Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1894-06-28
The Big Show,


The Big Show.
Col. W. D. Sopnar is the genial press
representative of the Adam Forepaugh
show. Col. Sophar says that the un-
favorable press notices of his company,
found in one or two Fargo papers, doubt
less arose from the fact that the show
was gwen in Moorhead, and what Moor
head gets Fargo kicks on. The show,
says the colonel, is as good as any on the
road, and the Moorhead News contained
truthful and mplimentary account of
the performance.
The man cut with a razor Saturday
night in the tent by some unknown per-
son, was canvassman, not performer
The details of the affair even the circus
people are ignorant of. At Wahpeton
the Forepaugh men declined to have
their paper covered up by Lemon Bros.
circus bill posters and the former force
turned in and cleaned out the stickers
orthe rival organization and told them
to go hence and sin no more. The latter
show also issued vilhfying circulars of
the Forepaugh people, and altogether
the circus men had an interesting and
instructive time of it.
The circus people arrived here early
and began the work Of the day in the
customary methodical style. There is
no romance to circus meD. They are
generally sleepy and cross. The glitter
and attractions Of the display that fill
she unaccustomed youthful eye, are lost
on the sensibilities of the circus man
At the grounds the big tents rose slowly
into the air, and the canvas bore marss
of old Boreas' wrath. The side show
spread Its net, the fire eater, tie
educated equine, the persuasive orator,
and the young Tor old) lady in blue
tights and stereotyped smile pleased the
spectators prellminarily before the big
tents opened.
In the menagerie the animal cages were
rapidly pushed into position, most of the
work being done by Babe, big elephant,
whose gigantic strength easily showed
into place the grizzly bears, the zebra
and the chattering monkeys.
Babe is most useful animal, if not
ornamental, and did the work assigned
him with the grentest OF care and dex
terity. One gentle shove from his big
head was all that was necessary to send
the heavy wagons rolling along.
Anticipation and suppressed excite
shown on the faces of the children. The
small boy hoped about in errstic mo-
tion, to get rid of a portion OF the sur
plus nerve force that agitated his brain.
The older persons watched all the move
ments of circus preparation with cheer
full dignity, endeavorlng to let nothing
get away. Many of the Russians and
Polanders of the country, dressed in their
best suit Of clothes, viewed the life and
hustle OF show ground for the first
time, and stared IN phlegmatic wonder
at the marvels they beheld.
The attractions of the ring are rather
"shy," the full performance being cut Oft
by the loss of the big canvas which was
ripped to pieces in wind storm at Aus
tin, Minn. The new canvas is expected
daily and was due to arrive at Fargo.
The meuagerie tent is used for patched
up big tent, but is too small and too low
for the use OF the performers and the
ring is too small for the horses and other
acts. A large crowd was present this
afternoon, estimated at 1900 people.
The side-show Clrcassian had her pict-
ures for sale in envelopes, and the boys
bought bountifully for the beautiful
belle.
The jamestown business man who
listened too long to the song that the
Norman sung aboutshis sea shell, now
mourns the loss of s. bill. and the boys
now sing the refrain
The lady who was announced to dive
from the top OF the tent, to net. turn
five complete summersaults in the flight,
rebound in the air, turn three complete
summersaults and alieht on small plat,
form at the grand concert!performance-
didn't do it. But the people stayed te
the concert. just the same.
The little baby elephant was the child
ren's magnet.