BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE 

 CIRCUS. 



"Yes, sir, it is a big show," says Mr. Tanring, 

 the proprietor, in answer to what is by no means 

 a comphment but a simple statement of fact ; 

 " and you are right about the horses, as you will 

 see if you care to look down the stables with me. 

 Broken-down racers that have worn themselves 

 out in drawing a cab won't do for my circus. 

 They're all very well for the sawdust business, 

 but they don't suit here." 



We turn aside from the open space in the 

 centre of the hall, where a gentleman is lying 

 on his back kicking a ball about in the air, a 

 performance which looks odd with trousers on 

 the acrobatic legs ; and a mysterious knot of 

 other gentlemen, who are clowns in public hfe, 

 are arranging some business which occasionally 

 necessitates the striking of remarkable attitudes. 



** There's a horse ! " Mr. Tanring says proudly, 

 as we pass to the long rows of stabling. ^' That's 

 Mameluke. I bought him out of the Emperor 



