The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-15
BIG CROWD AT THE TENT
TO WITNESS THE ANTICS OF GEN
TRY'S DOGS AND PONIES.
Hundreds of Children and Many Old
er People Enjoy Fine En-
tertainment.

The Gentry dog and pony show No. 3.
which is the largest of the four owned by
H. B. Gentry. gave its first exhibition of
the present season last night in a large
tent pitched at the corner of Illinois and
Pratt streets before an audience which oc-
cupied all the available seating space. AS
is usually the case. children were in the
majority, although the large number of
grown people present indicated that it
is not the intention to allow the Juveniles
to have monopoly Of the enjoyment to be
obtained from witnessing the beautiful and
marvelously educated animals perform
their myriad feats. Conspicuous in the re-
served section were Governor and Mrs
Mount, Col Charles Z. Wilson and Master
Everett and little Miss Lois Butler. the
Governors grandchildren. The guberna-
torial party occupied seats in the box es-
pecially arranged for them and for the
representatives of the press by the
thoughtful courtesy of Press Manager Nor
ris.
For several years Mr.. Gentry has been
sending to indianapolis the best of his
animal exhibitions, and each year the per-
Torrance given has proven superior to
tHOSe pTtCtuluS. lie Iccuil VI tlitS
generosity has been to establish for the
name of Gentry prestige in local amuse-
ment circles which is enviable. 1t may be
doubted If any other similar organization
could succeed here unless it first obtained
permission to use the name which possesses
such magic drawing power.
Last nights entertainment opened with
the formal introduction to the audience of
the group of trained animals. including
Pinto and Toby, two baby elephants, in
addition to the large number of ponies,
dogs and monkeys. A feature that excited
favorable comment at the very outset was
the unusually fine appearance presented
by the animals. All bore evidences of
good feeding. careful grooming and kindly
treatment. From the opening of the long
programme until the final number the PRO
fessor" who occupied the center Of the
sawdust ring, scarcely betrayed the fact
that he carried in his hand whip to be
used, IL necessary, In the correction or
refractory pupils" Almost every one of
the many difficult tricks was performed
upon receipt of simple commands by word
of mouth. A dozen of the prettiest ponies
ever assembled together went through
bewildering code of military and dance
movements which elected enthusiastic ap-
plause from all parts of the tent. Dogs
walked on one fore ana one nlnQ IOOt, up
right or head down and hind feet high I'm
air or limped as If suddenly stricken with
iameness. A group of splendid English
greyhounds performed wonderful feats,
traordinary height. Two white long haired
dogs attired to represent an old man and
an old woman created boundless mirth by
their antics, in which smaller canine
execution" of the "clown" dog was also
a feat that excited much interest. One of
the baby elephants sat at table and dined
with his master while the other acted as
waiter. bringing in the eatables and wine.
and at the end of the feast waiting for his
tip until told in unmistakable elephant
language to go"
The most wonderful exhibitions were
those given by dog which climbed a long
ladder rung by rung to the top of the tent,
jumping TO a net below, by another dog
which rode pony running rapidly and by
the small elephant Pinto, which walked
the full length of single row of imitation
wine bottles. The entertainment came to
a highly sensational finish with the famous
fire scene, in which miniature fire brigade
of monkeys drawn by spirited canine
chargers dashed up to burning house,
entered with lines of hose and put out the
conflagration after first rescuing an infant
(dog) which had been caught and hemmed
in by the flames. After the exhibition was
concluded the announcement was made
that any child in the audience was heart
lily welcome to take a ride on the back of
either pony or elephant. The uproar of
delight with which this announcement was
hailed indicated that the management had
scored another big hit with its patrons.
The show will remain all the rest of the
week, giving matinee and night perform
ances each day 1t deserves and will no
doubt receive during its stay the same
liberal patronage which marked the OPEN
ing performance last night.
The street parade through the down.
town thoroughfares yesterday morning was
witnessed by large crowds of people. The
general verdict was that the Gentry show
had surpassed all previous enorts In the
were in line than have been shown in past
seasons, and these were all resplendent with
paint and gliding. The large number of
open cages were filled with chattering
monkeys and barking dogs. features which
afforded unbounded delight TO children
along the route traversed by the pro-
cession.