Bertram Mills' Circus #3

THE SCHUMANNS Willy Schumann is probably the greatest equestrian director in the world of the circus. He speaks fluently and can give directions simultaneously in, a dozen different languages. He and his brothers, Ernst and Oscar are famous for their magnificent horses and riding. The youngest member of the family is Ceciele. She is the daughter of Oscar and seventeen years old. Already she has won for herself an enviable reputation as a high school rider. MATHIES Passionately fond of wild animals, Mathies dreamed of one day becoming a trainer however submitted to his father's wishes that he become a farmer. He found the lure of wild beasts too strong and one day packed his belongings and enlisted as an ordinary keeper with Hagenbeck's Menagerie. His intimate love of animals, coupled with his application to the work, soon secured his promotion. He traveled as an assistant to the famous trainer Sawade all over the world, and was once instrumental in saving the life of his chief when attacked by a tiger. Later he succeeded to Sawade's position. THE RIFFENACH FAMILY Four ladies and two gentlemen constitute the troupe. Their parents were well know Hungarian riders in some of the most famous European circuses. Clarence Riffenach had many strange experiences while traveling in the Far East. In Canton 10,000 Chinese tried to break into the circus without payment and during a fierce storm in Manchuria the big tent was blown down overturning two cages in the menagerie releasing two tigers that with difficulty were finally recaptured. DIAZ de VALESCO Julio Xifra Diaz de Valesco- to give his full name- was born in Madrid. His father, an engineer, was fond of horses and riding but Julio is the first member of his family to adopt the circus as his profession. He was trained by the famous Canero and the Marquess of Movellan, and is the only living horseman who rides without a bridle, in an attempt to emulate the feats of Simao de Veiga, the famous Portuguese bull-fighter.