Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-08
CIRCUS DAY..
The Combined Sells Brothers Circus
Visit Augusta, Wednesday.
The Parade. the Performance and the Menao.
eric Greatly Enjoyed.

TO be visited by the largest circus a nd
menagerie in America. and that was
what happened at Augusta. Wednes.
day. 1t is not known whether the neo-
pie of the city realized the honor of
the visit or how good the circus real
ly was, but at all events there uar.
enough who did. for Augustus fIoatin.
population numbered well into the
tens of hundreds. Wednesday.
The Sells Brothers shows that visit
ed Augusta, two years ago, was with
us once more and with them in one
combined show was part of the old
Forepaugh show. Both these circuses
combined would make a circus that
could not be supported and would be
too large for this country or any other
but of the two the best was selected
so that the menagerie is larger than
ever before, and the circus performance
is excellent
Red lemonade had clouded look all
day. for it was not a lemonade day.
Ihere was some of the beverage sold
ana there was some of the home made
peer. boys, such as they sell in Togus'
put out from the teams that lined the
way to the circus grounds. This latter
article sold for the astonishingly low
price of two large glasses for five cents.
Even Glenwood Or Diamond sprins
water ordinarily costs as much as that
me day was not real circus day
from the point of view of the weather
man. Circus day to be wholly eniov-
ed should be hot and dusty, and both
were lacking. The sun did not an
pear only for a short time in the last
OF the forenoon, and the dust was laid
by the sprinklers. Possibly everyone
from the country enjoyed themselves
to a greater extent on account of not
having the pouring sun upon their
heads.
The first peep o. dawn had not more
than arrived before the trains of spec-
ial cars arrived from Portland and the
unloading began. At the very first
there were not many present to wit
ness the work, but gradually a crowd
collected and long before the hour of
me rising of the ordinary citizen
large number of people and small boys.
especially the latter, had gathered at
the crossings where the gilded chariots
and the animal cages were being sys-
tematically disembarked
1t is matter that the great system
has greatly expedited. but there are so
many things to be attended to that it
takes long time. and o'clock had ar
rived before the last car was unloaded
In the meanwhile the canvasmen
had been busy at the Driving park and
the great tents were put up. First OF
all was the great side show tent. and
then the tent for the menagarie.
Leading from this came the circus tent.
The full spread of canvas could not be
put up on account of the lack of space.
but there was enough. The full extento of
the canvas would have added another
pole and about so feet to the length.
Then all about the outside there were
the tents for the horses and the cook
tents.
This circus company carries a small
army when all are counted. There are
nearly 200 people connected with the
ly seems rather a miracle to see how
SO great a combination can make
money in Maine with the attendance.
True, the number who attended in Au-
gusta looked like a large number from
our point of view, but when it is
thought of the necessary amount of
money required to pay the daily bills
the smallness of an Augusta crowd can
at once be seen.
The streets of Augusta were filled
with people from all stages of life and
of all ages, by 1890 O'clock when
drum corps heralded the approach of
the parade. 1t was very pretty pa
rade, one that was extensively larger
than any that has before visited Au-
gusta. The bands were there and all the
cages containing the animals and the
steam caliope brought up in the rear
The remarkable feature of the pa
rade was the freshness in the appear
ance in the paint and gliding of the
wagons and cars, and the neatness of
the uniforms and liveries of the men.
Everything had well-kept appearance
and all was exceedingly orderly.
The horses are about the finest lot
that was ever seen in Augusta All
We're as sleek and clean as a new dollar
and the fat was apparent on all. The
horse of the circus is probably the best
used being of any part of it, as no
pains are spared to make them look
smooth and glossy.
The herd of elephants and camels
were also pretty feature Of the
parade.