The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-10-30
The John Robinson Big Shows Delighted
Crowds in Washington, Pa.

| Inc t0ln hODlHSOH Oig SHOWS Ocil9Htoo
Crowds in Washington, Pa.
"And they. folded their tents like
the Arabs and silently stole away"
The first circus of the season, John
Robinson's Big Show, has cone and
gone and the thousands of people who
paid to see the performances have no
kick coming, for the prophecy made in
the Observer Monday morning to the
effect that the people would get their
moneys worth and bit over, was
fulfilled. The John Robinson show
is all right. It is big show in fact
as we'll as in name, as big as the best
of them, bigger than most of them and
as good, if not better, than any Of
them. The show gave entire satisfac-
tion to the crowds who witnessed it, the
| number of people present being esti-
mated at about 5000 and probably
when the show left. town this mornin g
in the neighborhood Of Sc, 800 of good
Washington county money went with
it. A good lump Of money but show
of this kind needs plenty to keep 1T
afoat.
The weather yesterday was most ia
vorable, it being not too hot and not
too cold, just good, comfortable circus
| weather, and it brought a goodly crowd
from the countryside. The streets
were we'll lined with people early in
the morning to witness the parade,
which started promptly at 10 O'Clock,
and this part of the days proceedings
the free show-was alone worth few
miles ride over the Washington coun-
ty roads, and that is saying good bit
lust now. Everything being so bright
and new made the parade especially at
tractive. 1t was resplendent in color;
the brilliant decorations of the wagons,
the bright and pretty gowns Of the
women, the gay trappings on the AMI, i,
mails, the uniform of the bands, all
comb combined to make the street pageant
thoroughly enjoyable and pleasing
spectacle. And as soon as the parade
was over the people commenced to
wend their way towards the Fair
grounds so as to be in good time. for
the afternoon performance, and before
it commenced the huge tent was pack
ed.
And the show itself-The vivid word
painting Of the press agent had raised
expectations high, and when it is said
that these expectatio ons were fully real
lied, little further comment is neces-
sary. But there were some features
that are worthy of more than passing
comment, notably the. great spectacu-
lar production of King Solomon and
the Queen of Sheba. -
CIeverly designed and admirably car
ried out by small army Of people,
this series of tableaux and ever NOV
ing pictures, will long be remembered
by those who were present. 1t was
gorgeous spectacle, the final dance by
a ballet of about hundred good look
ing and brilliantly costumed young
women being splerdidly executed, the
beauty of the entire scene being great
ly aided by the use of calcium lights
and colored fire.
Among the other notable features
were two remarkable exhibitions OF
animal training, viz, John Roblnson's
troupe Of performing elephants, who
do almost everything but talk, and
Prof. Ed Holders troupe of perform
ing hogs, real novelty and a quite
extraordinary performance. Also well
worthy of mention are Efie Dutton, a
brilliant eouestrienne who concludes
the act in a blaze of electric light:
Holland and Lamkins, trick and
somersault riders: The Flying Lavans,
marvellous aerielists; Melville, in
astounding feats of gravitation, and
Misses Blanche Holland and Efie
Krugerv, whose picturesque act on
three horses was exceptionally good.
These are only a few Of the features
but it would take columns to mention
each separately, but it may be said
that out of the scores of acts presented
there was not weak one amongst
them. The. music was good, the
clowns funny and the rube portion OF
the entertainment was show itself.
All said and done the John Robinson
Shows is the equal, if not the superior
Of any Of the big circuses that have
been seen here, not even excepting
the Ringing Show, and that was an
exceptionally good one. The manage
ment was all that could be desired and
visitors were treated with the greatest
courtesy by all concerned. Washing
ton folk will welcome the Robinson
Show whenever it comes back.-Wash-
ington Observer, May 2l.
a.