e are common
ties of interest. And because a destination must be reached on the
hour, and a pageant presented, there is teamwork such as I have never
seen elsewhere. Personally, I think circuses, in their precision of
movement and volume of property handled, have been used as models for
our great United States' Armies in their muster of men and equipment
and in the accuracy of transportation.

"Think of it! A big circus, in property and personnel, is the equal of
a small city. On Monday, this city sets up shop in a Des Moines suburb
to give two exhibitions. Tuesday it shows in Omaha; Wednesday, in
Kansas City. It sets up and tears down, the same day. It changes
location while you sleep. All details, from elephants to tent stakes,
from kid-show banners to the great arena that shelters and seats ten
thousand patrons, all must be torn down, transported, and set up
between sunset and sunrise. I know of no other private enterprise that
so truly represents the skill, aptitude, and energy of American
genius.

"But pshaw! All of you have been to circuses! Yet there are erroneous
impressions abroad that should be corrected. Circuses are, for the
most part, privately owned and have grown up from small beginnings.
The owners are business men such as you meet in other industries. They
employ the best talent available in each department. They try to get
young bank employees to handle bookkeeping and finances. Surely the
man on the ticket wagon must be a wizard to handle the volume of
business done within the limited time; and the boss canvasman, to lay
out and erect a circus city in two hours, must know his men and
property in every detail.

"But the important part of the circus business is transacted in the
winter months and in remote and strange places. What are we to exhibit
in the coming season? The entire world is scouted to find new and
sensational features and spectacles. Not only are the jungles combed
for the little known and strange creatures of earth, but the highly
civilized quarters of the world should yield new accomplishments in
the acrobatic field and in the latest achievements of science and
art. And in these later years, all history is carefully explored for
the dramatic incident that can be portrayed in glamorous pageantry for
the amusement and education of those who come to the circus.

"And then comes the gravest problem of all. Where will we exhibit this
planned program? Routing a circus is a technical mat