The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-15
ON FESTIVAL FIELD.
A Wide Variety of Shows for Peck
effuI of Dimes.

If you have two ribbons-one OF bright
red and one of dazzling yellow-hanging
from the lapel of your coat and streaming
In the brisk autumnal winds: if you have
- worth of 10-cent pieces slowed away In
a pocket that 3 easily accessible; if you
have a bag of peanuts and crackerjack.
and II you are in good humor you are eligi-
bic to go the rounds of the Festival Field.
"Oh, well, it's carnival time, and every
body does such things. Besides, that's
what we're here for-to the sights
This was the argument that caused so
many eminently respectable Indianapoli-
tans, who would not even take in a variety
show upon ordinary occasions, to throw
aside all thoughts of strict propriety and
plunge into the fun of the Festival Field,
yesterday afternoon and last night, with
all of the breathless interest and delight
full excitement of a boy who has played
hockey from school in order TO borrow APP
pies from forbidden orchard. And so you
will find everybody, who is 'in for the fun
of the thing" doing the festival side shows
this week, and, in many instances. being
done beautifully. You may possibly dis
cover among the sightseers the sober
minded individual who gives out the lesson
bly, stumble across the dignified parsonage
who refused to allow his daughter to play
ragtime on the piano. Should you run
across any of these estimable people, don't
exhibit surprise; for that will spoil the
whole thing, but buy them some more
crackerjacks and send them merrily on
their way. indianapolis INDUCES in this
sort OF thing but once a year. remarked
one man who carried a little tin horn,
which he insisted on blowing continually,
and II isn't going to hurt us TO jolly up
bit"
The sightseer who starts out to go the
rounds of the sideshows would do well to
leave the streets of Cairo" to the last
Otherwise he may go broke before he sue
ceeds In working up the proper amount OF
enthusiasm. All streets in Cairo-what
carnival would be complete without one?-
nave always been especially noteworthy
Tor three things-frst, that IL costs 10 cents
10 get on the street: second, that Ii costs
10 cents to see anything after you are once
on the street, and third, that Ii costs 10
cents to get off the street so that you may
go your way in peace. There is no way of
lodging the thing-it is inevitable. All
Cairo streets are alike, and this one is no
exception. The patrons of the show are
herded in through the portals as the
lecturer outside aptly describes the ma
S Jest q Doorway and are kept waiting in a
where there is nothing TO see but three
wise old camels. while the managers Of
ahe attraetlon hustle their Algerian must
clans and Oriental dancing girls outside of
the Enclosure again in order 20 whet the
amusement appetites of more people with
1O-cent pieces that they don't want
When at last the greedy proprietors are
satisfied with the number of spectators
the show begins. 1t is given on the in
stallment plan-l0 cents an installment-
there being other Enclosures inside the gen.
eral Enclosure, little avenues branching off
from the principal Cairo street Nobody
ever set root on any Cairo thoroughfare,
no matter how small. without paying toll.
The show. taken as a whole consists Of
a whirling Dervish, a few unspeaka BILE
Turks-a dancing bear and five hootchie-
cootchie girls" The Dervish gives an imi-
tatfon OF merry-go-round, the Turks show
how they go through impressive ceremonies
In attitudes that are suggestive of the
Shortridge first eleven at football practice;
the dancing bear, wearing hat that is al
most Panama, puts the other performers
to shame with an exhibition of real clev-
erness, and the hootchie-cootche girls give