Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-07-28
NOVEL FEATURES
In the Combined Adam Forepaugh and
Sells Brothers CircuSes.

The Combined Adam Forepaugh and
Sells Brothers Circuses inaugurated the
present season in Madison Square Gar
den, New York In reviewing the first
performance, the New York Tribune
said -
1.-The circus has a hard row to hoe, be-
cause the New York public has been
taught for so many years to believe that
there is only one circus in the world,
But the circus will hoe its row, because
it is good circus. Also the row is ripe
for the hoeing. 1t may take a little
time, for the public is slow to learn
some things or it may not take long,
for the public is quick to catch the real
tiles of other things. The audience of
last night at Madison Square Garden
seemed to indicate that the town would
soon discover the worth of the show and
the applause which was bestowed seemed
to indicate that what there were there
had discovered it already.
"There were many people on hand
last night TO see the first performance Of
the combined Adam Forepaugh and
Sells Brothers circuses, and they were
we'll repaid. 1t had all the elements
that are necessary for varied and
amusing show, and it had some elements
that were novel. AS is usually the case,
some of the principal hits were made by
features Of which perhaps least was ex
pected. The burlesque musical perform
ance of the clown band was extremely
funny, and delighted the audience more
than some of the really remarkable feats
of acrobatics and riding. Another of the
best acts of all was that of Woodward S
trained seals and sea lions. They have
been seen here before, though not in q
circus, and they cannot be seen too often
by those who enjoy exhibitions of ami
NAL training. No more remarkable in
stance has ever been seen here, or per-
haps anywhere. The Hagenbeck show
was a wonderful show, and there was a
good deal of it, but there was no one
act in it, better than this of Mr.. Wood
wards seals They do not do
all that trained dogs do, but they do
some things trained dogs never do.
"The aerial act Of the Hanlons has
long been known here and elsewhere,
and has seldom been excelled. 1t is done
as smoothly and as effectively as ever.
There is too much expert riding to be
mentioned in detail. This department
is under the direction of Frank j. Mel
vile, who knows all about it, and the
Melvilles have been circus riders and di
rectors of circus riders since the memory
of man goeth not to the contrary. Both
the Forepaugh and Sells Brothers show
have hitherto made a speciality of trained
elephants, aud so the elephants become
an especially important feature of the
present aggregation. A herd of ele-
plants has usually been looked upon
merely as so many tons of bone and
hide, worth so much for exhibition and
including so many receptacles for the
peanuts sold by the man who paid for
the privilege. But the managers of the
present show look with a sort Of con-
tempt on an elephant who is not also an
actor. and speak of him in a sighting
manner, as if to say: We don't quite
remember what we hired him for.
"Such are two big African elephants
which have that are worth going to the
Garden to see, but no talent TO speak of,
except for the stowage Of peanuts. AT
rican elephants are not domestic ami
mails, like the Indian ones, and they
have no pretty little ways. There are
plenty of other animals, including some
particularly fine tigers"
August is the date booked by Cen
eral Manager Peter Sells for the exploi-
tation of the Forepaugh-Sells FEEDER
alton in this city.