The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-07
CROWDS TURNED ANAY
GREAT CIRCUS AT MINNEAPOLIS
YESTERDAY COULDN'T MEET
DEMANDS
IT'S TENT PROVED TOO SMALL
Gave Great Exhibition In Merit
and Extent, Surprising Any
thing Before in the
Northwest.


biggest in tented institutions was pre-
scented to nearly 1900 people at the aft
ernoon performance given by the Fore
paugn-Sells Brothers circus at Mime
apolis yesterday. The parade, which
traversed the principal streets down town
yesterday morning, combined with ideal
circus weater, was sufficient earnest of
that part of the show for which an ad-
mission fee is charged, and from II
o'clock until after the performance be-
gan at 2, the First avenue cars were
crowded with Minneapolis people bent on
experimenting the celebration of the
Fourth with another, and circus holi-
day Along Twenty-ffth street, be-
tween Nicollet and Blaisdeu avenues, the
usual array of circus hucksters strove
nightly from the time the big tents went
up The side shows, common to every
big and little circus, also began the har-
vest early.
Although several days of rain IN Iowa
and Southern Minnesota had taken much
of the whiteness out of the big canYases
there was nothing lacking in the fine fin
ish exhibited by the rolling and equine
stock of the show. OF the thirty-eight
animal dens none was allowed to show
anything Of the wear and tear to which
circus property is constantly subjected.
Fresh paint of the brightest colors and
fresh gold leaf were cOnspicuousIy pres
ent. The 800 or more horses, whose daily
task it is to furnish the backbone, ma
terially and artistically, of the modern
circus, were also in fine condition. and
the appearance of the parade was bet
Iii Il
the fine trappings of the horses.
With the promptness characteristic OF
circus machinery the afternoon perform
ance began at 2 o'clock with the usual
grand entree. Following this general in
PRODUCTION the center of the immense
canvas was given over to the hundreds
of feats and exhibitions which make
practice for the ocuiists. There were
presented dozens of expert riders, groups
and families of aerialists, acrobat1c
teams, trained horses, elephants, seals
and other animals, clown eccentrics, and
the other things without which the world
breaking monster shows would E0t be.
In d programme which calls upon the
talent of so many performers any DIS
tinctien may be invidious, but probably
the strongest feature Of the acrobatic
performance was the appearance OF the
Potter family, four in number, who have
just returned from a two years tour OF
England with the Barnum show, and who
make use of the same aerial rigging and
accomplish the same daring feats that
they did in Madison Square Garden dur
ing the opening of the present circus sea-
son with the Forepaugh-Sells show. In
intrfcacy, fearlessness and gracefulness
their act has seldom been eXcelled. Will
Ham Howe, in his wonderful, long, double
somersault leaps is also worthy of men
ton. This young athlete generally has
a leg or two On the verge Of breaking, but
he works" just the same. One of the
best evidences of the inclination of the
circus performance toward the artistic
was given by the Jacksons in statuesque
posing. In ground tumbling the six Mil
lettes have an act which shows the high
est type of acrobatic development.
OF the riders, Misses Dockrill, Meers,
Emma Stickney, Josie Ashton, Marietta
Correa and several others, deserve the
extended mention which is net always
possible with limited space. The gentle
men riders are able beyond the usual
ability of circus riders, and all the riding
Is Of the best class. A prominent feature
Of the performance is the famous Wood
ward trained seals, who have been taught
tricks which were formerly thought to
be within the scope of only the most in
telligent animals. The Forepaugh show
without the FOrepaugh elephant school
would hardly be itself, and the appear
ance of the dancing elephants under Will
liam Chambers was a welcome feature.
Without especial mention of the band,
under the direction of Al Merrich, injus-
tice would be done a very hard working
and capable department. During the
morning parade the music was of a good,
and, what was more to the point as far
as the public was concerned, of frequent
order. Preceding the afternoon per-
Torrance the concert band rendered the
overture from William Tell and kindred
selections with good effect and the pro-
gramme music was a departure from the
old-time real "brass band" An equally
fine programme is promised for this even
ing.
The entire show is strictly up to date
and out to please.
The big show will give an afternoon
and evening performance in st. Paul to-
day on Aurora avenue, between St AL
bins and Dale.
The line of parade will be from the
tent grounds to Marshall. down to Nef-
son. to Summit, to Sixth, down to
Broadway up Seventh to Cedar. from
there up UnivezZity to the tent grounds