The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-02
CROWDS ENJOY CIRCUS
RINGLING BROS BIG SHOW FUR
NlSHED FUN FOR THOUSANDS.
Small Boys Celebrate Great Occasion
by Paying Tribute of Admiration to
Elephants, Monkeys and Clowns
Performance of High Character
People Turned Away From Big Tent.

Yesterday the small boy, multiplied
by many thousands, endeavored to fix
two round, staring eyes on three lively
circus rings and two animated plat
forms. His father, mother, sisters
cousins and aunts endeavored to per-
form the same feat. The eyes may not
have been able to take in all the SEN
sational acts that were performed
within the rings and on the platforms,
but at least they saw enough to make
them enthusiastic over Ringing Bros
big circus.
Considerably before 2 o'clock yester-
day afternoon the big main tent, pitch
ed at the corner of Dale street and
University avenue, was filed with a
cheerful crowd of children and grown
people. and when promptly at 2 o'clock
a brilliant equestrian parade swept
into the big track that encircled the
tremendous crowd of spectators was
there to applaud it.
This parade was a representation of
the festivities that attended the open
ing of the amphitheater games of an
cient Rome. Beautiful steeds stepped
proudly, skillful riders in gala attire
guided those steeds with careful yet
easy hand, noble ladies with calm in
difference that has at once the delight
and the despair of the youth of the
Craftsmanship. Thousands of threats
applauded the equine ballet that con-
cluded the parade.
And the brilliant promise of the
opening number was faithfully carried
out in the fifteen interesting numbers
that followed.
Horses as CakewaIkers.
Horses cakewalked with grace and
skill and as if they liked it. Sea lions
that looked like nothing so much as
big quavering masses of grape jelly
did clever tricks, displaying an intelli-
gence that in no way suggested the
jelly Huge elephants turned partial
somersaults with the ease and will
ingness of a small boy. Graceful wom-
en- performed remarkable <eats on the
trapeze. Boneless-or apparently bone
less-men, women and children tied
themselves in double bow-knots, roll
ed themselves up into balls or curled
themselves up in figure Fights to the
delight of everybody.
And the clowns well, the clowns
really deserve an article by them
selves. There were twenty of them
all very much in evidence at yester-
days circus. They burIesqued the
feats of the more dignif1ed performers,
they "guyed" the audience, they play
ed laughter provoking tricks on one
another. They rode, they danced and
always they laughed at everybody and
everything and they made not only the
small boy, but the small boys moth
er, father, sisters, cousins and aunts
laugh also.
The main show concluded with
number of thrilling races, including
a jockey race, a sulky race, a Roman
chariot race and a race between a
thoroughbred and a Shetland pony
and the Shetland pony won.
Unusually good features of the cir
Gus were the acrobatic feats of the
Nelson family, ten in number, with
ages ranging from forty to five; the
Bell sisters exhibition of phenomenal
dental strength, the high feat of
the Holloway trio and the sensational
trapeze work of the Dunbar brothers
and sister.
The performance concluded with an
excellent concert and vaudeville show.
The side shows were also good of
their kind and all we'll attended. The
circus ended it's engagement in the
city with an evening performance that
taxed the capacity Of the big tent. In
deed, large number Of people were
unable TO gain admittance.