The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-25
Barnum & Bailey Have a Very
 Great Show
TURNED AWAY THE PEOPLE
From Start to Finish There Was One Continuous String of Acts Which Are Novel, Interesting
 and Exciting.


 to file out of the big tent there is not a moment when there is not something interesting or marvellous going on in the arena of Barnum and Bailey's big show. There is one striking feature to the show which has never been seen with any other which has exhibited here-the im- mense number of little novelties run in through the bigger acts which never lets the arena be empty, or the interest of the crowd grow less.
 These acts are mostly original and novel; ties in this country, as they were collect ed during the five years which the show has been in Europe. They are exceed ingly interesting and some of them have exciting incidents to add to them.
 The circus has many big acts, some of which are of the most sensational na- ture, and the management, 1t is felt. cer- tainly deserved the great patronage which was afforded 1t yesterday by the people of Birmingham. There were fif- teen thousand people at each perfor- nance, the maximum capacity of the big tent, and there were two or three thous- ands of people who were turned away from each performance.
 All Are Satisfied.
 It Is safe to say that no one left the circus dissatisfied with what had been seen, and feeling that he or she did not get their moneys worth Besides the usual things which a circus gives the people for their money, there is fine free show which goes on Inside the animal tent which is generally on the outside and embodied in a separate show for which more money had to be paid. This show Is a collection of some of the most marvellous freaks in the world, family of midgets, Eli Bowen, the legless aero bat; Charles Tripp, the armless wonder; Tomasso, the human pincushlon; Mile, Clifford, the sword swallower; Albini, the contortlonist; James Morris. the elastic skin man; Billy Wells, the hard headed man, and twenty or thirty other freaks which make an interesting study and something that cannot be overlooked or missed. In this show there are fat peo- pie, lean people, women with boards, wo- men who eat fire, needles and any old thing that is given them
 1 | ne neal snow. Passing through this tent one reaches the big tent where the real show takes place. Here the acts follow each other in quick succession, making an almost perfect whole. The first is the Tribute of Balkis," a spectacular prelude which consists principally of ballet in which there are about 200 women and nearly as | 0f rio costumes, teemlng with color and life This spectacular lasts about fifteen min utes and is a new and striking departure from the old lines of the show business The dances are put on by Bolossy Kiral- fy, who has made study of this, and especially of the costumes of the ancient days which this represents.
 Following this there is a parade of the freaks, which is also something new and interesting. It is termed the "queerest parade on earth" and 1t does not in any manner fall short of the expectations Then comes the various exhibitions of riders. elephant herds, clowns, jumping dogs and many other acrobatic acts. Russian Hounds.
 
 Russian hounds These immense and ferocious animals do some marvellous l jumping, such as Is rarely seen and which excites wonder and admiration.
 Three contortionists are then brought forth to amuse the people. It is rare that three as Timber men are punched together in one act but these three are each equal to any other ever seen here, and their work caused wonder. It is a marvellous case of training.
 Wilkes Lloyd. bareback rider. occu- pies the center ring for about fifteen minutes, and when he leaves the public realizes that it has seen a performance out of the ordinary. It differs from other acts of this kind in that the horse he uses is faster and does not loaf around the ring his feats are unusual and seem- ingly harder than of ordinary. There Is ginger and life in every part of the act.
 Cycle WhlrI.
 The cycle whirl with an absolutely per pendicular top to it around which the rider pedals, is a feature which has the center of the tent all alone for about a minute For this riding the cycler re- ceives a big price, and he does a daring feat which has never been accomplished by another cyclist
 The two feature acts in the air are those of the Clarkenians, and the i'm perial Viennese troup of seven. The former act concludes with a somersault and ripple turn in midair, which is warm ly spplauded. The other team of seven is constantly in motion, and does some clever aerial work.
 High-Class Horses.
 There are several acts of high school horses which are pretty and interesting especially in view of the fact that Bir- mingham only walked up not long ago to the fact that the horse was the greatest of animals
 An equestrian act with four people on a horse comes near the end of the show, and is something new and interesting. And then the last are the races of various kinds, of which there are about ten events. These are for the lead, and are not fixed as many circus races are. There animals are turned loose and allowed to run.
 There are numbers of other acts which .are sensational and effective; in fact, they are too numerous to be mentioned and it is impossible for one person to see them all at any one performance, as they are so numerous.
 A speciality which adds much to the