The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-24

RANDALL CLIFTON, District Passen
solemnly adopted this title and the incl
dent was finally closed-after it had serv-
ed its purpose admirably.
While these devices served to attract at
tention TO the American circus, of course
the show has had to depend upon its in
trinisc merits TO sustain a continued sue
cess. There is no way 10 explain its re-
markable popularity except on the ground
that it does appeal strongly to the Brit
sh workman.
How an English Circus Crowd Looks
To the American as much fun as the
circus itself affords is provided by watch
ing the crowds that gather to view ii, es-
Decially those that assemble in the big
manufacturing towns where the coming
of the circus means a holiday for the
worlSmen, the running Of special trains on
the railways, and the influx of all the ru-
raj population for miles around.
As the crowd gathers along the line of
the procession, disbelief In the promised
glories of the show is loudly expressed by
many of those gathered in the throng.
But when the forty horse team sweeps in
to view all doubts are settled After
that one could not tell of any marvel that
would stagger the belief of the crowd.
The scale on which everything is pro-
vided is a source of unending wonder. The
two and three rings instead of one,
strikes the audience as am example of
American extravaganza by which they
profit, getting more than their money S
worth. Another thing that surprises
them is the fact that the performance
moves at top speed. They can not accus-
tom themselves to the fact that the horses
gallop into the ring at full speed and that
the performers run in and out The ways
of the British circus have always been
more leisurely.
AS for the circus itself it has been
changed somewhat since it reached Eng
land on account of its popularity the
department devoted to the "prodigies'' has
been enlarged. The familiar living skele-
ton. the tatooed man, the bearded lady
the fat woman and the Circas sian girl are
retained. but large number of others
have been added.
There is an Egyptian giant eight feet
tall of whom the English papers grave
~ publish the statement that he drinks
four quarts of whisky and smokes twenty
boxes of cigarettes in a day. There is
Tomasso. the human pincushion. II such
excellent news sheets as the. Aberdeen
Gazette are to be believed, Tohnasso can
control the circulation of his blood at will
Likewise there is the human ostrich, the
man with an elastic chin and others too
numerous to mention.
LATEST EuHittOn III FEcukSs
One of the most unique Of the recently
acquired prodigies is Jo-Jo, the human
sky-terrier. OF Jo-Jo II can only be said
that he looks the part. Another is Mile
Ivy who is described as 'the moss haired
girl. But the pride and joy of the circus
is the pair of Chinese twins who are
united much as were the Siamese twins
and who bid fair to become as famous as
that celebrated pair. They have been with
no dir lItr she ffr,aa
obtained from the city of Wau Kong by
one of the Barnum & Bailey agents.
According to Col. Hamilton the British
take a greater interest i'm gazing upon
the freaks and abnormalities of nature
than do Americans. For this reason the
number of prodigies has been increased.
Aside from this the performance has not
been changed except by the addition of
trapeze and other aerial acts and by TAX
ing on a number of English clowns. The
two latter features have also found espe-
cial favor in England
u is difficult for an American to appre-
ciate the weighty importance which is
given TO all the movements of the cir
Gus over here. On the day of a parade II
is customary for the Mayor Of the town
in which it takes place to issue a proc
lamation which is reprinted and distrib-
uted about the streets. The proclamation
usually leads something like this
by virtue of the authority reposed in
me ], the undersigned Mayor of the city
and county of --. hereby give notice
that no carriage or other conveyance shall
he allowed upon the streets herein named,
from the hour of 9 a. m, until after the
parade has passed, etc, etc -
Not only are persons summarilv warned
off the streets in this manner. but other
orders are issued giving the exact points
at which omnibuses shall be permitted 20
take up and set down passengers for the
circus. Railway superintendent issue sim
liar long winded orders for the moving of
the special trains. giving directions even
as to the manner of coupling cars fitted
with American couplings. The consequence
Of all this fuss and feathers is naturally
that everything proceeds in the most or
derby manner and that, in the language
of the land from which the circus comes.
II owns the town" during The period OF
its stay.
Since Great Britain has taken the circus
so warmly 20 its heart Il seems doubl ful
whether IL VIII ever return 10 the United
States. Recently Il was formed into a
British limited company, 80 that il Is now
a fun hedged English institution.
II Is said by the directors Of the circus
that the money making abilities II ne
show are greater on this side than IA
America. because ~ the loneer season
during which D. can exhibit under canvas
afd also because Of the shorter distances
9efwefn the towns IN which Il exhibits.
Ia the coming spring the circus wa