. . . One of the principal riders with a prominent circus, a young matron, thus described the daily routine of her work during the tented season. It forms an interesting picture of the people who travel from place to place, day after day, during the summer months.

      "We seldom play more than one day in a town. Every morning at 9 o'clock there is a street parade, and every one of us must take part in it. This usually means a slow ride under the broiling sun over several miles of streets. Then a hurried change must be made for dinner. The dining tent is a clean, airy place, with well-set tables and the food is the best.

      "After dinner there is little time left before the afternoon show begins. Nearly every performer appears in the opening feature in some role or other,and the costumes are of the resplendent kind. When the ring acts are on there is a ceaseless hurry that would distract an ordinary woman, and every minute of time is weighed like so much gold.

      "The afternoon show is over by 4:30 and then comes the really hearty meal of the day, after which there is an hour and a half or so to rest. The women come together in shady corners, get out their embroidery and fancy work and talk of everything except their business. We have a sewing club, which last season sent several barrels of samples and useful things to organizations that care for the poor.

      "Seven o'clock finds everybody in the dressing rooms and for the rest of the evening the rush goes on.

      "After the night show, about 10:30, the performers all go to the sleeping cars and it is there that we are most at home. The sleeping cars have swinging upper berths, and are clean, well ventilated and attractive.

      "As a rule each married couple has another married couple for chums. Their sections are usually opposite and the natural desire for neatness leads each to decorate their berths wiht little artilces of fancy work, slipper cases, tiny pairs of silken window curtains, little cabinets for toilet articles in racks upon the bulkheads, snowy counterpanes; in fact, most of the dainty little things of decoration and comfort found in a stationary apartment.

      "These sleeper homes are the pride of the circus people, and anyone who is slovenly is sure to be left alone and never invited to the little feasts and musicals, euchre parties and many other kinds of amusement fitted to so cramped quarters."

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