Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-07-16

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HIBlTI0N WHICH WAS GIVEN
LAST SEASON-AB0UT $4,000
PEOPLE SAW THE TWO PER-
FORMANCES.
1t was circus day, and all the scenes
associated with the tent exhibition. a
distinctively American enterprise, were
enacted over again. 1t was holiday
for the suburbanites and ruralites, and
| gala day for the urban urchins.
Down on the farm. Smanthy was
astir early, to prepare lunch for pa
| and the young 'uns,' to get out the
change from its hiding place behind the
chimney, to tie it carefully in one cor
ner of pas well-worn bandanna, and
after counselling him to be "keerful" of
the pickpockets, TO start him on his
journey with his little bunch OF future
Presidents and first ladies.
While pa and his happy brood
were coming down the pike behind the
old gray mare, the city youngsters
were preparing a hasty toilet, and
starting up town to see 'em unload. q
they all got into Market street before
schedule time Notwithstanding the
knowledge that circus parades are in
variably late. The big show came
from Washington. Pa, and the ears
were unloaded, and the paraphernalia
of the circus was on the Fair grounds
early.
The parade crossed the bridge earlier
than usual, and passed through streets
densely crowded with men, women and
children 1t was remarkable exhibit
ton, illustrating the possibilities of the
American circus, and their realization
in the combined Forepaugh-Sells Bros
shows
Soon after the noon hour the process
sion OF humanity started toward the
Fair grounds, where the big tents
doomed up in attractive fashion, and
the gay pictures at the side show look
ed down in seductive wAy at the small
boy who had squandered his savings for
fire crackers and toy pistols, and whose
only hope OF seeing the big show was
based on his ability to crawl under the
tent unobseFved. The street railway
service on the Fair grounds loop" was
admirable, and all the cars WERE
crowded. The actual seating capacity
of the big tent is 5000, and it Is estf-
mated that nearly $4,000 persons saw
the afternoon and night performances.
The rain undoubtedly affected the
attendance. The weather was threat
ening during the morning. and In the
afternoon, about an hour after the per-
torrance commenced, the gathering
clouds caused a darkness In the interior
OF the big tent, and hundreds of women
and children left their seats and start
ed out, but the storm broke before they
got through the menagerie tent The
water poured through the rents In the
canvass, and many persons were
drenched. No wind accompanied thu
rain. and no other danger was done =
The Forepaugh-Sells Bros. chow S5I
a much dinerent, and greatly proyed
amusement institution in comparison
with the show of last season. All the
strong features are retained, and new
ones added, bringing 1t up-to-date, and
making it the leading tent show on this
side Of the Atlantic. and worthy sue
cessor TO the Barnum show. A notice.
able and commendable feature is its
moral cleanliness. This applies MOI
only to the performances, but to the
absence OF sharps and sharks The
management employees three detectives
/ continuously. and also. employees an
other man TO watch the ticket sellers,
thereby insuring protection to itself
and patrons.
The show is excellent. and moves on
In clock-iike manner from the spectac-
ular cavaicade with which 1t opens, to
the closing race OF the hippodrome.
The amusing features are manifold. In
Guiding "jay" band which created no
end of merriment. There are more
than dozen clowns, and they intro
duce some new and original tricks, and
gags" TO borrow the vernacular of the
profession.
The Gayvell Company gave general
satisfaction In artistic posings. and the
tumblers were very pleasing The ac-
robats are followed by variety Of fea-
lures in all the rings, keeping the eyes
busy. The performing animals were
above the average, the stellar feature
being the marvellous school Of trained
seals which displayed almost human In
teliigence. The ponies and elephants.
and the boxing bear, we're a revelation
to many spectators.
The bareback riding. without which
no circus would be complete. was pre-
sented by genuine artists, male and fe-
male. Davenport. easily leading the
former and Misses Corea, Stickney
and Davenport shining among the lat
ter. The Melroses gave a thrilling
high wire bicycle performance. and the
Jackson family gave a remarkable ex-
hibition Of skillful and daring riding
on the elevated stage
One of the stellar features 81 the
show Is the trapeze work OF the Ham
Ions, who have been seen here bef0ra
and who are probably unexcelled ~
their act Proceeding the hippodroms
races, Walter Lowe gave an exhibition
Of cowboy rough riding which. because
CT ITS novelty. was more enjoyable 70
many than the bareback exhibitions
The feeding Of the animals. the coli
lection Of qnadrupeds from all parts
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