Having a Circus / Bears and a Porcupine / Cattle Ranching / The Way of the West Part 2
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: a. People in front of and on top of railroad freight car with ‘Iron Mountain’ on side. “The pleasant jingle of the horses’ chains and the work of unloading begins.” Harnessed horses are led from box car - wagons are unloaded from flatcars. “Produced only by the circus sextet.” Workers pound tent stakes. “A solo.” Power driven stake driver in operation. “Up she goes.” Tent is raised. “A wanderer.” Circus worker - little boys peek under wagon cover - harness on rack. “-- and clean.” Workers scrub white mule - worker shaves - bathes dog in tub. “With all the splendor of the pageants of old.” Circus parade. “Bringing up the rear.” Elephants - steam calliope - streetcar with sign, ‘This Car to the Circus’ - crowd. “Ladies and Gentlemen step right this way for your tickets to the big show.” Crowd - balloon man - flags over tent. Sign, ‘To the Big Show - Main Entrance.’ [1919] b. Bears - being fed by two men - in woods - cub in tree - bears sitting on ground - searching for food - up a dead tree - porcupine on railroad tracks - poked with stick - stick with quills in it. [1919] c. Cowboys mount horses, ride after herd of cattle. “But greater than all his other accomplishments is a thorough knowledge of cattle and sheep raising.” Herd of cattle with cowboys - herd of sheep with dog and mounted sheep herder. “It is the custom with this owner to bring in his herd at frequent intervals --” Cattle are herded into corral. “-- and give them a chemical bath to remove all body inhabitants which might destroy the value of the hides.” Cattle driven through chute with bath. “Thus every day duty has wrought the cowboy into a true knight of the saddle and, as in the time of ‘Ivanhoe,’ he sallies forth each year to prove his skill at some great tournament.” Rodeo. “Here are the noble steeds whose soul ambition is to impersonate a rough sea, a roller coaster and a joy wheel all in one.” Bronc in chute. “King Arthur and all his court were never confronted with a better way for breaking their necks.” Cowboys ride bucking horses. “Where is the knight of yore -- who could perform so for his lady fair?” Man on ground ropes riders as they pass - spectators watch calf roping contest. “One of the modern knights of the saddle chooses to ride a wild horse.” Cowboys hold and saddle horse - one rides it - other events going on in ring at same time - mountain country. [1920] d. Chariot race - teams of boys pull two-wheeled vehicles down street - sign, ‘Here is the Home of the Courier. Does the Courier come to your Home?’ - crowd watches - Palace Café - two boys - wrestle over fire hose - uniformed man intervenes - parade - band and cowboys on horseback - rodeo participants pose on horseback. “‘Well there’s one thing sure,’ said one of the historians, ‘Nero’s arena was built for comfort at least.’” Men sit on rail fence to watch rodeo. “‘First Entree!’ yelled someone, and everybody began craning their necks.” Mounted cowboys with numbers on their backs. “Calf roping and tying. Being a contest for speed, the cowboy rope carries tying rope between his teeth for his immediate use.” Calf roping and tying contest. “But when a calf has gone ahead and grown up, well -- roping him isn’t so easy.” Steer roping and tying. [1920]
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