Evening star., 1900-04-25
WITH MUSIC AND GLITTER.
Forepaugh and Sells Brothers Circus
Parades Through the City.


Parades Through the City.
Early this morning an old colored wo-
man sat on the curbstone, with a news
paper unfolded on her lap She had brought
her lunch-perhaps 1t was her breakfast
with her. There We're a number of her
kinspeople of all ages gathered about her,
and they heard with rapt attention as she
put her finger on paragraph and oracu-
larly announced:
DE excitement commences at 8 o'clock
sharp-an' dey tells me 'Mancipation day
amt a suckumstance to it."
1t was considerably after when the cir
Gus parade passed the party, but they were
all on hand to welcome 1t with ardent en-
thusiasm. when with the bIare of trumpets
and the tinkling of cymbals the street
pageant of the Forepaugh and Sells Broth
ers' circus passed over the thoroughfares
of the capital city this morning. Promptly
two hours late 1t delighted the enthusiastic
heart of the small boy-and even those not
quite so young and unsophisticated-with
its myriad features, all strangely familiar
and yet so new. The company carried by
Forepaugh and the Sells Brothers numbers
between $50 and 100 persons not including
ten managers, eighteen superintendents,
twenty members of the executive staff and
fourteen agents There are $50 performers,
over 400 horses and ponies besides the
menagerie, SO that from this brief summing
up of the strength of the show some idea
may be gained by those who were not able
to be on the streets of the size OF the pa
rade this morning. There was but one
drawback to the show as seen this morning
The animal cages were not with but few
exceptions, left open, and this displeased
the younger contingent nightly. However.
there were enough features to occupy the
mind to the exclusion of this part of the
parade, and some special features which
are worthy OF separate enumeration. These
comprised lion reposng- restfully, but
watchful1y. on the top of one of the fine
wagons, with an air of utter disdain for
those around and under him; the fine stock
not only in racing form, but also in heavy
draught animals, and the clown band that
made such a hit in New York with its
imitation of John Philip Sousa's musical ag-
gregation. This latter feature was perhaps
the most enjoyable one of the street show
Besides these there was nothing that Is not
to be seen in any circus parade, except that
everything was in first-class shape. The
eiephamS perhaps, excited a little more
comment than is usually the case on ac-
count of the recent killing of Dick, one of
the favorite elephants in the show, in New
York few days ago account of his in
creaslng bad temper, which gave rise to
certain speculatons as to what one of these
beasts would do should he take it into his
head to wander through Washington on his
own hook. A magnificent tiger who ap-
peared even little more restless than
usual, appeared to really want to make
such an excursion, but the stoutnesS of the
bars on the open sides OF his cage allayed
any apprehension that might rise in this
particular.
When the doors opened for the regular
performance this afternoon at the grounds
at North Capitol and l. streets there was
such a crowd as is seldom seen except on
Just such occasions this, the opening
performance of a big circus. Although the
doors opened an hour before the show be-
gan. the wait for those who were first on
the ground did not prove tiresome, as the
excellent band carried by Forepaugh and
Sells whiled away the time with stirring
selections. At this performance, too, the
impersonation Of Sousa and his band by
the clowns of the show excited no end Of
laughter. The program wasea long one. but
1t was divided in an intelligent manner and
had only the inevitable perpiexities that the
effort to bestow equal attention on a null
titude of rings and stages always engen-
ders. 1t is safe to say that a majority of
the spectators had stiff necks when they
reached home. But it was enjoyable in
every detail.
One of the entertainers connected with
the circus. B. E. Murphy. was originally in
trOduced to the world as a political novelty
When campaigning was hot just before the
presidential election it occurred to the sec
retary of Mr.. Mark Hanna that a campaign
stump singer would be novelty. and Muir
ply was engaged at "top-iner'' salary to
chant ditties which would Impress economic
arguments and at the same time amuse the
crowd. He had great and enthusiastic au-
diences all through Illinois and Ohio, and
Immediately after his retirement from ser
vice as campaign troubadour was engaged
by Forepaugh and Sells Brothers Although
he no longer sings of politics, he is one of
the hits of the show.
The Forepaugh and Sells Brothers circus
Is probably one of the largest shows of its
character that has been in this city. When
unfolded and in shape for business it covers
eight acres of ground with canvas the seat
ing capacity in the main tent being over
5000. The performances are given in three
rings and on two elevated stages, while the
hippodrome track is longer than in any
other amusement institution of its kind
The expenses of a show Of this character
vary, but for this show the figures average
$1,000 daily. One feature that will be well
coined by those who may attend the per-
formances is a force of detectives, EN-
ployed by the company to protect their
patrons from ticket sharpers and disrepu-
table characters of all kinds. The perform
ance tonight will begin at o'clock, but in
order to accommodate the crowds and in
sure comfortable entrance for those who
may happen to come late the doors will be
thrown open at 7 o'clock.