Be very particular about these knots; they should rest against the body of the horse, that the animal may be firmly inserted between eight knots, four knots tight up against each side of his body. Sew a tag of black tape on the thread where the ends are tied together and pin the tag down to the floor in the centre of the circus ring.
Tie the Ends
E and F ([Fig. 11]) together and fasten them to a piece of pasteboard; do likewise with the ends of the threads G and H, then hold the two threads which are near the front of the horse, E and F ([Fig. 11]), in one hand and the other two threads, G and H, in the other hand while you walk slowly around the outside of the ring, allowing little Rosebud to ride demurely around in a circle, as such performers always do when they first enter a real circus ring.
Fig. 11.—Threads showing how to make the horse dance.
After the audience has been duly impressed by the novel sight of a paper horse and rider moving, apparently without aid, around the ring, the black threads being practically invisible, let the horse stand alone while you bring out two or three brightly colored tissue-paper banners, with each end of each scarf pasted on the top of a spool. Place the banners at various distances around the ring; then again take up the threads and
Make the Horse Run and Jump Over Each Banner.
This done, remove the banners and let the horse with his pretty rider dance around the ring, sometimes on his hind feet, as in [Fig. 12], and again on his fore feet ([Fig. 11]), while little Rosebud easily retains her footing, looking more than ever like a real circus rider.