I am glad to know that the circus man who speaks of his patrons as
"gillies," and who endeavors to obtain his wealth by fair or foul
means, is becoming more and more rare. I recall an illiterate circus
man of this description who employed every "privilege" known to the
circus world. For example: when traveling by wagon the whole caravan
would pass through a toll-gate, stating that the "boss" was behind and
would pay the toll. The last vehicle to go through would contain this
dignitary and his treasurer, who, when confronted with the long list of
vehicles on which he ought to pay toll, would declare that the
toll-keeper had been imposed upon, and that half of those vehicles
belonged to a gang of gypsies having no connection whatever with the
show. He would then cut the bill down according to the easy or hard
nature of the custodian of the toll-gate, and in this manner evade
payment of what, in a whole season, would aggregate a large sum of
money.
On one occasion, when about to exhibit in Albany, and knowing that his
whole outfit would that day be attached for debt, he ordered the parade
to start early, as he intended to give them a "long ride." The
procession accordingly started on what has passed into circus history
as the "silent parade," for, leaving the city in all the glory of
spangle and tinsel, the showmen never rested until they had reached the
State line, while the sheriffs, waiting at the tents in Albany for the
parade to return, had the poor satisfaction of attaching the almost
worn-out and quite worthless canvas.
I have often been asked what it costs to start a circus and menagerie.
This is a most difficult question to answer, since it depends entirely
upon the size and pretensions of the enterprise in question. Shows vary
in size from cheap affairs, capable of being carried in three railroad
cars, to the elaborate institutions which require two long special
trains for their transportation. The expense of running a large show is
enormous, although in advertising this expense is usually exaggerated.
There are a great many traveling tented exhibitions which "bill," or
advertise, like a circus, and in the eyes of the general public pass
for circuses, but which, in reality, are variety exhibitions given
under canvas.