The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-22
THE CIRCUS.
Barnum & Bailey Greatest
Show on Earth.
Crowds of People Saw the Big
Street Parade.
-
Stupendous Exhibitions on Acorn
Street Lot Today.

After all It's kind of fun waiting two
years for Barnum D. Bsiley's "Greatest
Show on Earth, II only to see the big
street parade, and the eager faces Ind
curious antics OF the small boy regiments
OF spectators. Some OF the big boys
with hair and whiskers as white as snow
express as much enthusiasm as their
youngers, their minds probably going
back to the times when they as small
boys gazed with open-eyod wonder at
Barnum's then colossal pageant AS 1t
ever has been 1t seems likely always TO
remain. Anything with Barnum attach
ed to II will prove big drawing card.
co II was this morning and in spite OF
the oppressive combined influences OF
General Humidity and Old Sol the prin-
cipal streets of Providence contained
larger gatherings OF people than Fourth
of July celebration can ever hope to OBJ
tain.
All along the sidewalks were packed.
windows filled. roof and tree tops avail
ed OF, while lamp posts enough coulo
not he found to serve as perches
for the street Arabs, the result
being that each post held at least four
boys. The Arcade balconies made about
as good reserved seat" stands as could
be desired and many women, young and
old, occupied them. Where SO many
people could have come from seemed
puzz;er until IL was remembered that
everybody cones in from the country
once year-on circus day.
The parade was well worth seeing, too.
1t was a mile long and the first thing
which impressed the beholder was the at
tractive neatness with which every person
participating was costumed and the
costumes looked as fresh and new as il
they had just come from the draper's
shelves, instead of being on the road
couple OF months.
The chariots came in for favcrab BILE
notice, also, none of the worn out glitter
SO markedly shown in other shows, be-
ing apparent. The bands OF which there
were several, were unusually excellent
and one old-timer remarked that lie never
saw such clean-looking animals, even to
the elephants and camels, in all his life.
Ons of the drivers In the procession has
sat on top OF chariot for over 20 years.
The man who sat in the hyenn's cage
had mis- left arm In a sling. lie Is the
one whose arm was nearly torn of by the
strong >iawed beasts few DAYS ago.
Still he fearlessly enters the cage as be-
fore. The tigers were the most magniti-
cent specimens In captivity.
After the cages of wild animals came
mounted, then chariots of men and wo-
men respectively. each drawn by four
horses, richly caparisoned, then a clown
in donkey wagon, chimes, band char
lot, camels, eight large and eight small
elephants, Santa Claus in a chariot, drawn
by ponies, a zebra chariot, character rep
resentatIves in chariots, of Little Red
Riding Hood. Blue Beard, Cinderella,
Sir bad the Sailor, Old Woman who Lived
in Shoe, Mother Goose, team OF Jap
anese in chariot, and a band chariot,
the latter heading the third and last di-
vision OF he parade.
In this division was the newest and to
many spectators the most attractive fea-
ture of the entire procession. 1t consist
ed of representations of the crowned
heads of Europe, Asia and Africa, the
presentations In each case being lifeike
and very effective.
The first impersonation was OF Queen
Victoria. seated in magnificent
barouche, with outriders for body
guard; then or horseback the emperor
OF Germany, President OF France, Gar
Of Russia, King of Italy and Emperor of
Austria.
Following the latter came the queen
dowager and the boy king OF Spain In a
porouche, then, again on horseback, the
Emperor of Turkey, King of Egypt,
King of Sweden. and King OF Belgium.
with Uncle Sam next in line, seated in a
grand chariot, surrounded by soldiers
and sailors, and driving magnificent
four in hand. The ruler of Peru sat in
state on the backs of two elephants, fol-
lowing which came Japan rand China in
caravans, bringing up tho tail end of the
proceaeion