The Indianapolis journal., 1903-05-11
RINCLlkGS' CIRCUS TO-DAY
IMMENSE CROWDS WITNESS THE AR
RIVAL OF THE SHOW.
The Big Street Parade VIII Move at
10 o'clock This Observation-Disclosures
of the Production.

The circus is here and ready to enter
tain the crowds this afternoon and tonight.
Ringlings' big aggregation came In from
Decatur, ILL.,, and began to unload in the
Vandalia yards about 4 o'clock yesterday
afternoon. The circus comes with four
big trains loaded with everything that Is
required to make the modern circus and
menagerie success, big crowd was
waiting in the railroad yards and at the
grounds west of the river. The crowd took
an ardent interest in the work Of unload
ing. The elephants, of course, proved the
greatest item Of interest. The Ringlings
are certainly well supplied with these mon
ster beasts. They have them in all sizes.
But at the show ground a large crowd
watched the canvasmen put up the tents.
The people stood about and curiously
looked at the covered cages. from which
now and then would come fierce roar.
There was a pleasurable excitement about
IL ALL The tinsel of the cages and the
acres of white canvas and the smell of
sawdust seemed to be rejuvenating, and
many a man no doubt said to himself, 1T
almost makes me a boy again." People
drove out in buggies and went out on the
cars and some walked. The weather was
fine-just the kind Of an afternoon for a
circus to arrive in town. Many of the
old-timers who watcher them put the tent
ed city together recalled the days of their
boyhood when they got up at daybreak
Ito see the circus come m" They thought
of the hours they waited until the curling
dust far beyond the town told that the
menagerieS was coming. Those were the
days when circuses travelled overland and
the railroad show was scarcely dreamed
Of.
The Ringlings give their show their per-
sonal attention and one or two OF the broth
ers were busy yesterday afternoon at the
grounds. One of the Ringlings directs the
found at the entrance to the big tent.
Rain or shine Al Ringing is nearly always
there and few people pass in that he does
not see.
to cover the exhibit the Ringlings give this
year. The management declares it is pre-
pared TO present many new features that
have been added TO the show since 1T was
here last year. One of these Is the big
spectacular production, Jerusalem and the
Crusades," in which hundreds Of people
pretty women.
These women compose one of the pretti-
est ballets ever given with a tented amuse-
ment enterprise. They dance under the di-
rection Of Signors Marchetti and Peril, who
rehearsed them in Chicago for several
months prior to the opening of the circus
season.
Following Jerusalem is the arenic per-
formance. one that Chicago and St. Louis
papers say Is second to none. The three
herds of performing elephants, two troupes
of educated seals, a thrilling 61-horse act,
the famous Nelson family and the Dollard
troupe. acrobats Dollie Julien and a host
Of bareback artists, the Fishers and the
Brothers, the Rios and the Alvo troupe, the
cream of bar performers. and the forty fun
ny clowns are few of the many features
that will be seen In the three rings, on the
two stages and along the hippodrome track.
Two performances will be given to-day, the
first at o'clock and the second at s. The
doors will be opened an hour before each
performance in order that plenty of time
be had for a thorough inspection of the I'M
mense menagerie, which contains the IA
nous baby animals who will give recep-
tions to the children of indianapolis.
At 10 this morning the circus will give the
usual street parade. and If the weather is
fine it will doubt be viewed by a great
crowd. The parade will leave the grounds
and move along Washington street to New
Jersey. north on New Jersey to Ohio, west
on Ohio to Capitol avenue, south on Capitol
avenue to Washington, and thence west on
Washington to the grounds.