The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-23
THEY GAVE A SHOW
Sells & Downs Final Dress Rehearsal
Given.

A pantomime performance, without
the tinsel and gauzes without the ap-
plause of hundreds, on a wet, water
logged ground, is what took place last
night under the big canvas tent of the
Sells & Downs circus on the Douthitt
tract This afternoon and tonight the
trimmings are all there, the sod is
covered with shavings and straw, the
wall of seats is up framing the great
hippodrome track, the blare and crash
of the band is heard, ribbons and silk
adorn the actors-the whole thing is
done as the general public sees it and
has seen it for years.
But last night the sight was diff
ferent one. The band was there, but
not in uniform. The performers were
there-but not one in fleshlings and
no blouse. The horses did their part
/ of the programme, but were not liv-
cried and bedecked in gay trappingS.
But the most unique thing of all
was the way in which the performers
went through their part of the pro-
gramme. The tumbIers ran about on
/ the platform, setting themselves for
their leaps-but ! they never made
them. The trick bicycle riders left
their wheels at home, and ran about
the platform on their own feet sim
ply going through the programme OF
their stunts. The trapeze artists
swung a few times. but did nothing
which a ten year aid boy could not
through. The horses were put through
their PAGES to accustom them to the
track. The clowns in all sorts of
clothes, from Prince Alberts to sweat
ers, did stunts in the hippodrOme, but
never one opened his mouth in jest
and tipped about in "foolishment. -
The whole thing was a pantomime.
Simply an attempt to see If certain
things could be gone through with in
a stated length of time. Not a part
of the regular programme was missed,
but not an act was put on in its COM
plete form, such as the public gener-
ally sees. 1t all had the effect of
kindergarten exercises, and had one
dropped in, not knowing what they
were all about, his suspicious might
have been aroused about their sanity.
This rehearsal, if it can be called that,
began at o'clock and lasted until way
after midnight. The concert, too, was
gone through with. Sells and Downs
department in this line, resembles a
minstrel show. They have one man
who can sing; has soprano note or
two in his vocal chords, which are real
/ ly good. But the concert, too, was a
bluff, simply a going through with mo
lions and figures, Ito see about it"
Probably one thousand people came
into the tent to watch the rehearsal
Everybody was admitted free. The
seats were not up and the audience
had to stand. But it staid until mid
night, enjoyed the unique performance,
and frequently punctured the woEk
with applause.
Willie Sells took a number of news
paper men around and showed them
the way things are handled. Willie
was in the days of yore, the prince Of
the hippodrome and the saW-dust ring
so far as bareback horse-riding is con-
cerned. For that reason his circus is
so wonderfully strong on the equine
proposition.
You wouldn't believe it, said VIII
lie, but it's a fact that the old horse Is
are harder to get used to the ring again
| than the newer ones. Somehow they
don't want to get right back into the
/ harness. Just as soon as they go
/ through their acts a few times, the
whole business is all right, and you can
only keep them out of the ring with
difficulty"
A new quartette of chariot horses
were broken in last night They acted
/ badly, kicked, and laid down. Sells, in
high hat and cutaway, waded through
the mud and slush and with his exper-
/ fence of many years set to work to put
the animals right. It took almost an
hour to make the blacks understand
their game, but they learned it before
they were taken off the ring.