Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-05
CIRCUS DAY IN wheeling.
A Hol.d day for Country Folk and a
Gala Day for Children.

A Holiday Tor Country Folk ana a
Gala Day for Children.
The ForepaughSells Bros. Com
bination Exhibited on the Island.
Crowds Hardly as Large as Usual.
The Fakir Present in All His
GlOry--The Street Parade and the
Two Performances on the Island
There is a seductive glamour about
the big tent and sawdust ring of the
circus. The adult population is prone
to speak lightly of this frivolous amuse-
ment-until circus day arrives Then
the steam calliope, the blare of the
trumpets, the patriotic airs of the band
the bright tinsel and paint of the
wagons and floats wakes the curiosity
which is not even killed by generous
and frequent doses of 1.-The same old
thing"
So it happens that everybody and his
sister takes in the show The substan-
tial business man is little timid about
1t, perhaps, so he takes the children, y
but he meets his neighbor under the big
canvass and no explanation is neces-
sary. 1t is holiday for the country
folk. The barn doors have been cover
ed for weeks with flaming posters an
nouncing the many attractions to be
seen only with the greatest show on
earth, and when at last the day ar
rlves. the population of the suburbs is
emptied into the city. 1t is also a gala
day for the children whose pennies
have been boarded ever since the first
announcement of the coming of the big
show. Many savings bank is empty
this morning.
Circus day means financial harvest
for the fakir. who is there arrayed in
all his glory and sings his sweetest
song to entice the nickels from the
pockets of patrons of the show. Yes
terday his name was legion. Stands
at which the refreshments indspens-
able to a proper appreciation of the
performance were on sale were numer-
Gus. Red lemonade and peanuts were
in evidence and the country Jacob and
his best girl were, as usual, the cyno
sure of all eyes. The crowd from the
rural districts was not as large, how
ever, as that which ordinarily attends
a show of the magnitude of the Fore
paugh-Sells Bros. combination
The big show was late in arriving, as
is almost invariably the case. The
special trains pulled into the city short
ly before ten o'clock, and the cars were
reloaded at the corner of Main and
| Fourteenth streets. A big crowd as
sembled in that vicinity, and watched
what is always a very interesting fea-
ture of the visit of big show. A big
force of men at once made preparations
for erecting the tented city and were
SO busily engaged in this work that it
was about noon when the street page
ant started for the city. The sidewalks
were thronged with the usual crowds,
embracing all classes and conditions of
people.
The parade was very creditable. The
show has been on the road only about
ten days. and everything looks bright
and new. All circus parades are SINH
lar, and there were few features to dis
tinguish the ForepaughSells from the
others. The floats were numerous, and
the designs represented neurological
subjects. Mother Goose stories, and sew
eral patriotic ideas, notably one show
ing a party of Cuban soldiers, which
created considerable enthusiasm along
the line of march. The parade was an
evidence of the magnitude OF the
amusement enterprise, with its small
army of men, horses and vehicles, its
several bands of music and other fea
lures.
The tent performance in the after
noon was to have started at o'clock
sharp, but it was about that hour when
the procession returned from the city.
Following in its wake was s.esdy pro-
cession of people OF all ages, sizes, col
human nature, the real show. There
was an immense crowd in Fl ont Of the
entrance TO the big tent, and the various
"barkers" had their innings for in
hour or more.
J. was forty minutes past me hour
wnell the blare of trump3ts announcer
the opening of the afternoon perform
ance. 1t was one of the best ever given
in this city, embodying the usual cir
Gus features, and a number of pleasing
novelties. The bareback riding was up
to the usual high standard. The trapeZe
and acrobatic work was excellent. The
hippodrome races were pleasing, and
the clowns furnished no end of amuse-
ment.
There were several features deserv-
ing Of. special mention. One of these
is the thrilling dive of Paul J. Tus.in.
From the highest point in the cenlef of
the big tent he plunged into pool of
water only three feet deep. 1t is mar
velous exhibition of daring and is at
tended with great danger. In Coium-
bus last week Prof Pritcholt, Mr.. 1Ns-
tins partner. sustained injuries from
the leap which will result il his death.
The performing elephants and troupe
of Danes gave remarkable exhibitions.
but the climax of animal ira ming and
intelligence was shown in the perform
ance by the school Of Alaskan seals,
under the direction of William Wood
ward They sang Dlaye6 band inStru-