The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-30
PASSING OF CIRCUS PARADE

Announcer JOY OF life mas Deen swept
into the dust-bin of the past by the
broom of Progress, says the Rochester
Democrat-Chronicle One of the last
surviving picturesque and spectacular
ornaments of the work-a-day world has
been trodden out of existence by the
big boots of Utilitarianism. The circus
parade has been abolished by the circus
trust.
The deed was done at Springfield, o.,
last Monday. There the representatives
of all the greatest shows on earth met
together and, with due elaboration and
solemnity. made the circus parade's
quietus. One may not question the cor
rectness Of their motives nor the right
eousness of their action. Their plea
that there isno longerroom in the traffic
thronged. track incumbered. wire roof
ed streets Of busy American cities for
mere pageantry is sound The fact can
not be denied. But one may lament the
loss of the circus parade especially for
the sake of the coming generations of
small boys who will never see a gilded,
glorious band wagon drawn by dozen
pair of milk white steeds and cargoed
with supernal wind TANNERS; never
hear the stirring strains of the steam
calliope like a giant singing-a giant
with a bad cold and an incorrect ear;
never have his eyes dazzled by the blaze
of golden chariots and his heart melted
by the charms of their queenly occu
pants; never behold elephants as noun
tains walking the ordinary streets and
frightening horses from their propriety;
never, in short, know the joys and
glories of the circus parade nor ever
be able to get any realizing sense of
them from depletion or description.
The circus parade has vanished and
like the baseless fabric of vision left
not a wrack behind, except the imagery
of phrase that common speech has Dor
rowed from it. By and by even this
| imagery will become meaningless and
obsolete, so that when some ancient
speaks of getting on to the band
wagon" his speech shall be to his hear
ers but as sounding brass and tinkling
cymbals. The circus parade has gone
out of life. gone where the woodbine
twineth. This is rough on even us for
whom memory can reconstruct some
thing of its fascinating splendors. But
how much rougher on the millions yet
unborn of future small boys.
1t is questionable whether the circus
managers are justified in rejoicing over
their action and counting it for wis
dom. They have, without doubt, saved
themselves much Of money and of brain
fag by abolishing the circus parade.
But may not this be the beginning of
the end of the circus itself? Does not
the surrender of the circus parade pres
age the coming of the time when one
can find only in the remotest rural dis
tricts the poor, old, withered relic of
what was once the glorious, arrogant,
three-ring tent show? The outpost has
been driven in by the forces of material
progress. How long can the main posi-
ton, the fortress, the tent stand be-
fore them? If the world has become
too old and wise and crowded and busy
for the circus parade, how long will
it be before it has grown too old and
wise and the rest of it for the circus
All the signs point to the coming of a
day when men will have to hustle too
persistently for "panem" to have time
or thought left for "circenses.'