The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-10-18
THE CIRCUS.
A Gigantic Show-A Great Crowd
and q Big Time.

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and a Big Time.
All of Austin, most of Travis county
and goodly part of neighboring coun-
ties were on the streets along which Bar
NUNS big parade was to pass at an early
hour yesterday morning. At O'Clock
people were beginning to line the side
walks of the Avenue. At 8 O'Clock the
sidewalks were pretty full. At 10 O'Clock
some of the ladies who had children with
them looked tired, and by this time it was
not without difficulty that pedestrians
made their way up and down the Avenue
At II O'Clock look of WEAKNESS was
pretty easily discernible upon the faces
of those who had been compelled to keep
their watch on foot, but at last their pa
thence was rewarded, for about 11:30 the
martial music of the band an
nounced the approach of the parade,
and its length and splendor
delighted the crowds everywhere. But,
compared to the wait, it was soon over and
then there was rush to leave that was
almost a stampede. Some went home,
some didn't. The some that didn't took a
southeasterly course and hurried as fast
as foot or team could carry them to the
circus grounds.
reporter of The STATESMAN wanted to
see who went to circuses, so he followed
the crowd to the tents. Promptly at l
o'clock the ropes were let down and the
crowd surged towards the main entrance
and rapidly filed into the tent. Some
time was spent in looking at the curiosi-
ties and animals, and then as 2 o'clock APP
preached, the crowd made its way through
the opening into the circus tent until fully
5000 people we're under the canvass. The
STATESMAN reporter made his way to the
"press box" and there found five more of
the staff who didn't go, but got their
press tickets for friend.
Just at O'Clock the band struck up
and the grand professional march took
place, which over, the performance began,
and from beginning to end the audience
was in a high state of interest and excite
ment. 1t was impossible to watch every
thing, for with three rings constantly oc-
cupied it was hard to keep everything in
view. Some tried to, and their eyes as
they left the tent looked as if they had
had a quarrel with each other and were
not on speaking terms. Of Barnum 81
Bailey's great show it can be said that it is
the only circus attraction that ever visited
Texas of which the advance notices could
be accepted as correct criticisms. Many
of the features were entirely new and
novel-one of which was the quintette OF
performing seals. They made music or
m-cymbels and tambOurines, rang
bells and fired pistols, showing almost as
much intelligence as the trained horses
and other domestic animals.
The tribe of Moors was another inter-
esting novelty. Their grotesque costumes
he RS emanship, and more especially theil
acrobatic feats, seemed to impress the
audience with more interest than any
other one feature.
The ''lady In white" on her white horse
and with her white pigeons was one of the
best portions of the show. Her horse
would step in perfect time to the music
while she danced upon his back, anC
together they presented beautiful sight
The tumbling, however, was poor, anC
so was the concert after the regular per
formance; and it is, by the way, abou
high time that the concert" fake SHOULD
be eliminated from the attractions of
circus. The revenue accruing therefrou
is never large, and those of the audience
who remain to the concert invariably con
denim themselves for wasting, not so muci
the money, but the time spent in doing
so. We, however, accredit to Messrs
Barnum d Bailey the distinction of pre-
senting a show worth the money, wort
the name of its owners and in keeping
with it's advance advertisements.
The night Performance was a repetition
of the signal success of the afternoon
The great stretch of canvass was packed
with delighted multitude. The Austil
unq ualified verdict is that Barnum
Bailey's show is the best circus that eve
visited this section of the state.