The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-18
BARNuM rs HERE.
Something About the Wonders To
Be Seen In the Big Tents.

Barnum's show is here. His trains came
from Biddeford during the night and by the
time the readers of the PRESS see this arti-
Gle, the small boys will have caught glimpses
of the wonders of the great show as they
were taken from the cars to the exhibition
grounds. The Springfield Republican has
this to say of the performance:
The big tents opened at one O'Clock and the
crowd could just glance at the attractions in the
menag 1 before the grand cayalcade began.
containing all sorts of human optical illusions.
The crowd surg ed up TO the menagarie cages and
TOOK spectacular lesson in natural history.
However the circus features may vary Barnuin
always has the most complete menagerie Every
thing was OF interest from the bulky elephant
roared to amuse the folks and the hlppopotamus
NAL depth of throat.
When two o'clock came the seats about The
three rings were occupied by not less than TO-
600 persons. All ranks and conditions were am
Ply h represented from the Italian rag pickers on
is written high In the directory of social life The
triple-riDg performances in the big tent had just
enough of The old time circus favor to satisfy the
countryman, for whom no circus is complete with
out the clown and bareback rider. But especial
attractions are added in bewildering variety each
year, TO keep the show abreast of the times.
The confusion which resulted from the iutroduc-
ton OF three rings has been obvated by syste-
matte grouping of attractions. so that no longer
the un~rapped spectator is nudged in the ibis by
his enthusias c neighbor with the exclamation,
ION, lookl look! see that" Wien the trapeze
performances are on, the air Is full OF gymnastics,
and there are no disiracting shows on the ground.
While jet black stations are grouping in one ring
string of buckskins were performing in another.
has been able to make more than two revolutions
in the air. With the Introduction OF Japanese
boys and their strange feats, however, there was
The Wild West Show started by Barnum has lost
its novelty in this untry and Is now exciting in
terest in Paris. Its thrilling features are main
tanned with barbaric innovations by the caravan
of Moors. who engage in battle with French
troops. There is the fierce charge of the swarthy
Moors on their superb battle steeds-the steady
advance of the uniformed French on foot, firing
rapidly in the enemys face--then the sudden
panic among the ORIGINALS, the hurried consuta-
ton, and then precipitate retreat, with horses
flying like the wind. The evening performance
was crowded. Altogether the show Is the most
complete and satisfactory Of any circus ever seen
here.
In the street parade never were there
ever SO many costly objects, such won
derful vehicles, or such elegant costumes
publicly shown as those that will be seen
here today. The immense number of new
chariots alone are worth coming miles to
see, and among them are the golden chariot
of Cinderella, marine chariot of Sindbad the
Sailor, the Sleeping Beauty Of the Wood,
Robinson Crusoe, Bluebeard, Mother Goose,
Santa Claus, and others, some Of which cost
as much as 5000. There are thirty golden
chariots, seven open dens of wild beasts
with trainers ia each, two droves of camels
and herd of elephants. many of which are
harnessed to chariots. There are zebras
drawing fancy chariots of novel designs,
giraffes. ostriches, llamas, guanocas, sacred
cattle, white mules, ponies, deer, moose.
trotting steers, and other animals in leash
cages of birds, beasts and reptiles, 1880 Nor.
man draught horses, twelve different kinds
of music, wild Moorish caravan, with
slaves, dancing girls, Arabian horses, MoorS
and Algerians with their war weapons, etc.
Japanese, Zulus. and other strange people
there are also knights in full armor, charm.
ing lady jockeys. Paris OlympianHippodrom
riders, Roman racing chariots, thorough
bred racing horses. performing horses, trici
stations, mechanical automatic steam must
cal charots, chimes, bells, etc. all kinds of
curious trained animals, mammals, seals and
other amphibious creatures, an army of for
| eign performers arrayed in the most costly
| and magnificent costumes, several full mill
tary bands in the most expensive uniforms
ever made, and altogether really the mos
wonderful display of rich and costly object
ever seen together at one time in any coun
try on earth. The parade will stretch over
mile of ground, and its cost is placed a
| $l,500,000, and 1t will take place at 0 o'clock