The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-20
THE CIRCUS is HERE.
Forepaugh and Sells Bros Big
Show Has a Fine Street
Parade.

Parents of the small boy had no trouble
in getting him awake and up this morn
ing. Daybreak had scarcely lighted
things up when the small boy began 10
gather in force at Boulevard and st.
| PauPs avenue to give a fitting welcome
to Forepaugh and Sells Brothers big
show. Early as he was the circus was
earlier and when III arrived there ne was
astonisned at the vast and busy scene
spread out before him. A small army OF
men were busily engaged in getting order
out of the apparent chaos of wagons,
heaps of canvas, tent poles, ropes, tent
| pegs. and other accessories of a first class
! circus. AS if by magic this mass so began
to separate itself into tents and take on
| some order. The first that assumes
| shape were the tents for the horses and
the dining tent, where in a short time
everyone connected with the circus, from
manager to stable boy, was enjoying a
| substantial breakfast.
Crowds watched the unloading of the
| animals-the Looping of the camels and the
! strolling of the elephants to their quar-
ters-scampering to make way for the
| pachyderms as they moved onward
Othello, one of these elephants, is the or
iginal white animal that was a feature OF
| the Forepaugh show in earlier days, but
| who now, with the kalsomime washed off,
is merely a clever trick performer n
boxer. This morning Othello appeared
in the street parade from the circus
grounds, and he may be distinguished
from his fellows by a wart that makes his
| forward light leg conspicuous.
One of the most interesting eatures of
| the combined shows is the elephant herd,
| in which are included several of the larg-
| est and smallest known specimens of the
| ephan tribe. The collection of elephants
has been recruited from every country
which is the habitat of the animal. Asia,
| Africa, Borneo, Sumatra and Ceylon have
been drawn upon, with the result, 1t is
| claimed, that there is not a shade OF
| difference in the characteristics of the
| elephan tribe which cannot be instantly
| recognized in the circus herd. There are
several baby elephants in the collection,
| whose clumsy gambols never fail to cause
lots Of amusement. The natural intelli-
| gence of the animals is shown to the best
| advantage in a number of tricks and
m-anoeuvres, which include bicycle riding,
| dancing, posing in different attitudes,
l DOAluS UOQto AN
| Gus kinds.
The parade at Ills A. M. was about a
| mile in length, very compact, and was one
| of the best seen here in a long time. The
| stock all looks well. and the horses are
| an exceptionally fine lot.
A squad of armored knights and fifty
| women, mounted on finest riding horses,
| led the parade, and they we're followed
| by the chariot of enterprise, a very hand
| some vehicle, on which was Merrick's
| large military band. The chariot of ma
| tons had representatives of England, Ire
| land. Scotland and America. The chariot
of liberty was surmounted by the goddess
of liberty, with a living lion at her feet.
| On another float was Cleopatra's barge of
| state. There was a large chariot with
| sailors of the United States nav There
| were herds of elephants and camels and
| open dens of wild and savage lima
| One car contained three cub lions, who
| were born within the year, and have been
named Dewey, Sampson and Schley.
The crowds of children and grown up
people started for the exposition grounds
at st. Pauls avenue and the Boulevard
at an early hour this afternoon, and when
the performance began the vast main tent
was crowded.