Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-08-18
AN IMMENSE SPECTACLE.
Columbus and the Discovery OF Amer
lea with 200 People.

Columbus ana the Discovery OF Amer
lea with ], 200 People.
Last season and the year before Barr
mum s. Bailey introduced into the circus
the production of great spectacles. It
was an original idea with them and they
very successfully carried it out for two
years. Finding it met with such univer
sal approval. and that it delighted and
instructed while bewildering and amaz-
ing the whole people. they decided upon
continuing so meritOriOus feature and
have this season produced another, but
upon so grand and colossal a scale as to
utterly dwarf all their previous great
triumphs. The past successes gave them
the necessary experience to perfectly pro-
duce the present one, and based upon the
knowledge gained in the last two years
they have now indisputably the grandest
and most overwhelminging magnificent
historical, terpsichorean and thrilling
spectacle the mind can possibly conceive
of. Its magnificence and grandeur sur
passes belief, while its wealth of riches
and embarrassment of romantic. pictur-
esaue groupings and colorings are we'll
nigh incom prehensible. The theme, too.
is both well timed and appropriate. oc-
curing on exactly the 400th
centenary of the finding of the
New World and when the nation is
about to commemorate the great event
by Worlds Fair. Columbus and the
Discovery of America, as its title sug-
ges,s, is realistic production of all the
circumstances connected with the life of
the famed dscoverer well as those
parts of history in which he was an i'm
portant actor. The battle between the
Moors and Spaniards are shown with
Columbus as cOmbatant on the side OF
the cross against the crescent The
ancient cities of Spain are seen with their
old walls. turrets, towers gates and pal
aces; the interior of the famous Alham-
bra palace by moonlight is q ravishing
scene, 18th the Moorish dancing girls in
their lovely costumes, drcsmily and
poetlcally Interpreting the wild, weird
music and songs of those days. Moorish
warriors in all the splendor of steel ar
NOR. and high priests in their sacred
robes; The chivalry of Spain, the brilliaLt
court of Ferdinand and Isabella. with its
rich and noble attendants. cavaliers and
courtly DANES costumed in a style DEM
onstrating an utter diregsrd of expense;
soldiers armed with cross bows, arqe-
buses and other ancient weapons; festI-
walls. fetes, displays, pageants. triumphal
PROFESSIONS. tournaments on foot and on
nOrSeOaCk, games CoInDats anu othel GA
citing features succeed each other
with thrilling rapidity until
ones mind is lost in behold
ing them Then follows the trials of
Columbus. his efforts to obtain recognition
his success and first voyage. the discov
| cry of Americs, the lise of the Indians,
| their dances and games, the return voy-
age of Columbus, his triumphsl entry
| into Barcelona snd-well. there really is
| so much to see that description fails of
! half. Suffice il that for grandeur of con-
| ception and magnifice nee OF execution it
| stands without parallel in the annals of
amusements. The cost to produce it was
| 900 being spent in scenery alone, while
| the costumes cost $3.50. 600. and the at
NOR, weapons, trappings, etc $50, 600
more, besides months OF time devoted To
| searching in the archives of Spain for the
historical data. Besides all this there are
three circus companies in three rings.
two elevated stages. the hippodrome
mystifyng illus on, two menageries, tw o
herds of elephants. two droves of Camels,
trained animals, 30 clowns, 50 aerialists.
100 circus performers, 100 circus acts,
curious freaks in the animal creation ard
a thousand novel and wonderful sights as
instructive they are edifyiug and
amusing. The entire of all this will be
seen just as represented on Saturday, at
Columb ian park, with the new free street
parade in the morning at 8 o'clock.