Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-31
BIG SHOW rs HERE.
Barnum & eaiIey's World OF
Wonders on Hand.
CROWDS OUT TO BEE IT CONE

bsteet fokSoo o0o Somo8nkDS OF IN lde0
OF what IL Contained U.der Canvass
Last visit fog Three Years.
|HIRCUSES may come and cir
|vh cuses may go. but the one
" founded by the only Phineas
T. Barnum, and maintained
and amplifed and complesed by
the only J. A. Bailey. COOS on for
ever. The mammoth amusement
enterprise which carried Barnum's
name into the realms of fame and
which is being perpetuated By his
business associate, j. A. Bailey, is in
Rock Island today. 1t arrived in
three sections over the Rock Island
from Iowa City. at $3.50 this morning.
and the trains we're switched down
to the foot of Twentieth street, where
q multitude Of people had gathered
to witness the unloading. This part
of a show'sssvisit is always regarded as
not the least. of the unique incidents,
and it proved. indeed, circus to the
portion of the population which
turned out this morning to witness
it, and many there were who
watched and waited with undated
interest until the last vehicle in the
caravan had wendell its way to the
show grounds. During the forenoon
the crowds down town were aug.
mented by those who gathered to
witness the parade. which proved in
size, composition and brilliant beau
ties included the finest that has
ever passed through Rock Islands
streets, the concluding representa-
ton of historical interest, the tab
leaux Of The Return OF Colum bias to
Barcelona" being fitting climax for
the series Of beautiful and instruc-
tive incidents that had passed In re-
view. Including the 40-horse chariot,
open dens Of animals, etc.
Some Of she wondsrs.
OF the wonders to be seen in the
city Of tents it is impossible to SPEAK
in detail. The Bsrnum & Bailey
show has far outgrown succinct de-
scription within newspaper limits
1t offers this season SO maay novel
ties that these alone would call for
separate treatment. A book could
be written about the collection OF
animals. How these monsters Of the
forest and the jungle are kept in the
possession of all their savage char.
acseristics. sleek, we'll fed. yet fero-
cicus. is mystery that the detach-
ments OF BArnum & Bailey trainers
alone can solve. the menagerie is,
AS usual, one of the distinctive, in
teresting and instructive features OF
the show. The horses are an emper-
or's ransom. Whoever had the work
OF selecting them knew the
noelest beast from haunch to
futlock. They are an imperisl
array and a perpetual delight
Their number and beauty astonish In
equal measure, and this department t
OF the big show is like all others
complete in itself and worthy of
comparison with any other aggrega-
ton for whatsoever purpose Assem-
bied. Then there is the collection
of rare, curious and out-ofthe-way
displays. the giants and pigmies, hu-
man being nine feet high and ether
human beings not as many il. ches in
stature. tatooed men. specimens OF
the strangest of races from all the
continents and all the islands look
ing SO different from Wharf.-The boys
and girls read and see in their pic
ture books that many of them would
rather hereafter always see the real
thing than depend upon the ccun-
flrfa;t m ~ kn s,%
and printer.
The three-ring circus offers SO
much that minute description is
impossible. While the circus is q
three-ring affair, the three rings are
three RIGGS. not one ring tricked out
to appear like three. Each ring il
whole circus in itself and the At.
fractions are of the highest character.
1t makes no difference where you
may be seated under the vast central
canvass, you can see more than you
want, or just as little as You care to
note. This sense of the effect o,
completeness, fullness and grandeur
Is one OF the things the Bsrnum &
Bailey management has spent. thous.
ands OF dollars and the hardest kind
of work to realize. Great is the act
OF the aerial artist, the acrobat, the
gymnast, the rider, the tumbler, the
contort;onist thereof at Barnum &
Bailey's. Here you see them by the
score, the pick and pink of the pro.
fession. Among these, should be
mentioned. by way Of further empha.
sis, the Heros troupe Of acrobats. the
five Siblons, and the wonderful Dun.
hams. whose collective portrayal OF
mid-air horizontal bar speciaties
makes the exhibition colossal and
wonderful
The performance will be repeated
tonight in all its wonderful beauties
Last for Three Yearr.
This will be the last visit OF the
Barnum & Bailey circus to Rock Isl.
and for three years at least. 81. l..
Watkins. the press agent for the
show, and who, BY the way, is like
all connected with the show, the bes,
OF his class. said this morning tina,
the great aggregation would 20
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