The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-21
SHOW IS ATTRACTIVE
John Robinson's Combination
Draws Large Crowds.
PARADE PROVES UNIQUE
Production of King SoIoman
an Interesting Feature.


early on Sunday morning, and as usual
was all unloaded before breakfast. The
circus went into camp for Sunday and
hundreds drove out to see the camp In
the afternoon and evening.
The weather yesterday made an ideal
circus day, and with the show boys, Of
whom have been with the show for years
it was called a regular John Robinson
circus day 1t is an old legend with them
that old John Robinson had better luck
in the way of good weather than any
man who ever managed tented show.
And 1t might here be said that the Rob-
inson shows have been delighting people
since 1924 when the original John Robin
son started out his first show under can
vas.
The circus is now under the manage
ment Of the third generations OF Robin
sons, and it is remarkable that each sue
cessor has had equal good fortune in
making money and in maintaining the
standard of the Robinson show. OF all
OF the shows now on the road the Rob
inson is the oldest, and it is certainly
next to wonderful, and indicative of al
most genius in the way Of management,
that Robinson's shows, continually in ex>
istence since 1924, have never been
known to fail
At the afternoon performance the big
tents of the main were packed and the
side shows were really used to hold the
overflow. The big parade in the morning
was witnessed by a large crowd Of people
and the streets were filled by vast
throng long before the time for the pa
rade. Special police were sent out by the
chief of police to regulate travel and
guard against accidents. The usual num-
Der of amusing incidents occurred to keep
the crowd good natured the rural bridal
couple, the spoony lovers from the coun-
try, the pretty girls from town, the dig
nified professional man who only came
because the children wanted to see the
menagerie, and the querilous old lady
who Is hard of hearing and always ask
ing questions and a score OF other inter-
esting types were all on hand. And
when the parade did finally come it
proved to be a good one and well worth
the tireiess wait in the hot sun to see.
The wagons were all very pretty in de-
sign, the horses are all in splendid con-
dition and there were more camels and
Shetland ponies than have ever been seen
in a show in Wichita.
The most interesting feature in the
performance that the Robinson show has.
is the spectacular production Of King
Solomon, which was especially beautiful
under the dazzling lights in the evening.
This part Of the show is gorgeously
staged and in effect is like the great
spectacular production of America In 1893.
Triumphal marches, to the music OF
trumpets, and an exceptionally good
band, fifty or more girls attired In orr
entail costume, hundred on horses rep
resenting various clans and allies correct
" costumed true to history, and later
ballets and dancers, the story in panto-
mime of the judgment of King Solomon
on the parable of the babe claimed by
two women, and closing with the visit
Of the queen Of Sheba, were all produced
in magnificent manner. The regular cir
Gus performance which followed con-
tanned some old features always seen,
but it also contained many new features
and original ideas which makes the show
more interesting than the simple old fash
toned circus. Robinson's carry an Onusu-
ally good lot of clowns and perhaps
more than most circuses have. and taken
in every way, with the extensive menag-
erie. Robinson's circus is one of the best
that has ever showed here.
A visit to the circus camp on Sunday
was exceedingly interesting. The main
tent was not raised but the menagerie,
horse, kitchen dining and dressing tents
were all in place. Sunday is not day
Of rest or recreation for the circus hands.
It is a day OF incessant work and without
the hours of rest offered week days On
weeks DAYS. while the work of the work
of the corcus hands begins before sun
rise. and there is hard work made igh-
ter by perfect system, until after
O'Clock, yet there is absolute rest for
those hard working fellows from that
hour until after five in the afternoon
which they improve by catching needed
sleep. But on Sundays there is no such
recess The horses are all washed, har-
nesses are cleaned and mended, repairs
made on tents and wagons, and hund-
red and one things done for which the
routine allows no time on week days.
Many of the actors do their washing
on this day and on Sunday the visitors
could see both men and women actors
engaged in washing their tights on the
gound. Two OF them wee dying theirs
a bright red, which process gives them
that look of newness which could be not
iced in the clothing worn by the per-
formers in the show.
One of the most interesting places In
the show camp is the dining tent and
kitchen. In the dining tent were long
portable tables set with porcelain dishes
but without a table cloth. Silver plated
knives and forks and spoons are used.
There are two departments; one for the
circus hands and the other for the per-
formers The kitchen IS in charge OF a
white cook with dozen coIored assist
ants. The meals are cooked in great ket-
ties hung over a wood fire and the odor
issuing from them was exceedingly appe-
tizinE. The meals are very much Ike
those served TO threshing hands On the
farm and from this it can be readily in
ferred that they are substantial and
good. While meats are served, great
roast being over the fire on Sunday AZ
te-ncon for the supper. there IS a tenden-
cN 10Y mere Nt71eAS4S -StieIS anu - 49,
No hand or performer has ever been
heard 70 grumhie on The food In Robin
sons dining tent, one OF the Oldest hands
with the show assured & reporter for the
Eagle Sunday And & Is but justice 70
say that on al Sunday afternoon not 4
rough word was heard OF the grounds.
They are the politest Let OF shovuen that
thu reporter for the EaEle has ever met
TIE managers IN the stables are made
Of canvas Great loads OF oats and hay
are fed every day and the horses show
fine care Here again TIE splendid sys-
tern is apparent OF the one hundred and