The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-09-22
AMUSEM ENTs.
Baruum and HIS Jumbo.

marvellous how the interest survives in the
circus. In many respects II has been the
same for years--so many that the memory OF
man runneth not to the contrary. "Barnum"
is, Of course, magic name 10 which no
other is equal, yet almost angling labeled
"circus" draws people.
On Thursday the town surrendered uncon-
ditionally to Jumbo. Not only the town but
the whole county was captured, and from
day break until late in the night, when the
rain hoated the crowds home or to their
hired beds, naught but Jumbo could be
talked or thought Of
Circus life and how an establihment like
this, covering with tents and wagons the
greater part of a 10 acre lot, can be handled
so rapidly, is a mystery to most men. On
Wednesday Barnum was in Peoria, and yet
on Thursday morning at seven, in spite oil
the rain, half the canvass had been raised at
Ottawa! The system governing the vast
army of employees must be perfect
With the morning trains the crowd began
to gather into town. Trains were hlled 10
Overlooking. The country roads, too, were
filed with people, ard by the time the pa
radc hour arrived the town was packed with
strangers, the streets damned and the win
dows on the main thoroughfares crowded
with spectators, the drenching rain OF the
night apparently having not the slightest
effect in restraining the ardor of the people.
How many people came into town Is hard to
tell. The crowd was certainly the largest
seen here slnce-Barnum's previous visit.
The parade was not as brilliant as was ex-
pected; hut then everything was wet The
cars, chariots, cages, &C. were costly and
beautiful, but the gorgeous costumes of the
bands and drivers and the usual "beautiful
ladies" driving chariots and mounted on ele-
plants and camels, (of which great droves
appeared in the line) were conspicuous by
their absence. The horses were splendid
animals, without exception. The display OF
animals In open cages was more extensive
and satisfactory than any ever before seen In
this city. The calliope was the first one we
ever heard that gave forth reasonably good
music instead of a mere conglomeration OF
unearthly screeches. The jubilee singers
were Justify cheered, and numerous bands OF
music enlivened the march. There were
none OF those masked and distorted figures
that have become 80 common to professions
OF this character, and while the parade
might have been more gorgeous but for the
rain, it could hardly have been more exciting
or satisfactory to the multitude.
Those who went in the afternoon enjoyed
a treat The canvas covered several acres
of ground, and within were stage and two
circus rings as large as is usual. In each OF
the two rings and on the stage, separate and
distinct performances were in progress all
the time, and the only complaint we heard
was-"there's too much to see in one after
noon"
We, ourselves, unfortunately missed our
old friend D. s. Thomas, who pilots the
press gang under the tent, las he used occa-
sionally to do it in days gone by in spite OF
the roustabouts,) and makes them ride ele-
plants, caress the hippopotamus, stir up the
MONKEYS, shake hands with the savages,
giant and dwarfs, Caucasians, Nubians and
cannibas, touch the tigers and lions, and do
hundred other things which they had never
before thought of doing. We missed it all
this time-even the libations of red lemon
ade, the lemon of which we aforetimes con-
scientiously returned to the management for
use in Joliet We calculated to take it all in
with the "nobs" in the evening. Unhappy
thought! We had dreamed for weeks of the
delights of Barnum in the evening-visions
of that corner of heaven which circus people
inhabit floated in our minds, and having en-
gagged the necessary small boy at neighbors
and being armed with Thomas" seat checks
we took postprandal nap of unusual
length to kill time till night should come.
AS evening and the an xious hour of six ar
rived the clouds began to gather and the
rain fell. How it did fall. Ten thousand
anxious hearts from 10 to 20 years of age
Joined US IN :he hope of "let up" 1t
came, and lasted just long enough to get us
inside of the tent The mud was knee deep
in spots but what of that? Then the hand
played, and wet feet were dried, and with
some 1000 or 5000 other spectators we
breathed easy. The grand fanfare sounded
the curtain shutting off from view the delici-
GUS mysteries behind was drawn and-down
came the rain in torrents! The canvass
sagged, the lights were dropped, 1900 um-
brellas went up, and, in five minutes the
rings would have served tor naval fight as
in the Coliseum of the golden age of the Ro-
man Circus. Then we weakened, and swan
out An attempt was made at an exhibition,
but the promise Of another storm wound up
the show, and the 1000 who got there and
the 5000 or 10000 who didn't retired to their
bathrooms and then to miserable rest, with
hopes blasted, -crushed, with not even the
solace Of hope deferred to mitigate the
blank wretchedness. Yale Jumbo.
NEXT WEEK.
On Tuesday evening, Sept. 25th, r. G. Cup.
til's French Spy" with Carrie CUgswell as
star, appears at the Opera House. Mr.. Cup
til is well known hereabouts, having been
here several times, and is accounted by all
those who knew him as firstrate manager.
His company carry their own special scenery
for this piece, which is given in elaborate
style; and we have every reason to believe
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