces handle the trains, horses, tents and other departments, has assumed its mid-summer aspect. The show grounds were lined with snack stands from which colored folks dispensed hot coffee, barbecued shoat, ’possum cake, fried fish and Washington pie. Weather line. Business good.

Huntington, W. VA. Thursday. April 28. Nice day. Late in arriving, but parade was out on time. Lot was covered with big sewer pipe. The first annual meeting of the “Pot Gang” was held here and the following officers were chosen: Chas. Evans, layer-out; John Coliton, camp-fireman; Kerry Cowjack, steward and manager, and W. Spencer, treasurer. The “Pot Gang” is an order entirely devoted to the interests and pleasure of the animal men, who will have many a pleasant night lunch as a consequence. Steaming viands, cooked at a camp-fire near the bull cars, combining with good fellowship and comeradie to while away many a long summer evening between the closing of the menagerie and the starting of the big troupe for the next stand. Long life to the “Pot Gang,” and in the words of the Kaiser, “gut heil.”

Charleston, W. VA. Friday. April 29. Capitol of West Virginia, and first capitol city of the season. Long toll bridge here over the Kanawha river, and many of the people, not knowing that the Ringling Brothers had paid the toll for the entire company, submitted to bring held-up by the toll-gate keepers. Two regiments of West Virginia volunteer infantry are in camp three miles up the river here. The boys made the night lively with songs, speeches and gayety. The pole-wagon had to be unloaded at several corners, the wagon turned and the poles reloaded on account of the narrow streets. Mart Schuler, layer-out of the Sells-Forepaugh show, which follows us here one day, was here in the interests of his employers. Attempted shakedown on the lot, which was squelched by the lot owner. Business big afternoon and night. Coxey, press agent, was a visitor.

Ronceverte, W. VA. Saturday. April 30. Beautiful grounds here, situated in a picturesque valley and bordered by a pretty brook. Al. Ringling and Prof. Lockhart fished in the stream and on their return to supper Earnest Haley asked what luck they had. “Nil,” replied Lockhart. “What do you mean?” said Haley. “Oh, nothing.” Two old Confederate batteries were situated just above the lot, the ruins of which attracted many of the sight-seers. In the valley, hardly wide enough for the big top, one-half of the parade moved while the balance was seen a hundred feet down, but only two blocks distant. Some of the first band felt rather nervous as the big chariot rocked over the rough streets, for fear they might knock out some of the skylights in the buildings beneath. Mr. White, of minstrel fame, now a resident of Portland, Ind., visited. One show only was given here on account of the long run before us to Washington, D. C., and the wise ones laid in a goodly supply of lunch, which was certainly appreciated the next day. The mountaineers partook quite freely of the orange cider, which lacked the effects of the “mountain dew,” with which they were more familiar. Business good, and the “ghost” gladdened the hearts of the workingmen.

Washington, D. C. Monday and Tuesday. May 2 and 3. The National Capitol, situated on the banks of the Potomac river, and surrounded by places of interest dear to the heart of every American citizen. It is here the laws are made and upheld that control the destinies of a great nation, which is now battling for the freedom of a weak country which has thrown off the yoke of tyranny which has oppressed it so long, and the city is full of war talk and the cry of “War Extra” is heard on every hand. We arrived late Sunday night, but Monday, bright and early, found us on the lot on East Capitol avenue. The parade was out on time, and was an innovation to many who did not believe the circus bill boards. The majority of “troupers” spend all their spare time in viewing the many public buildings and other places of interest — the Capital building, Congressional Library, Treasury, and the Washington Monument receiving the greatest percentage of “tourists,” many of whom contributed umbrellas and small parcels that they left with the door tenders and under the excitement of the occasion came away without them. Ed. Brady and Van Cleve each contributed umbrellas to the hungry horde of government clerks. Joe Le Fluer left for his home in Providence, R. I., to give his knee proper rest. This city is the home of the Carrolls, who spent the time pleasantly visiting relatives and friends. This is where the hen said she had been “laying for them,” and they had eggs for breakfast. Very tough and saucy negroes here. News of the victory of Manila, in which Commodore Dewey placed the entire Spanish fleet hors de combat, received here and the populace are wild with excitement and delight.

Baltimore, MD. Wednesday and Thursday, May 4 and 5. Arrived here 6 a. m. Long haul to lot, which was cramped and rather small for the “World’s Greatest.” Another two-day stand and also experienced cold, rainy disagreeable weather. Our parade was given on the 4th inst., and was witnessed by thousands of people who crowded the streets over the entire line of march. By the way the “line of march” was rather long and much “tired feeling” was experienced by all before the while tents were found. To those who were with the show here, Baltimore will always be associated with the “crab man,” for his familiar voice was heard from early morn to late at night, “crabs, here, your crab man - crab man’s comin’ — crab man’s heah — crab man’s gone.” Mrs. Dave Costello and her menage horse Dan joined here. Harry Rickley found the town too large for him and had to secure the assistance of the police to find “just where he was at.” Phil Woods, formerly of the Barnum show, visited his many friends in band and dressing room. Miss Mollie Rawson, having friends here, was detained so late that it required the combined efforts of the ladies in the dressing room to prepare her for the tournament.

York, PA. Friday. May 6. Very bad day, cold and rainy. The heavy wagons had to be hook-roped over a slough thirty feet in width. Bon fires were in great favor. “Ice cold lemonade” was changed to “hot peanuts” by the “up-to-date” butchers. Princess Ami has pictures taken here. Jno. Jennings is visited by his wife and children, son-in-law and grand child. In spite of the disagreeable weather our business was good. Mr. Rofter, the keeper of the Yak, took a high dive last night without the customary use of the net, from his upper bunk to the floor. The car sill, however, stood the strain, but Robt. Taylor informed him that a net must used hereafter. It was all night work getting off the lot here owing to the wind and rain, and long after daylight before the trains were on their way in their next stand. Hot coffee and sandwiches were heartily enjoyed by all at the cars before leaving.

Lancaster, PA. Saturday, May 7th. Arrived here very late on account of very bad lot at York, but parade got out on the streets by noon and the big show started on time. The weather was cool and there was slight rain. Ed. Smith took the prize here for hauling thirty boxes of pop corn on a two-wheeled hack. The candy-men aver that the “neighbors” here wanted four or five cigars for a nickel. Balloon men joined here. Jack Gee received the first order for a suit of clothes by the always popular tailors, Peck & Behrens. E. W. Smith shaking hands with many friends here. Theodore Breedy received a pleasant visit from his son George, and brother John, of Reading, Pa. Mr. Ross, trombonist, received fourteen letters and a big box by express. Adam Forepaugh, the famous circus manager, in company with his wife and a party of friends who came over from Philadelphia, visited the show here today and was delighted with the magnitude and superlative character of the big show. The lot owner here refused to let the wagons pass over the only available outlet from the lot at night, but “what the eye does not see the heart cannot grieve over,” and so while the worthy lot owner was busy dispensing several “achtels” and other antidotes to rainy weather, great things happened. This is the home of Tom Dailey, manager of our advertising car 3.

Williamsport, PA. Monday. May 9th. This is our Sunday town, but the boys all wear a disgusted look as their opportunities to spend money are few. However, the landlords of the several hotels make it as pleasant for them as secrecy will admit. Maj. Kilpatrick visits his sister here. D. Burk, Portland. Ind., and Henry Slull, who was in the side show band in ’96, visits many friends with the show and furnishes a few glasses to wash it down with. On Sunday eve. May 8th, the Royal Herd of the Ancient Exalted Order of the Elephant - an order whose origin dates back but a year, being organized with the “World’s Greatest” in Detroit, July 15, 1897, held its annual meeting here in the parlor of the principal hotel. The following officers were elected to serve the coming year: W. H. Van Cleve, R. H.; Fred Madison, R. G. E.; Jack Sullivan. R. T. K.; Geo. Heiser, R. T; Warren Patrick, R. K. S.; Paul Matthews, R. M. U.; Rhoda Royal, R. K.; Robt. Taylor. R. Pj. Much interest was manifested and many questions of importance disposed of. The Henry Distin Musical Instrument factory is also situated here and the musicians availed themselves of the opportunity to get needed repairs, etc., as well as see how horns are made. We erected our tents on a fine dry lot near the Distin factory and business was very good.

Bellefonte, PA. Tuesday. May 10th. Arrived here on time. Weather pleasant. Business good. One of the canvasmen gives the following version of a conversation between himself and a visitor:

“How-de-do.”
“Hello.”
“Are you with it?”
“Yes.”
“Are you one of the staub drivers?”
“Yes.”
“You get a chance to see heaps of country, eh?”
“Yes.”
“This is the best show town in the state, and you’ll have a bigger
crowd tonight than this afternoon. Do you all travel by cars?”
“Yes.”
“How many of you be they?”
“O, about 950.”
“Do you all sleep in one car? Do you all eat on the grounds? Are all the
Ringling Brothers with the show? Are they all actors?”

The canvasman claims to have escaped the five hundred other questions that were hurled at him.

Johnstown, PA. Wednesday. May 11th. Arrived here late but parade was out as usual. Weather here beautiful. Lot very crowded and covered with cinders, which the spring breeze blows up in little clouds of black dust. Perfect order and quiet prevails on the grounds among the thousands of sight seers. Old-timers say this is an innovation of the Johnstown that existed before the flood, when a circus day without several Hey Rubes was not known here. Many shudder at the inclined cable railway running up almost perpendicular to the top of the mountain, while others eager for adventure ride to the dizzy height. O. A. Menges and others, who made the trip, say it imparts a thrill not to be measured by the feelings inspired by a ride on the Ferris wheel.

Connellsville, PA. Thursday, May 12th. This city is situated in the heart of the coke regions and our trains pass between miles of coke ovens, their bright fires burning and the smoke so thick that the light of the sun is often obscured for days. Again the rain fell in torrents during the parade and many vindictive anathemas wore uttered against the manner in which the weather bureau “soaks” us. Business good. W. D. Carr, John D. Carr and Miss Edna Carr visit their aunt, Miss Millie Turnour. Butch Parsons reports heavy sales in cheap cigars.

M’Keesport, PA. Friday, May 13. Arrived late but it was not long before the voice of Frank Parsons, that winning voice — was heard saying “Come on, boys.” While John Rooney was doing his dancing rope one of the springs of his apparatus broke and a piece of it struck him in the eye causing a painful but not serious injury. John is not superstitious but he says the next time Friday comes on the 13th of the month he will examine that spring more carefully. This is the childhood home of Mr. John Hamilton, side-show door-keeper, the oldest man in the employ of the World’s Greatest Show and who has been here since 1885. John was visited here by many school boy and school girl friends of fifty years ago. Business here good. Weather good.

Washington, PA. Saturday, May 14. Arrived in good time. Robt. Taylor experienced considerable trouble in unloading owing to the lack of sufficient track room. One of the horses attached to the yellow band wagon was so severely injured in the cars as to necessitate killing. Ned Walton, a bass player, who has quit the business and is now landlord of a hotel in a neighboring town, visits his friends in the band. Harry Rickly visits friends here and prepares to spring a surprise on the boys two days later. A. J. Roos leaves for a visit over Sunday in North Amherst, Ohio. Business big and weather fine.

Pittsburg, Pa. Monday and Tuesday. May 16 and 17. Many of the people spent Sunday here looking at the bulletin boards and reading the war news. Monday morning opened cold and rainy. A regular midway on the outside of the lot including a swell carousal owned by Mr. Bostock. The latter and Mr. Lockhart exchange reminiscences of old times in Merry Old England. Ed. Smith receives a visit from Dick Wright, an old time butcher. Bob. Robinson visited by relatives. Ed. Devan misses parade. The 400 horses of our superb stables of aristocratic equines were introduced on the hippodrome track. A heavy rain storm accompanied by a terrific wind occurred during the afternoon performance Monday, and for a few moments created consternation among the audience. Everything passed off however without mishap and although the quarter-poles did a merry dance for a few minutes the big top stuck to her moorings though she heaved and strained and rocked under the mighty blows hurled at her by the elements. Millie Turnour, sister and nephew, at the time, were sitting near the band stand and Miss Turnour experienced considerable difficulty in calming her friends while subduing the palpitation of her own heart. One young lady in the audience fainted from fright. One of the canvasmen fell from the river bridge here but was not injured. He was dubbed Steve Brodie, a name he will probably keep as long as he sports the festive sledge with a circus gang. Drivers and grooms saw a base ball game between Pittsburg and St. Louis in the adjoining ball park from the top of the big band wagon and loudly applauded St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Connors visited relatives and friends here. Asa Cummings meets friends of U. C. T. fame, Mr. and Mrs. Langstaff. Uncle John Hamilton is visited by his sister-in-law and some friends.

Tuesday, May 17. This city and date will always remain fresh in the memories of at least two persons, for, in the parlance of the “Merchants,” immediately following the afternoon performance, Harry G. Rickley, trombonist, was married to Miss Eva Lacock, of Canonsbnrg, Penn., a non-professional. If the well wishes of the members of the “World’s Greatest” can bring them happiness they will be the happiest couple in existence.

Butler, Pa., Wednesday. May 18. Arrived early. Long, round about haul to the lot, which, however, is grassy and the wagons are easily placed. The day is cold and showers of rain are frequent. Business fair. At the finish of the night’s performance, while audience and “troupers” alike were hustling for shelter; a storm broke in alll its fury, vivid flashes of lightning followed by deafening peals of thunder, and heavy winds, being component parts, and lucky were the ones who were near shelter, the entire concert orchestra, wise boys, took the short cut up the railroad track and the storm caught them while crossing a long trestle. With timorous steps and many misgivings they crossed, some on all fours, others “cooning” until the other side was reached, while the wind blew drops of rain as large as Kansas pumpkins into their garments. Each one had to be wrung out when he readied the sleepers, but all agree to hereafter confine their night wanderings to the public highways.

New Castle, PA. Thursday, May 19. Another cold, rainy day. Will this rain never cease or are we to suffer a second deluge. The only satisfaction we can find is the fact that we are becoming waterproof but our feet as yet are not webbed. Johnny Carroll, feeling in a romantic mood, sat on the steps of the Alvena last night to air his fancies, and unconsciously fell asleep. About seven miles out of here the car giving a sudden lurch threw him into a ditch which contained among other things an innumerable quantity of sand burrs. He was compelled to take a seven mile sprint this morning before breakfast and with Art Adair’s assistance — scissors and clippers — the burrs were finally removed. O. J. Ross in jumping from the band wagon slightly sprained his knee. Severe thunder storm at 3 p. m.

Ashtabula, Ohio. Friday, May 20. Rained in the morning. Cleared slightly during the day and threatened to rain again in the evening. Asa Cummings looked around for familiar faces as he farmed here “once upon a time,” as the story books say, for F. E. Griswold of U. T. C. fame. Ross, trombonist, gets some of Delevan’s horse liniment for a sprained knee, much to the disgust of the other occupants of Henderson car. Cold rainy weather makes a bad day for the refreshment stands but Frank Parsons wears his usual happy smile. He knows that there are hot days coming. Cars were moved about 4:30 and concert people and orchestra enjoyed a four-mile hunt for the dining car Olympus. Business bad.

Erie, PA. Saturday. May 21. For first time in several days, which, however, seems an age, we have a pleasant day — nice, warm, and enjoyable. We arrive early, parade goes out on time, and by night, our recent unpleasant experiences are almost forgotten. Business good, and the press teems with praise of the “World’s Greatest.” This morning one of the jokers slyly turned the dining car clock ahead — and the late risers were later than usual in consequence, also sans breakfast. Clate Alexander, Asa Cummings, and George Connors, proprietors and managers of the largest and most stupendous, consolidated, imaginary Uncle Tom’s Cabin Companies, were closeted with Mr. Walker, of the Erie Printing Co., and made arrangements for an enormous quantity of U. T. C. paper — that is, got his prices.

Buffalo, N. Y. Monday and Tuesday, May 23 and 24. Arrived in good season Sunday morning. Fine day. Major Rheinbeck spends the day with his parents, and on Monday the Major and Miss Bertha Carnihan dine with Mr. Girard, a local museum manager. Trainer Becker had a very narrow escape this morning while cleaning out the swan den. As he was about to leave the tank he was attacked by a large black swan, called Dewey, but luckily Joe McCann, an elephant keeper, came to his rescue, driving the swan off with a side pole. Mr. Becker escaped with a few scratches. Rossiter and Repasz visited musician friends here. Geo. Henderson was temporarily indisposed Monday morning. A great deal of talk today by many who spent Sunday at the Niagara Falls. Many bicycle enthusiasts of the show take advantage of Buffalo’s fine streets and go wheeling. Mrs. Jessie Leon was visited by relatives. Several lady reporters visit the ladies’ dressing room, and are shown through its mysteries by Mrs. Lovenburg, who also escorts the fair pencil-pushers to the dining and sleeping cars.

This city is the home of the famous Buffalo Courier Printing Co., whose genial president. Mr. Geo. Bleistein; vice president, Mr. Bridgeman, and the great and only John Rudolph, with their families, are visitors to the show. A new one-sheet and three-sheet portrait of the Ringling, just gotten out by the Courier company, is first seen here, and shows what wonders in poster lithography the Courier company can perform. Business both days big.

Rochester, N. Y. May 25 Arrived in good time, long haul to the lot, also very poor street car service. Weather all day was dark and threatening. Business big. Millie Turnour again visited by friends. During parade this morning a very sad accident occurred, which flavors very much of the gun that wasn’t loaded, with the exception that this was a horse, but the same fool was driving the horse. In spite of repeated warnings, to which he gave indifferent attention, he maintained his position until the horse saw the elephant; then with frightened leaps the horse sprang into the crowd, trampling down defenseless women and children, many of whom were more or less injured. We certainly hope this wise (?) young man learned a lesson. G. W. Swift spent a pleasant day with his parents, who reside here.

Syracuse, N. Y. Thursday. May 26. Arrived early. Heavy showers at intervals all day long. Good solid streets, but, oh! that lot. It was used for a general dumping ground — filled in with ashes, street refuse, tomato cans, hoop skirts, and worn-out washing machines. The aroma rising from this odoriferous combination was unlike anything we have ever met before. The English tongue, comprehensive as it is, fails to find anything in its vast vocabulary that can begin to express what was wafted o’er the “dump.” Business very good. Mr. Smith, formerly of the Gentry show, visited. Had to build a bridge from the menagerie to the big top — Long connection.

Utica, N. Y. Friday. May 27th. Another cold and rainy day. Lot small and muddy. A bad day for lemonade, but thousands of patrons for the big show. The war show is doing a land-office business. Al Connor’s oration on the scenes portrayed beneath the black tent bring tears to the eyes of G. A. R. men.

Schenectady, N. Y. Saturday. May 28th. Fine day and big business. Big locomotive engines are made in this town. Everything out on time and not a mishap or unusual incident during the day.

Prose Lullabys From the Menagerie. (Copyright. 1898, by Pearl Sowders, LL. D.)

A great crowd pressed forward through the menagerie in the direction of the big top. But there were a few lingeres in the neighborhood of the kangaroo cage. The Australian curiosities were very lively for some reason, and hopped around their quarters in high glee. Perhaps they had heard some one in authority say the show would not go down into the alleged yellow fever district. An aged Reuben and his innocent old wife contemplated the antics of the kangaroos for a few minutes, and the good wife remarked: “Why, Pa, I declare them cats is crippled! It’s a shame to carry them around the country.” Then they passed on towards the big show and “Pa” could be seen a few minutes later wildly waving his cotton umbrella at Nellie Ryland as the charming equestrienne flashed on his vision.

Troy, N. Y. Monday. May 30. Arrived Sunday a. m. and great crowds eagerly watched the preparations on the lot for the morrow. Same old lot. Monday, Decoration day, was fittingly celebrated in the morning. Immense crowds witnessed our mammoth parade. Both performances were given to large audiences which filled every available inch of space in our big tents. Every department brightened with recollections of the “old time” business when doors were closed daily. In the grounds adjoining, the Business Men’s Club gave a holiday picnic, where many enjoyed themselves before and after the performances. All factories and business houses were closed, and the city was veritably given over to the circus. Mrs. Lovenburg, her two daughters, the Bonheur sisters, Miss Rawson and Harry Watson were entertained on Sunday by Mrs. Anna Cooke at her home in Albany, and all reported a very enjoyable time. “Johnstown,” the pony boy, was taken very sick and a doctor was called who gave the boy a critical examination and pronounced it a case of “white mule.” F. W. Brauer, an old-time musician, visits his leader of “ye olden days,” Mr. Geo. Ganweiler. The audiences, adorned in gaudy colors, spring styles, presented a beautiful picture — as the small boy remarked, “Looks like a rainbow had busted.”

North Adams, Mass. Tuesday, May 31. Weather warm and clear. Bad place for unloading and in consequence parade was one hour late. Mrs. Connors did not work, owing to sickness of her little son George. Boys take a bath in the river. Someone alleged that the operation was a shock to Mengas, but he branded the assertion as false. Candy butchers claim to be still with the show, but acknowledge that the weather has been the worst that Mr. Parsons ever experienced. Cold weather and rain have been the rule and a warm, pleasant day like this puts new life into the refreshment spielers, loosens the joints of the actors, puts life into the lips of the musicians, and cheers all.

Pittsfield, Mass. Wednesday, June 1. Arrived early. Long haul to the lot, but good roads, and a nice dry lot facilitated matters and everything was up in ship-shape. The day dawned nice and clear; the people came in town, and the same good business. The following storyette explains itself:

The property me n were riding the ostrich herd to water in Iowa one hot day in September. There was an oppressive languor in the air, and people began to predict a cyclone. The property men dug their spurs into the flanks of the swift-running birds, and they presently arrived on the banks of the streams, whereupon one of the property men said unto his side partner: “Say, Rocks, we might have had a cyclone comin” down to the river, eh?”

“Why, yes, we might. But we didn’t, and you made your spill for nothin’.”

(Moral- Never shoot off your bazoo on “might-have-beens,” when by saving your breath and your lung power you might in course of time become a first class side show spieler.)

Springfield, Mass. Thursday, June 2. Arrived late. This city is full of factories, and all are working. Parade was late. The day dawned dark nnd threatening, but finally cleared up, and the sun went down on a cloudless sky. Business big. Ralph Breed was visited by his brother, Frank P. Breed, of San Francisco, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Conners take their sick boy to the hospital here, where an operation will be performed for appendicitis. Many bicyclers are out viewing the immensity of the “World’s Greatest.”

Holyhoke, Mass. Friday, June 3. Arrived early. Lot near the railroad. Weather cloudy, followed by a drizzle which continued all day. Many factories here also. Parade out on time, and as usual found the streets almost impassable so great were the throngs of people. A drunken cop from the Emerald Isle was placed as guard over a small grass plot, and the band came very near losing three of its members, who innocently fell into the hands of this irate “Bull.” A strong use of the English language saved them, however. Business good.

The sad news of the death of little Georgie Conners, who passed away at 4 o’clock this morning, in the Springfield hospital, from appendicitis, fell like a pall over the entire show. When an operation became necessary, he was placed in the hands of skillful surgeons, but the little fellow was unable to rally from the shock. Being naturally weak, the rugged show life was beginning to prove beneficial to him, and he was gradually growing into a strong, robust boy, when this fatal disease attacked him. He was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. George Connors, an unusually bright and lovable boy, who had grown into the affections of many of the members of the show. Many hearts ached with loving sympathy for the sorrowing parents in this, the dark hour of bereavement. Several floral offerings were sent from the different departments and many were the messages of condolence. The following day the body was tenderly laid to rest in the cemetery at Springfield. Mrs. Al Ringling and Miss Ida Ringling attended the funeral obsequies.

Athol, Mass. Saturday. June 4th. A fine day. Lot is away out towards Orange, still the big canvas city rears its many domed, great cloth houses skyward on time, and the parade starts promptly at 10 o’clock. The menagerie receives several additions here, and among them a pair of pure white Chinese peacocks. An immense amount of spectacular wardrobe for the presentation of a big display representing the prowess of American arms, and called “Under the Stars and Stripes” arrives. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Connors return from the funeral of their son George, and receive the condolences of their many friends, who were unable in show their sympathy by their personal presence at the obsequies. This is the home of B. M. Drake, formerly a contracting agent of the World’s Greatest Shows. The McGibeny family, famous throughout the country as musicians and entertainers, reside here and visit the show as guests of the Ringling Brothers. Years ago the two families trouped in the same territory, and the friendship then conceived has not been dimmed by time.

Worcestor, Mass. Monday, June 6. Arrived Sunday a. m. Fine lot in the driving park. Lots of visitors who stand in open-eyed wonder at the immensity of the “Big Show.” Many spent the day in the parks and other places of amusement, listening to the music of the bands, boat riding, etc. Monday was an ideal circus day, just warm enough to be uncomfortable and give a fellow a desire to wash it down with orange cider. The parade was viewed by great crowds, who attested their appreciation by going all the way through. Some of the boys had a little sport with the show night-watch by attaching a flag halyard to the clapper of one of the Moscow chimes, and kept him hunting for the small boy (who was not the guilty party), while they stood across the lot in the shadow of the trees, laughing at his discomfiture. Paul Matthews, the steward of the dining car, was compelled to go to the hospital here and undergo an operation for appendicitis. He was left in good hands.

Fitchburg, Mass. Tuesday, June 7. Fine day. Business big. Small lot, and big tented city is squeezed into uncomfortably close quarters. Horse tents one-half mile from the big top. Side show hand goes in the new big spectacle called “Under the Stars and Stripes.” About 8 o’clock in the evening a terrific sound, like the discharge of a cannon, was heard on the lot. The many stories of war which, with three-sheet poster type of head lines are keeping the public alive to the fact that hostilities are in progress, had their effect in making the impression on many that a Spanish bomb had heen exploded, but it was soon discovered that an accident had occurred in the black top or war tent. One of the gas bags, which feed the lime lights used in the projecting machine, had burst. Chas. Goff and Mr. Casey were blown over the side wall a distance of twenty feet. A young man in the audience had his hand slightly lacerated, and two boys received slight bruises from flying bits of rubber.

Marlboro, Mass. Wednesday, June 8. Arrived late, and railroad troubles delay us still more, our lot was on the side of a hill and very rough. The Snellen Improvement Company had plenty of work to do and the audience swarmed into the big top before they had finished. The parade was late, but the show commenced about on time. Weather was fine. Business big. Almost forgot to mention that the side show was “swept out.”

Lowell, Mass. Thursday, June 9. Big factory town. Lot just beyond the Atlantic Mills. The parade passed between long lines of mills that made such infernal racket as to cause the blush of shame to mantle the cheeks of the parade bands as they tried in vain to be heard. Clate Alexander visits friends here. Eugene Knowlton visits his parents who live here. Chas. Shields — Adonis while leading black jack, and just common, every-day, hit-the-ball-with-his-head. Jack — two of our trained dogs, out for a little exercise — was almost paralyzed when suddenly he found a dog fight on his hands. He went after the two miscreants with the ability of a Dewey, and soon peace was restored to the canine duo. Charles acknowledges himself a failure as a dog-pitter.

Lawrence, Mass. Friday, June 10. Fair weather. Somewhat cooler. Arrived here a little late, but parade was out on time. Lot was small. John Snellen took a flyi