Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-20


Circus day, and it brought out the
usual crowd, gingerbread m%unching
%rustics, the self-denying penny-hoard-
ing youngsters, the staid merchant
who had. to go just to look after the
young 'uns, and the regulars who can
tell about all the bareback and ira
peze performers, since the palmy days
of old Dan Rice.
There were the usual scenes on the
streets and in the restaurants, but the
crowd was larger than usual. The
only circus day element that was con-
spicuous by it's absence was the rain.
1t was the initial performance in 1900
of the Ringing Brothers show, and
it was a most suspicious opening for
the season. The weather was ideal
Two performances were given under
the immense new canvass, and both to
tent capacity. There are seats for 10000
but with that number the benches
would be crowded. There were more
than 5000 present in the afternoon.
1t was a great big, clean show, and
matinee patrons gave the performance
a viva voce advertisement that aug
mented the crowd at night. The tick
ct seller sold the same ~pasteboards
the second time as the hour for the
"triumphal entry" approached, and
| still the throng clamored for card
boards emitting them to admission.
Finally the box wagon closed. Then
there was a jam in the tent, and hun
dreds unable to find seats, saw the per-
Torrance standing.
The show was seen to best advantage
at night, the new white canvas and
brilliant electric lights lending a sort
of spectacular effect that was absent
in the afternoon. 1t was the most
successful show, from every stand
point, ever given in Wheeling. The
management merited the liberal pat
ronage. The exhibition is clean and
wholesome, and reflects credit upon
the circus as an American institution.
1t would be impossible to enum-
crate all the features of the big show.
The performance proper begins with
an Introductory pageant which is a
vast improvement on the ~stereotyped
| cavalcade. If there Is any distinctly
stellar act, it is O'Brien's wonderful
control of GIL trained horses. a feat
which has been heretofore described
in the Register. Lockhart's three
herds of performing elephants do ap-
parently incredible things, concluding
with one monster pachyderm walking
on two feet. That much abused ami
NAL, the American mule, was in evil
dence more than usual, and the Ring
ling specimens were notable examples
of brute intelligence.
Such acts as riding bicycles on high
wire, Japanese juggling and acrobatic
| work, and equestrian feats by lady and
| gentlemen riders, were performed
with a skill far above the ordinary.
The remarkable DaComa family ap-
peared in two distinct acts, refined ac-
robatic work, and marvellous achieve
ments on trapeze. They scored one OF
the hits Of the show. La Fleurr's
high dive, and the barrel jumping by
the Rachetta brothers, were exceed
ingly interesting.
The clowns amused the small boy,
and also succeeded in tickling the ris-
Utilities of his papa. The mock
school was very funny, but the piece
de resistance was the clown band, the
most ex~cruciatingly awful musical or
ganization in existence. The newt
able hippodrome races closed the per-
Torrance, but some day, perhaps, an
other act will be substituted for this
feature Of the tent shows. The con-
cert was up to the average. The side
| show had the usual number of freaks,
prominent among them a tAree-legged
boy.
The street parade in the morning