Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1896 — Page 6

UNDER THE BIG TENT

THE CIRCUS AND ITS MARVELOUS ACCOMPANIMENTS The Traveling Show in City and Country—Scenes When the Aggregation Stopa for a One-Hay Stand Showmen as Benefactors. The Circus. Tradition keeps the memory of the •Id one-ring circus green. It is like “the pie that mother used to make,” «nd many a patriarch who visits the •hows that come along oocasionally »nd camp on a corner lot or the village yteen recalls a resemblance to the circuses that were rare, but delightful, twhen he was a boy. The clown, the tringmaster, the bespangled lady rider, )*he intelligent donkey, the tumblers, the trick elephant, the ferocious lion, dhe marvellous freak side teht—all ■come and go with the season, practically unchanged, yet new to the young generation, and fascinating as ever to Ihe old fellow who so unselfishly attends every show that comes along, '“for the children’s sake,” and for the -memory of past days, j If you cultivate the proper spirit you

THE CLOWN'S BEST FRIEND.

can have an excellent time at the circus, even the little one-ringed one, and That spirit is the broad one prepared to •pplaud and enjoy; the intention of

haring a good laugh, the resol re not to pick flaws. You will find the riding lively, the dresses smart and dazzling. looking at it with wondering little Johnny’s eyes, you will get your tfnll money’s worth. These small circuses set themselves up in a night, /wherever there is room for a two-pole tent and two long tents for performers ahd animals. Narrow blue seats

•re forced info duty as steps. The single,;,gilded wagon of the outfit furaishesa stuffy cubbyhole for the ticket •eller,'“and the small crowd pushes

TRAINING THE LION.

: *galust the closed end In the good old iwtty until the window opens. But then • ene does not see- that lightning work by ambidextrous rneu that one has seen at bigger shows. There is a difference fbetweea taking care of 20,000 sales at SO cents and selling a thousand tickets at a dime. ’ •, . children, gaze ip amazement at "the dazzling cavalcade .of fine gentlejmeu and beauteous ladies, and do not •redpgnize in the men of bright feathers j-thc bustle^?jjijf .“props” In the ring 'work. Tlien comes tlig arena work. iThc principal acts’lead. The riders do itbe common,things with the grace of. long practice,-and its Champion So-and-iao leaves flit ring he stops to talk a raoimeut With the tripping beauty who is ’about to essay the trapeze. The traiyezists' slow music by the >*aud, which consists of a half dozen ianiformed mnaigians stationed by the gentry. Tbc children. < who make up ( tiro-tbirds of the audience, cheer as daring people In fleshings “skin Jtbe cat" and perform other wondertiut feats thirty feet above ground fMtmstimes t vpitfaftpra ty-b rot it ers, rare- % three of i family, poise themselves

on the bars. The horizontal bar acts, the tumbling over the "backs of stooping men. the jockey riding and the trained pigs, dogs and horses make up the rest of the program. The advent of the big tent of the big show, with its marvelous accompaniments, Is, of course, an event that comes to the rural districts somewhat

infrequently, but It is appreciated there as nowhere else. The city, with its free shows, its constant excitement, cannot find the novelty in one of these exhibitions that appeals to the village lad, who ordinarily leads a quiet life. Yet the latter is critical. He knows a genuinely good show when he sees it. The procession must bo up-to-date, the menagerie must contain real wild beasts, the ring specialties must be new, or at least artistic and ingenious. A peep behind the scenes, in which he discerns the lady rider practicing for a Mazoppa ride; the leading horseman teaching his boy to accompany him in a daring flight; the trainer educating the monkey to turn somersaults; the ringmaster painting spots in his favorite charger, all these give zest to the real finished entertainment, and the youthful spectator enjoys every act,

THE SHOW IN FULL OPERATION.

from the hoop performance of the bespangled girl rider to the antics of the educated pig. Few people, however, who see tlio grand aggregation of curiosities and varied talent displayed by a first-class circus have any idea of the trouble and labor of bringing such a display into working order and starting it out in the spring. The. more important animals.

A FAMILIAR SCENE.

suc-h as lions and tigers, must of necessity be genuine, and, of course, if they /survive the winter are ready . for the spring trade. -There must nlso be a real [giraffe, for even the ingenuity 6f a showman has not yet succeeded In contriving an imitation of a giraffe that will pass muster with even the most guileless small' boy, and a bogus elephant would be quite as difllculv to palm off as a manufacture*} gUaffj» or hippopotamus. ' 1 Then the business of handling a great aggregation of men, animals and curiosities is of Itself a specialty. lh which very few become adept. Nor is it any small task to keep improper sublection the conflicting interests and inclinations of the swarm of specialties, freaks, performers, and the like, who form an Integral part of every show, i They are always quarreling about nothing, and require constant manipulation to pretent them from causing

disturbances that would injure the success of the organisation. It Was an old showruau who sal*}: “As much brains arc required to btsep a set of

“WE WERE COMRADES.”

THE USUAL WAY.

freafcs la order as to govern an empire.” He was not far wrong, for the jealousies and bickerings of these people go on forever. The amount of money required to pnt a first-class show on the road is enormous. in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars are laid out in animals, in wagons, tents, in advertising and

other expenses before a cent’is realized. This of itself is a matter of no small consequence, for a bad season means financial ruin to all concerned, and a

EDUCATING THE MONKEY.

succession of rniny days so seriously reduces the receipts that even a strong show may be crippled. At any moment the manager may be summoned

to suppress a first-class riot in the freak department. Add to the business and financial cares the dissensions that constantly arise within the organization, and between its various members and outsiders, the possibility of something going wrong at any moment during the performance, the chance of a snake getting loose or a lion escaping from liis cage, or the gorilla striking for higher pay during the hottest part of the season because bis clothing of hide and fur is too warm for comfort, and the manager’s lot is far from being a happy one. But he gives the world a deal of pleasure, such as It is; if the season is good he makes money; for mouths ho and his are the admiration of all that

LEARNING TO RIDE.

portion of mankind that patronizes the circus, and these facts go far to recommend him to the hardships of his lot.

Napoleon and His Brother Louis.

From earliest childhood certain qualities of Louis had endeared him to Napoleon. The school of poverty. In which the younger brother had been the pupil of the elder, was likewise a school of fraternal affection. Throughout the Italian and Egyptian campaigns they stood in Intimate relations as general and aide-de-camp, and one of the< earliest cares of the First Consul was to bestow the beautiful Hortense de Beauharnais on his favorite brother. In jISO4 Louis was made, general, then jcouucllor of state, and finally in 1806 ;he was elevated to the throne of Holland. His. child until its untimely death wasclierist ed by Napoleon as a son destined to inherit imperial greatness. But, like the other royal Bonapartes, the King of Holland regarded his high estate not as a gift from the Emperor, but as a right. He ruled the land signed' him, if not In his own interest, at least not in that'Af the Empire, and from the outset filled his letters with bitter .complaints of all that entered into his lot, not excepting his wife. Napoleon admonished and threatened, but to no avail. The interests of his own royalty and of the Dutch were nearer to Louis than those of the Ein-pire.---Century. J Uncle Bob—l hope, Tommy, you are U favorite with your teacher. Tommy i—l think I must be. She can’t seem to get enough of me, or she wouldn’t keep me in so much. —Harper’s Bazar.

MANUFACTURE OF CANES.

Grown, Bolted, Warped, Klred, Polished and Ornamented. The manufactures of canes reveals an interesting process connected with a growing industry. There are «everaT large factories in Philadelphia and some in New York. These have Recently been established. The cane is grown mostly in Austria, France and Japan. There are numerous species, among which are the Congo, Corine, Penang, Bamboo, Furze, Whampoo and the Welschel. Many canes are partly shaped while growing. At the manufactory the crude canes are placed over a large steam vat Cloths are wrapped over the sticks and they are left in this position until the wood has become perfectly soft and pliable at the end, where it is intended to form the handle. Having reached this condition, they are taken out separately and placed In a vise, around a mold of whatever shape It is desired to make

"FIRING" A CANE.

the curl. While the cane Is grasped, tightly in the vise, the upper end is placed in a steel spring having a castiron handle, which is drawn sharply around, warping the cane at this point into the precise shape desired. When taken out of the vise the handle Is tied with cord, to prevent it from straightening out to its original shape. After it has lain for some days in this condition and the curl is permanently formed, the cane is thoroughly scubbed in a hot water bath. The next step is to either put it in the stain box or to finish it in some other desired manner. In the staining process quite a degree of skill is required, because if the cane is colored in a tasteful shade it will meet with a readier sale. . To achieve this result the mixing of adds and color in the staining compound must be very delicately done. Some of the canes, instead of being stained by a liquid, are “fired.”- This operation is performed by moving the cane backward and forward in a gas jet flame, elongated by means of a blower, which forces a current of air through It. The work has to be done very carefully by hand, so that the heat produces a uniform effect upon the wood. Then the cane is ready either for varnishing or polishing by chemical process, whichever it may be. After It is polished the cane goes Into the hands of a trimmer, who prepares it for whatever additional ornamentation it is to receive. The handle Is then carefully shaved down to fit

THE FERRULING.

the silver plate, which will be soldered onto it, and the foot is shaped ready for the ferrule. After this manipulation the cane goes to the finishing department, where the silversmiths put ou whatever trimmings are required.

NOW THE SHAKER BONNET.

Quaint Hendcear Likely to Follow the Revival of the Poke. Fashionable milliners are generally looking forward to the time—and at no far distant day, either—when the shaker bonnet will be all the rage. The revival of the poke has prepared the public eye for the revival of other quaint styles of headgear, and the milliners have thoughtfully arranged that the public eye shall not be disappointed. Other quaint fashions have followed it. Bonnets which would be shaker in plain circles, are making their appearance with trimmings which place them irf the front ranks of fashion. One of the prettiest modifications of the bonnet beloved of the Friends, is of pale gray straw, trimmed with gray tulle and soft pink faille and given a touch of worldly brilliancy by three rhinestone buckles. The pink faille forms a bow on one side and folds decorously over the front to the other side, where gray tulle is bunched Into a big rosette. The round buckles trim the bonnet’s edge, nnd hroat}, strings of tulle tie slightly on one side beneath the chiu. With this demure little bonnet a pretty jacket is designed

THE SHAKER BONNET.

to be worn. It is of gray cloth made in on elongated Eton shape, and embroidered with silver and pink beads. It is lined with pink silk, which shows In tabs and lapels.

Spider-Crabs of Japan.

The crab spider inhabits the ocean nod, terrifying the submarine world. It is hideous in appearance and habits. It is the most formidable and repulsive creature In the’seas. More than one daring pearl diver and coral hunter has battled with this hairy monster and been driven to seek the safety of a boat’s deck. Though frequently found in cool wa-

ter»- I Uif gfc-fl flourishes and attalns-fcis-greatest si ze in the waters ot the Japan seas. Though often encountered b.y coral and pear! hunters, the monster is seldom trapped, arid ’ifr dnly four specimenk of firtl-growh spider-crabs are to be fppns jp.tbls country. A %e specimen (s' In Rutger's College Museum of Natural H/atory. Two are In the collections of the Leland Stanford and Cornell Universities. The fourth specimen is in a private collection in Philadelphia. While the largest and most ferocious of deep-sea Crustacea, the spider-crab Is the most defenseless. Nature has not provided It with a single weapon of defense against its many enemies. Still, the appearance of the spidercrab Is his best defense, and he is master of the scaled and finned things that live in the ocean’s depths. The spider-crab is so named because of its strong resemblance to the familiar spinning Insect. Its habits are, however, those of the crab family. The long legs ; which often exceed forty feet in length, are thickly covered with coarse black hair. The body, often fifteen feet In circumference, is also covered with hair, In which barnacles, seaweed and tiny shellfish make their home. The spider-crab when attacked exudes an overpowering odor, which permeates the water around it, white st lashes its long, hairy, fearsome arms until the water sdetbes. “ The food of the spider-crab is for the most part decayed animal matter. The creature Is abnormally Indolent. It will fasten on a clump of coral and remain there Immovable for many hours. The Japcuese pearl divers assert that the touch of the spider-crab is as fatal as the sting of a cobra’s fang, hut the usual fighting method of the monster is to embrace its enemy, fish or human, inlts huge, hairy tentacles, where death by smothering comes slow but sure. The spider-crab’s human victims are not numerous, though Just how many coral and pearl hunters have been suffocated in its terrible arms no one will ever know.

Spiders that Trap Birds.

Kangaroos are not the only curious animals to he found in Australia/ Spiders of enormous Size and strength grow there. W. J. Rainbow, the naturalist, wlio has devoted his attention to the animals of that country, tells of spiders as large as birds which construct webs of enormous size, some measuring as much as thirty feet across. In building the webs the spiders use two kinds of silk. One white, dry and somewhat brittle, is used for the framework of the net and for the guys and supports. The other kind is yellow, excedingly viscid and elastic. Sometimes the nets are close to the ground, and at. other times several feet high, but they are always constructed so as to be exposed to the rays of the sun. "While the traps are set for Insects, they are strong enough to hold small birds which become entangled in the clinging strands, and are soon helpless and are easily dispatched by the spiders, Mr. Rainbow says that he does not believe that the spiders eat the birds after catching them. Spiders have been known to attack birds which have thus been caught and speedily put thorn to death, but it is thought that this is done to prevent injury to the webs, and not with a view of securing the bodies of the fea’thered victims. It seems that these large spiders eat largely for the pleasure it affords them. They are exceedingly voracious, and will consume several times their own weight in food within twenty-four hours, when it can be had. But if forced to do without, they can live for many days without either food or water. This indicates that they disobey the old maxim and live to eat, instead of eating to live. Nearly all tropical countries produce giant spiders, the Fiji Islands being particularly well stocked. Graffe tells of a net he found there which was more than thirty feet across, and must have contained several miles of silk. The labor of spinning the web as well as of arranging it was something enormous. The spiders are fairly intelligent and are easily tamed.

The Ideal Female Arm.

“I find great difficulty in getting a model with good arms,” said a wellknown sculptor recently. “It is astonishing how very few women have arms that conform to the standard. A perfect arm measured from the armpit to the wrist joint should be twice the length of the head. The upper part of the arjn should be large, full and well rounded. The forearm must not lie too flat, not nearly so flat as a man's, for example. A dimple at the elbow adds beauty to a well-proportioned arm. “From a well-molded shoulder the whole arm should taper in a long, graceful curves to a symmetrical and rounded wrist. It is better to have an arm that harmonizes even if the parts do not follow the generally accepted lines. For Instance, a full, round upper arm which is joined to a flat or thin forearm has a very bad effect. It is only a degree worse,' however, than a graceful, wellmolded forearm tacked on to a thin, scrawny upper arm. “Correctness of form is not the only thing necessary for a good arm. The owner must possess the power of expression in her arms. As a general thing American women are deficient in this. Those nationalities which show khe most expression in their arms are the Spanish, French and Italians. The warmest admirer of Sarah Bernhardt would not claim that she had beautiful arms, yet no one can say that the divine Sarah ever appears ungainly in consequence. Much more lies in the faculty of arm expression than is generally supposed.”

Shaving.

Man Is said to be the only creature that'shaves. But this is not so. A South American bird called the “motmot” actually begins shaving on arriving at maturity. Naturally adorned with long blue tail feathers, it is not satisfied with them in their natural state, but with its beak nips off the web on each side for a space of about two inches, leaving a neat little oval tuft at the end of each.

Lions and Tigers.

Caged lions and tigers, pumas and jaguars take no notice of the men and women passing in front of them, but If a dog be brought anywhere near the cage they show their savage nature at once.

CHURCH ON WHEELS.

The “Go* pel Cary Accommodates barge Andiencee. Folding beds, canoes, houses and coops have long been known of and many are in use, while the folding bicycle is seeking recognition. Among the

FOLDING CHU RCH CAR .

latest Inventions in this line is the folding “gospel car.” It looks like an ordinary freight car when made up in the train, but which grows and expands into a comfortable, commodious chapel, with a steeple and bell tower, when the itinerant evangelist sets up hts wheeled house of worship on a siding. These cars are run on parallel tracks side by side, the floor sections are swung down to fill the space between the cars, and are clamped together so as to make a solid floor. The roof sections swing out to within a short distance of each other, and extension pieces are clamped between; and the whole Is inclosed by walls 1 which are bolted and ela taped In place. These walls have windows In them, and when the entire affair is put together the railroad chapel extends over two tracks and overhangs fin each side. The machinery for raising a steeple over the queer church is capable of lifting the framework to a good height, and when this Is put on there Is nothing but the railroad track and car wheels to Indicate the character of the house. Braces and rods strengthen the floor and stiffen the walls and roofs, and everything is made so that the meeting , house can.be set up or taken down In a short time, When railroad companies were reach-

RAILWAY BOARDING CAR.

lng out over the prairies of the West, running new railroads through the great plains, armies of men were fed in the huge boarding ears that were important parts of the construction* rains. These “boarding shanties’’ towered high over the box cars, some of them having three tiers of windows.

TO READ HER FATHER'S POEMS,

Mary French Field Preparing for Her Pint form 'Debut This ’Fall. Mary French Field, eldest daughter of the late Eugene Field, is preparing herself to carry on the platform work

MARY FRENCH FIELD.

of her father, and will make her debut as a public reader early in the autumn. Miss Field, who Is known far and wide among her father's friends as “Trotty,” a pet name bestowed upon her in her infancy, is a tall, handsome girl, good figure, of rather blonde type, with fair complexion and blue eyes. She is 20 years of age and is the eldest of the poet’s five surviving children. Miss Field read exclusively from her father’s, writings and will probably give her first reading in Cincinnati iD October. ;ti

A Strange Rabbit Freak.

Miss Bertrand, a young lady living in Tocaloma, GaU, is the owner of a rabbit that differs from any other rabbit mentioned in zoology. This particular bonnie has but one ear, and that one is located directly on top of its head and Is about twice as large as it ought to be. Miss Bertrand’s father is a hotel proprietor, and the odd-looking rabbit is a great pet around the hostelry. According to the San Francisco Call, the rabbit must have known that he was different from other rabbits and therefore entitled to some consideration, for he approached the imtel as if,desirous of being captured. •Whon chased, he did not run away, but hid in a clump of bushes and remained there until his captor picked him up. Since then he has become very tame, but at no time did the little fellow evince any great amount of fear. The body of the rabbit is just like that of any other cotton-tail, and so is his head. The fur is the same, and the animal seems to be about the size of other members of the same species. But he has only one ear, and this gives him an uncanny appearance. He has been dubbed the “Unicorn Babbit,” and the solitary ear gives him a ferocious aspect. While bunnie has *but one outer ear there seem to be two orifices. The openings are at the sides of the ear and not far from the usual places. From around them the skin grows toward the center of the head, where it unites and forms the single large ear. The opening or hollow part of the ear is turned backward instead of to the sides, as is usual with rabbits’ ears. The rabbit does not seem to be annoyed by having but one ear. He hops about the hotel as contented as any rabbit could bo, and when picked up and petted seems to be delighted at receiving the attention.

The Cream of Current Humor

Though probbtn3 come in grim array To fret us more and more. The leading question of the day Is, “Mister, what's the scoreV” —Wahington Star. Watts—“l wonder what kind of shirts these can be that are advertised for 29 cents?” Potts—“ Married men’s.” —lndianapolis Journal. Callers —“Are the ladies at home?” Bridget (examining their cards) — “Sure, ma'am, it isn’t them that lives here—it’s the McAdamses;”—Life. Tommy—“My pa says It’s a sin to’ swear.” Johnny—“ Huh! I guess your pa never tried to explain politics to your ma.”—Philadelphia North American. , Jim Senn—“Why do they call money the ‘long green?’ ” Joe Cose—"Negatively, I suppose; because without it you are short and blue.”—Philadelphia North American. Everyby—“This rain is a good thin£ for the country, isn’t It?” Neverby—“Oh, I dop’t know about that. Just look at what it's done to my straw hat!”—Roxbury Gazette. “I like summer; my wife is alwaya so gentle and amiable in hot weather.” “So is mine; it must be because all the progressive euchre clubs have: shut down.”—Chicago Record, -fix i,c ... “Them folks from towh didn't stay much of a spell, Uncle Rehb?” went back mad ’cause we didn’t hew no cycle paths an’ ’leetric lights ih ther blackberry patch.”—Chicago Record. Hicks—l saw your poem in the paper last week. I-low did you get your pull with the editor? Wicks—Oh, I didn’t bother the editor, I called upon th£ business manager.—Somerville Journal. Mrs. Snohhs—“How many girls do the Newlles keep?” Mrs. Nobbs—“Only one.” Mrs. Snohbs—“Only one? Good gracious, and I came pretty near calling there yesterday.”—Cleveland Leader. Husband—l expect some friends of mine this evening, and I must go out and buy some cigars. Wife—Why, I thought you bought some for them. “I did, hut I forgot to get any for myself.” —Life. “Dab’s one t’ing shore,” said Uncle Eben, “ ’bout all desher accidents da’a gwineter happen ’long oh de Fohth er July. Dah ain’ noboddy kin say dey didn’ know ’twas loaded.”—Washington Star. The merchant (to his daughter's suitor)—“Now, how are you fixed financially The suitor—“ Well, I have' no debts.” The merchant—“ What a pity! Then I cannot give you my daughter." —Sketch. Mrs. Wallace—Here again, I see. Why don't you settle down to work? Perry Patetie—Ma’am, I would, hut somehow I was always too ambitious to come down to workin’ fer day wages.—Cincinnati Enquirer. Jloratius (the good one)—Pa says If I’m real good he’ll take me to the circus. Thomas (the had one)—Aw, rats. Yer ain’t got no brudders ner doez yer please. Yer de on'y excuse he's got.—Judge. “I am glad to see you looking so much better than when I met you last, Miss Quickstep.” “Why, when was that, Mr. Spoonamore?” “Last Thursday, on the boulevard. You were riding a bicycle.” —Chicago Tribune. “What did the stranger say when you gave him the hill?” Waiter—Such monstrous prices he never saw; we were an abominable gang of thieves. Hotelkeeper—Good! So he didn’t become abusive, then?—Fliegeude Bluetter. Wardpull—l believe it would he a good idea to nominate Bzskpxski. He’s a. mighty good man. Ilecluh—Oh, he’s a good man all right, hut how could we ever get up a campaign yell on such a name as that?—lndianapolis Journal. Mistress (to servant looking fetr a place)—Why don’t you show your book of references? Servant—Because I do not wish to reflect on the character of the employers who change their servautsevery fortnight.—Fliegende Blaetter.

Tyre—-Bilkins and his wife hava bought a bicycle built for two. Rider— Ah! Riding tandem, eh? Tyre—Well; judging from their wobbling performance yesterday, I should say they were just riding at random.—Philadelphia North American. “Here comes that Miss Flighty with her loud skirt. The hateful yjkpjgf” "I don’t see anytiillhg llfid WA&ut? her skirt.” “Heavens! Can’t you hear that rustle?” “Christmas!' iwiM felWOglO extra, for a rustle ism skirt like that.”San Francisco WflV’e. M! '• '■ - Kate—Marne Gars'oii is telTtbiy!nf!ished on Charley Sweetser. Edith—\Vhat makes you think sol? Kate—Why, he has been three weeks trying to teach her to ride a wheel, and she doesn’t make the least progress. The very instant he lets go of her she falls off.— Boston Transcript. “Well, after dinner Boresome told a story about his exploits in Africa and then one about an Irishman be met in Switzerland.” “But I thought you were not at the banquet?” “Nor was I at this particular one, but I have attended sixteen others where Boresome told these stories.”—Washington Times. She, Sat Upon the Apples.; The duck may not be the wisest of birds, but there should be a limit to its folly. It is told of one that she was in the habit of frequenting an apple orchard. Finding a number of apples lying about, she carried several of them to her nest, and, under the impression, it is supposed, that they were eggs, sat upon them for a couple of weeks in the hope of hatching a brood of ducklings. No wofhan loves her honey boy wiicii she has a headafhe. , , Every oufe is inclined to He about tie value of hhS wheel.