Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1900 — Animal Actors in London. [ARTICLE]

A nimal Actors in London.

Every year there are simultau ously required several hundreds of ho: 8 * and ponies alone for atage purposes—quite unconnected with circuses—and such animals and others are tinned specially with a view to their value when let out on hire. Most of these animals arc, of course, wanted for the pageants of pantomimes, but the great run on military and racing pi ces of late years has insured a constant demand for trained horses, the last year’s touring season aloue accounting for over fifty of these animals. Again, the managers of touring companies visiting small towns have of late taken a leaf out of the circus man's book, aud have found that for the “leading man" in a “horsey” or military piece to take bis rides constantly about the towns’visltrd has insured a degree of advertisement that n score of posters would scarcely give. The stage horse provider lias of late years, too, found ready customers In the stars of the music halls, who are not now content with having horses for their London rounds, but take iuto tlie provinces showy steeds that excite attention when ridden through the streets. This sort of catering for stage folks is a separate branch of business, a:id at the present time one firm following It have out on hire more than two hundred horses.