The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-05-02
Barnum & Baileys Greatest
Show Takes Possession
Of Jersey City.
TO EXHIBIT ON THE RESERVOIR SITE
Rain Prevented This Morn
ing's Street Parade But
Prospects Are Bright
for Performances.


The circus is here in most of its glory.
There was talk this merning that the big
parade would have to be abandoned be-
cause some of the cages got stuck inthe
mud in Brooklyn and did not arrive in
time for parade. The whole circus
however is under canvas at the grounds
and unless rain interferes Jersey City
folk after waiting several years will at
last enjoy a big circus performance.
Somehow it seems that ever since this
part Of the Globe contracted the habit Of
annexing countries that have their rainy
seasons" it has to take its own medicine.
Rain has knocked the stuffing out of
baseball this season and nothing is cer-
tain out of doors any more. This morn
ing the sun was shining brightly and we
live in hopes. The sun was shining bright
" yesterday morning when the circus
people pitched their tents on the old Res
ervoir grounds at Manhattan, Summit
and Central avenues, and Old Sol winked
both eyes as much as to say
s'Nsw, Boys, amt geod to you?'
Butte rained besere night. Old Sol is
getting to be sort of foxy grandpa.
The circus is children's delight. It's
efdemen's delight, too. They dcn't forget
vixen 4hsx weres s'kiasf' They don't fer
Kse W&enlxAey sbuaied geography and
sS &isture easaa$eaephant. lion,
kjkssa %ebEayass even a yak, that they
SaAted seess me. real tAing.
one ssunsAiny dag on the grounds
msidN sucHs6 CIRCUS as that Of the great
Bsmumsgafley asmbination pitched their
kenka, yestarday to 4 8chilat-woEth as much
as any stker day Of its life, especially
r. ii IL 10 see tbs finished product. a
prominent member ofs4Ae Hudson county
legal bar strolled over the grounds yes
terday. BY one hand he held beautiful
little faxen-haired girl whose blue eyes
we're aaame with excitement, by the
other hand he held boy whose blue eyes
opened wide as he thought
ssWhat does it all mean2"
Long before that child commenced to
think fathers had taken their children to
see collection of animals collected from
every part of the globe.
But just as interesting to the boy is
the work of the army of men that so
quickly makes city of tents in which to
store all the great curiosities that are to
delight his fancy when the show opens.
A great many thousands of people
watched the progress of the tent building
on the old reservoir grounds. They were
interested not only in tent building but
in the feeding of such an army of men
and beasts Under mammoth tents were
stalled all kinds Of horses from the heavy
draught houlers, the sleek trained ring
horse to the cute little Shetland ponies
rolling and half frollicking on the beds of
straw that protected them from the mud
which the curious spectator was obliged
60 stand in and the stableman who fixed
the bed for the horse had to wade
through. The there was great tent
where the army Of nine hundred people
from the 81 o00-week-artist to the veri-
est s.canp-follower'' dimes. No Brussels
carpet for them--no matter how much
their salaries. Gum boots instead Of car
pets. Several inches of mud yesterday
and today to reach the dining tables. But
tomorrow, perhaps, lawn party--a cool
place on tented lawn in which to eat
IA comfort.
But outside of the flow there is every
accommodation found in good hotel din
ing room Nearly thousand covers
laid. Great polished nickle-plated els
terms of steaming hot coffee and tea, a
mammoth range with white paper hated
rooks broiIing, baking, roasting steam
Ing. frying meats and fish, kneading
dough, turning wheat cakes, preparing
deserts and other delieacies, and small
army Of trained walters in blue jean
Jackets. The tables neatly coyered-one
side in pure white for the artists and big
guns, the other half in read and white
for the army Of stablemen and stock car
ers-but all under the same tent.
Under another tent the nenagerie .
herd Of nearly forty elephants Of all
sixes, drove Of twenty-three camels
ind dromedaries costly things those
txgo bumped camels.s, saws those Z Il