The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-16
ROCK ISLANDS BIG DAY.
A Bic CROWD OF PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE
AT FoREPkUGH's SHOW YESTERDAY
NOTES.

Yesterday was big day for Rock
Island. Forepaugh with his gigantic
combination was here, and as he had been
advertising the fact extensively for the
past six weeks, the people were all aware
of the day and date he would be here.
Early in the morning-yea, verify, the
night before the 15th-the people began
to flock to the city. They came in all
conceivable shapes and ways. Some rode
in carriages, some rode in wagons, others
rode on horseback, and those who had
nothing to ride either took the cars or
walked into the city, Anyhow they got
here. The Mercer County train brought
in five coach loads of passengers, and
they were a molly looking crew and no
mistake. Yes they were all here from the
infant that scarce could tell the giasticu>
tus from the tamomile, clear up to the
gray headed octogenarlan with one foot
in the grave and the other in the immee
diate vicinity thereof Men who couldn't
buy setting hen jOyously, even hilari-
ously, sheIled out the last nickle they had
in Gods world and passed upon the inside
to gaze with speeches. awe upon the
bald headed man from Abyssinia, the
sacred jackass from New Jersey, and the
ringtailed whangdoodle from away up
the creek With open mouths they gazed
upon the frantic efforts of the phililoo
bird to bury its bill in the sand. and the
graceful gait of the Rocky mountain lion as
he walked quietly into the ring and then
walked back again. Callow youths with
their boots creased with mutton tallow
and three year old paper collars on their
alabaster necks, walked hand in hand with
red headed maidens in gingham dresses
and calf skin shoes. Horny listed far
mers sold their spring calves, and like
conquering heroes marched into the tent
at the head of the procession formed OF
their interesting offspring. Grandfathers
and grandmothers who hadn't been any
where but to prayer meeting for four
wears, sat on the front seats and vocifer
ously applauded the bare legged girl who
merrily kicked up her heels as the horses
went round and round, and the band be-
gan to play and laughed until the tears
ran down their cheeks at the old familiar
gags they first heard the clowns get off in
the summer of 1928 And everybody
paid out his money freely, was damned
around and squeezed and robbed and
plundered, but they had jolly good time
and will be on deck for the next circus,
loaded to the muzzle Such things come
high but we must have 'em.
NOTES.
Notwithstanding the fact that it was
advertised that no lemonade vendors
would bother the circus, no less than a
dozen of the fiends were allowed to sell
the sickening stuff.
The Milan street car line did a rafting
big business yesterday
Forepaugh had two detectives with his
show, and they acted in conjunction with
our police.
There were very few drunken men in
town yesterday, even if it was show day.
The police report everything quiet,
The town presents the appearance of a
grave yard today. The show has
left US, and it is in Iowa City today.
The was big gang of takers who fol
lowed the show but they found this a
poor town to work. Our police were
dead onto" every slippery looking man
in town yesterday,
Most of the town people took in the
show last night.
The reserved seats were well patronized
last night in the circus tent.
So far as known there will be no other
circus in town this year.
Our country cousins have come and
gone.