Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-07-11
EVERY ACT A FEATURE.
Many Novelties in Forepaugh and
Sells Brothers Circus.
Great Crowd Imme nsely Entertained
In tho Big Tent Thursday-Rema
able Intelligence Shown by Many
Administering Bareback
Riding.


Nearly ten thousand people celebrated
the Fourth of July in this city Thursday
by attending the afternoon performance
OF Adam ForepauRh and Sells Bros. big
circus, while another big crowd filled the
great tent In the evening. The show was
without question one of the best exhibi-
tons II not the finest ever given In mis-
city. From the pageant, with which the
circus has been opened since the time Oh
the oldest resident. down through the long
list Of thrilling attractions there was MOI Ia
ing but the best and each ono of the ten
thousand went away with "A satisfied
smile. The attendance was unusually
large. due in a measure to the fact that
the show was given on a holiday. People
came to the city by teams. trains and
boats in numbers which have not been
cqualled for a considerable period. Most
of the stores were open during the fore
noon and did a good business. liotcls ana
restaurants were crowded ana the sun.
which has made previous days almost I'M
bcarably hot was hidden all day by clouds
which protected without dampenine tn"
heads Of the visitors The crowd was I'M
usually orderly and the police tound II
necessary to make no arrests. 1hr SHOW
was apparently without some of the fea-
lures which have become familiar ana
maintained TO take money for which they
give no return.
The excellence OF everything pertaining
to the great show is no less marked than
Is the rapdity with which the various fea-
lures follow each other and thore is new
er minute during the entire performance
when the spectator mind Is not ansorbci
to the degree of enthusiasm ty what is
before him. There are neither long-drawn-
out acts OF an inconsequcntal character
or any OF the similar tricks with which
old-time circus patrons are more or less
familiar.
The show was full Of ginger from start
to finish. all the performers acquitted
themselves as II they enjoyed their work,
and that spirit strikes "A responsive chord
with the spectators, and finds Manifesto
tons In waves Of enthusiastic appduHe
That sweep at frequent intervals from one
end of tho tent 10 the other.
From tho time the traditional spoctac-
ular procession OF animals and picturesque
equestrians enters the arena to inaugural
the performance till the hnal exciting Cll-
max of the Roman chariot races, which
comprise the last featsre of the pro-
Eramme, the various features OF IN" wide
~ diversified display follow each other
with the regularity of clockv DIRK, and 50
rapidly that many OF the groups ~ per
formers for given act are WITHIN the
arena before those they are to succeed are
out Of sight.
That the menaser1e' always popular nas
lost none of its attractions in TINS modern
age was made perfectly plain yesterday
ny the throngs that were gathered apout
the wild animals cages tor half hoCr or
more preceding the beginning OF the show
In the exhibition tent
The favorltes appeared 10 ne the hons,
the tigers. the bahy camel ana notably
the tho OF hons wheips ABOUT as blS as
large cats.
The seals, as usual, were the great hit
of the show. Ihey ana all thelr Ola trek
and added several new ones, such as pal
ancing a hsh on the end ~ pole clmp-
ing pedestal, then dropping the stick ana
catching the hsh in their mouths thon
PLAYING ball with a pig runner sphere ana
catching and balancing spinning ban.
Hearty applause attested to the continued
popularity OF this act. the like Of which ha
never even been attempted In any tented
show in the business.
Whether it is the unfanilariy of lhe
average man or woman with these curious
amphihlans, or whether II is the eXtraor-
binary docility and intellieence espresso
In their faces, certain it Is that they are
the greatest attraction in the big menager-
ie not excepting the elephants.
To mention all the admirable things I'm
the ring show would be imnossihe. a. II
would necessitate an enumeration ct
everything on the programme.
The band which Furnishes music for the
ring Throughout the performance, under tno
baton OF William Merrtck, is - continuous