A Turnstile should be made in front of the ticket office, so that all are obliged to pay their admission fee and pass through the turnstile before entering the tent (see [Fig. 266]; also illustration opposite page [268]). The stile is made with two sticks about forty inches long fastened together at their centres, as shown in [Fig. 267]. This joint, known as
Halving, consists in cutting away one-half the thickness and the width of each piece so that the remaining portions fit together flush. After nailing the pieces together, bore a quarter-inch hole through the centre, and screw the crosspiece at this point to the top of a piece of two-by-four driven into the ground in front of the ticket office. The crosspiece should now revolve with the screw as an axis.
The turnstile should, of course, have a lock, and an arrangement similar to that shown in [Fig. 266] answers the purpose. Cut a slot in the front of the lower box on a level with the top of the stile for the arms to run through (see illustration), and then prepare four blocks, such as A, B, C, and D in [Fig. 268]. Screw one end of B and C to the ends of A and fasten block D between the other ends of B and C, after which nail block A to the under side of the counter in the position shown in [Fig. 266]. Prepare a lever such as is shown in[ Fig. 269], cut a mortise in the top of the counter for it to fit in (see [Fig. 266]), and pivot it to the side of the upper box. Place a screw-eye in the end of the lever and another in D, and connect the two with a piece of cord. [Figure 266] shows an arm of the turnstile held by the lock, which is released by pushing back the lever. A railing should be built in front of the turnstile to block the passage on that side.
Fig. 268-269.—Lock.
The Side Show should be placed in one corner of the yard. The cages can be made out of boxes with either slats or wire-mesh fastened over the front, and the top or side hinged in place for a door. The animal performers of the circus should occupy these cages before the show commences, and to make the menagerie as large as possible, a few cages may be filled with pets borrowed for the occasion. Several closed boxes should be placed alongside of the cages, and lettered "Lion," "Tiger," or the names of some such ferocious animals as these, and the public should be informed that for their safety the management thought it best not to place these specimens on exhibition.
Animated Animals generally have a place in every circus, and help out the clowns in their end of the performance. The animals are not difficult for handy boys to make, so several should be manufactured for your show. If you can get your mother or sister to do the necessary sewing, it would be well to secure her help.