Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-11
VIEWED BY THOUSANDS
BIG PARADE PRECEDES OPENING
OF CIRCUS.
Display, With Musical Ac-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES That Glad
den the Juvenile Heart.

When the clouds which obscured the sun
during the early hours of the morning pass
ed away there was great rejoicing among
the little folks of the national capital,
whose hearts were bent on viewing the gor-
geous parade of the Barnum and Bailey
circus. There were no sleepy eyes among
the youthful population of Washington this
morning when the youngsters realized that
it was circus day, but the heavy clouds
which overcast the sky at first caused no
little anxiety, giving promise, as they did,
of downpour of rain.
The Barnum and Bailey circus has been
abroad for the past five years The parade
In this city this morning was the third
parade given by the show since in 1900. In
that year the circus was giving perform
ances in Germany, and according to the
usual custom in America, inaugurated Its
performances in each city by a grand
parade. 1t was found, however, across the
water that the parade idea was unprof1ta-
BILE. The people would come to see the
parade and would then go home, and failed
to attend the performance, thinking they
had seen all the show, or at least enough
of 1t to satisfy them along that line. The
parades were stopped, and the receipts in
creased to a great extent.
All along the route of the parade the
streets were lined with crowds of eager
spectators, with the younger generation
we'll to the front drinking in the beauties and
the wonders OF the procession Win Wlue-
open eyes, while on their faces was eX-
pressed amazement mixed with pleasure at
the sight. Some of the little ones who were
unable to reach a point of advantage IN
the front ranks were held above the heads
of the crowd upon the shoulders of affec-
tionate parents, who desired their little
ones to get the full benefit of the mottng
panorama. The happy shouts of the chill
dren denoted their keen enjoyment and ap-
probation of the affair, and the whole scene
served to recall to the men AMI women
their childhood days, when the circus pa
rade and the succeeding show filled their
cup of joy to the brim for days and weeks
Largest and Finest.
1t was generally expressed on all sides
that the parade of this morning was the
largest and the finest ever seen in WASH
ington. The procession started from the
grounds, at 18th and II streets northeast,
promptly at 8 o'clock, as had been prev
iously announced. Going west on II street
the parade turned into 4th street, and
thence into Maryland avenue until New
Jersey avenue northwest was reached. The
procession then proceeded on II street to
Massac husetts avenue, and turned into X
street at 9th. At 18th street the pageant
reversed it's course and came eastward on
Pennsylvania avenue.
Heading the procession was the magnih-
cent gold-covered band wagon, costing, 1t
is stated about $4,000, and drawn by a
forty-horse team of magnificent bays. The
usual circus tunes were played by the
band, and the spectators kept time with
their feet to the catchy strains. The driv-
ing of this great team is of itself a mar
velous feat of Craftsmanship, and was a
source of admiring expressions from the
crowds which lined the streets. There were
glittering wagons, carrying represen tatives
of nearly all the known nations of the
earth the flags of the countries represent
ed flying from the four corners of the
vehicles. One of the features of the pa
triotic portion of the parade was a beauti-
full gilt float on which was engraved in
immense letters, Our Country" A repre-
sentation of Uncle Sam, together with per-
sons impersonating Lincoln, Washington,
Grant and Mckinley, occupied positions on
this float.
Thirty Clowns in Line.
Among the most interesting features of
the pageant for the children were the
clowns, thirty in number, all costumed in
the grotesque style familiar to all the
country. The pictures representing scenes
from well-known fairy tales also proved
great attractions to the children, and the
large herd of elephants and camels were
greeted with shouts expressive of delight.
There was hte inevitable calliope bringing
up the rear of the parade, and, as usual, it
was source of great interest to the spec
tators. There were at least a half dozen
bands which filled the air with musical
sounds all along the route.
The procession turned into 1st street
thence into Maryland avenue and pro-
ceeded down North Carolina avenue to the