The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-09
CIRCUS COMES AND GOES
RINGLING BROTHERS MAINTAIN
THEIR HIGH STANDARD.
Some of the Best Features Ever
Shown in This Amusement
Line i'm This City.


attend circus and please the eye were
not disappointed yesterday when Ringing
Brothers show made it's brilliant display
here. Despite the inclement weather many
spectators lined the streets to gaze at the
street pageant which passed along Wash
ington street about 1890 O'clock All the
wagons gave evidence of having been newly
gilded, and the horses throughout were fat
and slick looking. The band which headed
the parade, in musical ability, was above
the ordinary organization. More than the
usual number of open cages wheeled before
the onlookers, these containing the tanned
Wild beasts from many chimes, all apparent
ly urconcious of the presence in the same
cage of their keepers. The hyenas paced
too and fro in their cage in their usual
restless manner. Among the special fea-
lures was a clown band whose proficiency
lay in the ability of it's members to make
discordant sounds. The music by the
mounted artillery band was above the or
binary circus standard. Throughout the
street pageant was one of the best pre-
sented in the city for several years.
The doors to the menagerie and large tent
were thrown open at 1 o'clock and the
throng of people who had been standing in
the rain tramping about the muddy
grounds FASTENED inside. A white elephant
from Siam and hippopotamus attracted
the most attention in the menagerie and
around these two attractions the spectators
were inclined to linger AT 2 o'clock the
circus proper opened with the customary
Introductory pageant, during which event
the full strength of the company was dis
played. The three rings and two elevated
stages as well as the hippodrome were filled
by members of the company and trained
animals during this event. Skillful mem
bers next gave unique and startling ex-
hibitions on tight rope, high wire and lofty
perch, and the apparent reckless dash with
which they executed their various evolu-
tons drew murmurs of satisfaction from
the spectators. The four acts comprised CT
aerial gyrations, which were executed in
the various rings were too confusing to all
be held by one pair of eyes. Probably Min
ME Fisher, the human aerial top, who hung
by her teeth and spun around at a terrific
rate near the top of the canvas divided
honors with Alvo, Boise and Pickard, who
are fearless artists of the aerial bars. Each
ring was next occupied by lady eques-
TRAN, the act of Elena Ryland, who rode
in full evening dress, was of special merit.
The Foy family did their usual commend
able acrobatiques. Several new features
were added and the fact that both the men
and women who participated in it wore full
Q1IncuIC
feats with apparent ease lent Zest to the
performance. Artists performing on stills
and revolving balls entertained with re-
markable feats Of juggery; while the paint
covered clown furnished the usual diver
sion. Sultan" and Silver King" two
thoroughly trained horses, won round after
human intelligence. Assisted by a coterie
of clowns, a dog who played football by
kicking or rather bunting a suspended ball
with his nose furnished considerable amuse-
ment for the audience. The usual act was
rendered wherein champion leaperS dis
played marvellous ability by executing
single and double SOmerSaultS over camelS
and elephants
One of the worthiest features was the
performances OF the Lockhart troop of edu,
Gated elephants. A troop of these occupied
each OF the three rings 1t seemed no effort
for these hugh and clumsy-looking quad
rupeds to stand on their head, sit on their
launches do the lockstep, entertain at fam
lily dinner. or execute the functions of po-
lceman. At the close of the act the largest
of the elephants raised aloft two American
flags and marched out of the ring on it's
hind feet. This is probably the finest troop
of educated elephants ever seen here The
contortionists and bareback riders were all
finished artists in their particular line. One
of the most daring acts and one that de-
serves especial mention sH1,a was that Of Nile,
upright upon the bar of the trapeze she
swung backward and forward at perilous
angles and with much grace, maintaining
her position by fine balancing made possible
by her extended arms and the suppleness
of her body. The Flying Fishers and the
Dacomas did the double flying trapeze acts
and each company won merited applause
by their daring flying leaps. The 800
See clown band was something very fine
and original. The performance concluded
with ten hippodrome events, during which
the various circus racing contests were pre-
scented The Roman standing and a Shet-
land pony racing against thoroughbred
horse were the principal features. The
concluding performance was given at
o'clock last night and, as in the afternoon
the large tent was crowded with Spectators