Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-05-24

Circus day is a local holiday. 1t is
not made so by any statutory pro-
vision. but everybody who can takes a
day off. Such was the case yesterday
in Wheeling. Business was practically
suspended, and those who did not visit
the show were busily engaged in en-
tertaining distant relatives from the
rural districts. Matters were made
pleasant for the country folk not so
much on account Of a desire to be hos
| pitable, as because OF mental
visions of reciprocity during the heated
term. The transient population Of the
| city was larger than for a long time
| past. There was no mistaking that
fellow with his trousers tucked in his
! boots who wandered about and amused
himself counting the stories in the big
| buildings. He was from the country.
SO were the tired paIr who grasped
each others hands, and whispered
sweet nOthings, entirely oblivious OF
! the guying of the small boys from the
curbstone; and the man and woman
with the string Of youngsters attired in
! smart bingham frocks, whose arms
were almost jerked from their sockets
in their parental efforts to prevent
them from being trampled. These types
were very much in evidence during tha
day.
But the pocketful of money which
the Barnum & Bailey people took from
| Wheeling did not all come from the
visitors. It's dollars to doughnuts that
you have said half dozen times that
rou would not pay to see another show,
And the same odds go that you were
there yesterday. Some Of you had
country cousins in tow, others had to
take the children, many went just to
see the people, and comparative few
| admitted that you wanted to see the
circus-in slang phrase, you all got
there just the same" At no place is
one more certain to meet familiar
faces than at the circus.
1t was an ideal day for tent show.
The special trains got in over the Pan
Handle before daylight, and even at
that time there was a big crowd to wit
ness the always interesting operation
of unloading. The acres of canvass
were in place early at the bridge park.
The parade moved on schedule time
and passed through streets which were
densely crowded with sightseers. All
the cars and traps were looking bright,
and the parade was in every way cred
table.
The attendance in the afternoon was
about 5000 and about 1000 at night.
- OH a
shows, which is responsible for the
frequent remark that they are all alike.
While this is true Barnum & Bailey
offer new attractions each year, which
are always interesting. There are
Single features In the big show which
are always worth the price of admis-
sion, and the circus this year is in
many respects better than ever before.
Everything is conducted on a gigantic
scale, and a small army Of men are
employed.
The most interesting feature, per
haps, is the Congress Of Nations, in
which are representatives of strange
people from all parts of the globe The
types selected are those which are sell
dom or never seen In civilized COM
munities. There are Apaches, Moquis,
Muras, Navajos, Mohaves, Cliff Dwell
ers, Canjones, SamOans, Fijians, South
Sea and Gilbert Islanders, Turks, Ar
menians, Caryjopes, Yumas, Nubians,
Moors, SOudanese, Algerians, Singha-
lese. Cannibals, Japanese, and others.
It may be said of this department Of
the show that it is most wonderful and
exceedingly interesting from every
point. So many religions are repre-
sented too, among them, Buddhists,
Vishnus. Hindus Mohammedans, ST.
vas. Pagans, IdOlators, Cannibals, fire
and sun worshipers, and Christians.
Then there is a veritable Midway
formed of the huts, tents, wigwams,
canoes. weapons, tools, musical instrG-
ments. and other paraphernalia OF
these strange people, togeJhec with
their wives and families, and they all
exhibit some characteristic accom-
plishments, showing how they use
their weapons, accompanied with
dancing and singing.
In the circus propAr the most inter
esting feature IS the high dive from the
TOP of the tent 20 q tank of water, four
feet deep. This is 4 thrilling perform
ance. aad we'll worn Witnessing. The
ring performances, acrobatIc work,
Juggling. and races, were up to the
high standard maintained by Bafnum
& Bailey.
uvT1U1TWyT three cents a yard