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Carrie Fossett, photo 1915. I understand that apart from many circus skills she would sing patriotic songs to the audience. See the magnificent new book and the story Sir Robert Fossett’s Circus and the thread; The Sandow Family Circus Variety History.
Robert Fossetts Grand Circus 1905. (My great- grandfather and family)
I have just learned that this old poster copy is situated within the York Castle Museum! The main clown if the day is featured as ‘Funny Harry’, by grand-father. The new book about the Fossett family states the year as 1883.
Below is a postcard posted to my mother (before they were married) from my father on active duty in France. The pencilled words are well faded but I have placed the address below.
To my mother
Nine decades of circus toil. This was the life of Caroline Fossett from horse to steam to motor with countless shows for countless people over countless miles, a lifetime in circus that was tradition without blueprint.
The greasepaint the tinsel the heartaches what do people know with their lives of security? This circus life of days when the only guarantee may be the applause and the laughter, its motivation is the ring and all that goes into it but all else will take president. What do people know when they pay their admission, what do people care? Why should they, why destroy the illusion, the mask of gloss and glamour for this is all the public want.
Why should the power of State put importance to the dream? Why should power have time for the function that produces no product other than joy?
This circus artiste, whose forebears were of those who started circus knew about its great days when the horse ruled and circus was fun, when the school would be closed for the day.
When the world was slower and the horse grazed freely and people had time for one another, of wooden seats and wooden wagons build with ease and the real brass band played in the parade, when ringmasters wore stiff collars and clowning was an art when patrons were king and values higher than automation.
She knew about poor circus, about today’s takings for tomorrow’s expenses and when the takings weren’t there. She gave so much and took so little. She would feed the family before herself.
She lived circus and loved circus she was circus when circus was circus.