The Washington times., 1902-05-01
CIRCUS IN TOWN,
LITTLE ONES HAPPY
Forepaugh and Sells Aggrega-
ton Great Hit.
BEST SHOW SEEN IN YEARS
Tents Crowded at Both Performances and
Every Act in the Three Rings and on
the Stage vociferously Applauded-
Times Newsboys Band.
This way to the big show!"

This way to the big show!'
Peanuts, popcorn, lemonade, and
candy"
Don't fail to see the greatest side
show on earth!'
These were the cries shouted by loud
voiced men that could be heard on every
side at Thirteenth and Streets northeast
yesterday afternoon.
Three great spreads of white canvas; a
half dozen smaller ones, mass of crowd
ing and showing humanity: hundreds of
boys and girls gazing with wide-open eyes
in wonder at gaily-colored pictures of
bearded ladies, snake charmers, sword
swallowers; the hoarse cries of scores OF
fakirs; all these could be heard and seen
yesterday afternoon-for the circus is in
town. 1t came yesterday.
Circus day is an event of Importance
long to be remembered in the lives of the
young folk, and 1t is by no means an IN
pleasant experience for older persons.
If there was any doubt existing in the
minds of the people of Washington as to
the coming of spring il was dissipiated
yesterday afternoon, when the shrill cry
of the calliope heralded the approach OF
the circus parade. Later in the day the
crowded street cars bearing the signs
Direct to the circus grounds" gave fur
Their evidence that an occurrence of mo-
ment was happening here.
The first circus of the year arrived
yesterday morning. when the Adam Fore
paugh and Sells Brothers combined shows
pitched their huge canvases on the lots
at Thirteenth and Streets northeast
Immediately there was gathering of
young and old; peripatetic street fakirs
swarmed in herds around the grounds;
the truant school boys came in crowds;
all intent upon seeing the show in some
way or other.
The Street Parade.
Circus day started with the usual
parade in the morning. and at 2 o'clock
in the afternoon. the hour. announced for
the beginning of the first performance.
thousands of men, women and little
folks crowded the approach to the main
entrance. 1t was the usual scene that ac
companies every circus day.
Inside the big tents young and old, pa
trician and plebeian, rubbed elbows. They
wandered around the big white arena gaz-
ing in wonder at the wild beasts pacing
impatiently up and down their iron cages
or stood pitching peanuts and sweetmeats
to the great elephants in the center. Tir-
ing of watching the animals, the crowd
moved into the big tent where the per-
Torrance Of the day was 10 be held.
Bands played, people chartered; the pro-
prietors OF the peanut stands and the dis
pensers of red lemonade shouted out their
wares; ushers ran to and fro, showing
seats to the patrons; while the attendants
busted themselves tightening ropes and
giving the last touches to the fixtures
about the three large rings and stages.
Modern circuses are all very much alike,
but the Forepaugh and Sells show is per-
haps the best that has visited Washing
ton in some time. II is a big show-a very
big show. All the vaudeville acts OF i'm
portance that have been witnessed on
stages of playhouses during the past win
ter are there to be seen, and, of course,
there are also all of those acts that dis
belong to the circus.
All in Happy Vein.
II was very warm inside the big tents
yesterday afternoon and evening, but this
did not appear to have any i'll effect upon
the spectators. for they seemed to thor
oughly enjoy the performance. and the
different acts were heartily applauded.
Miles and his aide. Colonel Maus.
occupied seats in the press stand and
we're apparently as much Interested in
the performance as the little tots who