The times., 1901-05-07
ANIMALS And ACROBATS
Thousands See the Performances
of the Ringling Show.
One of the Best Circuses That HAS
Visited This City-WOnderfuI Herd
of Sixty Trained HOrses-A Large
Compauy of Amusing Clowns.

Statements depicting the decline in
favor of that greatest of all American
amusement enterprises. the circus, were
given the lie by thousands who filled the
Ringing tents to the limit yesterday
afternoon and again last night All ages.
all races, all coIors, took a keen delight
in the brilliant attractions which go to
make up the Ringing shows To say it
is the best circus that has ever visited
Washington seems trifie stereOtyped,
but il aptly fits TO the show which Will
hold forth to large audiences again TINS
afternoon and tonight.
The general public usually gets its first
idea of a circus by watching the parade
The procession of animal cages is sort
of barometer which gauges the excellence
of the attractions more alluring to be
seen under the canvas roof The parade
yesterday was a high barometer, and the
show of corresponding high quallty
There were few innovations in the per-
forrnance. The artists" were skillful in
their respective lines to the highest de-
gree. Everything about the whole show
had an air of completeness and superla-
tiveness. The performance opened with
the usual parade of horsemen and horse
women generally described on the pro-
BrdfNfne as q DEllllaDl lillIouuStOiS
pageant" 1t was really brilliant in this
instance, and the immense audience
seemed pleased at such a good start. An
excellent band provided the newest comic
opera music throughout the performance.
During the evening there was something
going on continually in each of the three
rings and on the stage, while overhead, at
intervals, were presented daring exhibit
tions OF trapeze, horizontal bar, tight rope
walking, and kindred feats of acrObatic
skill. The sawdust rings and the beauti-
full horses which cavOrtsd therein were
the cynosure of all eyes. The children
were vastly amused by the laughable an
tics OF as foolish corps of clowns as
ever came to the National Capital with
circus. In the brief intervals between
the acts these funpakers swarmed into
the rings by the score and prevented time
from passing slowly.
To describe with justice all the varied
attractions and difficult feats Of horse
manShip and gymnastics which were
crowded into the three hours perform
ance would be well-nigh impossible
Everything was good. But then, of
course, there were some of the acts that
were accorded more applause than others
The first two numbers on the pro-
gramme consisted of various acrobatic
turns executed with marvellous skill by
a score of performers. A splendid feat
of hOrsemanship was the exhibition of
John O. Brien, who successfully put d herd
OF SiXtN-one horSeS through intricate ma
neuvreS in one of the SawduSt rings. The
beautiful thoroughbred animals obeyed his
orders with almost human intelligence.
The contortioniSts with their wonderful
twists of limbs and body came next and
at the same time Warrenberg brothers
did a unique Juggling act The tight wire
performance found it's best expression In
the work of the Holloway trio. These
clever equilibriSts did almost impossible
feats on the thread-Iike footing which
they trod with the same assurance an
ordinary person would terra firIna. The
japa nese presented the usual skilled and
finished performance peculiar TO the aero
bats of that race. The next mum Der of
filled with women bareback riders and
after that came acrobatic work of a new
variety. Perhaps the most pronounced
and best was that of Da Coma Family,
who. clad in evening dress, presented a
number of novel turns.
Then for about five minutes there was
nothing but a continual roar of laughter
from the tiers of seats containing the
thousands. The troupe of clowns In every
conceivable ridiculous costume invaded the
circle. All the old gags that have made
reputation and money for the knights of
the powdered face were sprung with good
effect. and there were enough new ones
20 keep the fun from getting dry.
The climax Of the entire performance
was when three big herds OF elephants
ponderously tramped into the big tent
from the menagerie and went through
wonderful series of tricks. They stood on
their heads and on their hind feet, and
acted so cleverly that one quite forgot
their huge size They even played mus-
cal instruments and succeeded in obtaining
quite bit of harmony through the effort
After a splendid exhibition of flying ira
peZe performance the show closed with a
number OF novel races. Ponies. chariot.
an exciting finale for the most excellent
performance.