Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-26

dIuuStIncHj lucas. Inc mas DCtteTeu
them; experience has chastenod them;
money has expended them. Phineas T
Barnum revolutionized the circus bus
mess. James y. Bailey reorganized
it.
Patrons Well Cared For.
No circus that has ever played in
Rock Island has looked after the vel
fare of its patrons so well as Barnum
d Bailcy's did yesterday. Mr.. Bailey
has imported the comfort of the thea
ire into the tent. For those who dc.
sired luxury and secluSiOn there were
boxes with big comfortable chairs. In
the grand stand there was a solid floor
ing, and on it were placed chairs of
the approved theatrical pattern. Even
to the cheapest seat there was rest for
the feet. Everybody. no matter what
price he paid, saw the show in com
fort.
This made the whole program sc
off with greater enthusiasm than ever
before, though it was of such an ad-
mirable nature that it would have de-
lighted an audience worn into cal
lOuscs and ridges by the Old-time mar
row plank seats. The bill represented
the best that experience could select
or money secure. All the acts were
good; some of them phenOmenally bril-
liant.
What most impressed was the mag
nitude of the whole affair. And it's
Justice. too. There was no playing to
favOrites. Each section had equitable
treatment. Every ring presented the
same grade OF acts, so there was salts
faction all around.
Years ago it was considered good
measure if there was. for example. one
bounding jockey in a ring. When that
ring grew to three, there was still but
one rider in the ring Yesterday.
though. there were II OF these daring
bareback performers at one time in
the three rings and no especial atten-
ton was called to it.
Has Many Sensations.
Barnum & Bailcy's program has al
ways one sensation. usually more. II
was that way yesterday 1t had three
acts which have never been equaIed
here, though it must he said that they
have been initiated The first is that
of VoIO. who dashes down a long and
steep incline. seemingly only hands
breadth wide, and jumps a space 80
feet to- narrow platform. Yesterday
so great was the impetus that Volo
gained in his frightful ride that he al
most cleared this platform and struck
within few feet of its farther edge.
Then Ancillotti looped the gap in
sensational way that put ones heart
in his mouth for the moment. His ride
upside down was over in a second, but
while it was in progress it filled one
with fear.
Then, there was a ride of two per
formers down a steep incline. The
first rode a single wheel. and he bore
the other, a mere boy, on his should
ers. \ second of fear. the slight les
SEEMING of the iron grip which kept the
single wheel steady. would have
brought death TO both. but the act was
performed with an ease. and one might
even say nonchalance, that was most
impressive.
The rest of the program was of
familiar type. but with more than the
customary excellence In the matter
of aerial work. nothing so skilled and
so wonderful has ever been seen here.
The Clarkonians do a catching act that
goes so far in skill and daring that il
seems impossible il can ever be i'm
proved upon. One of the team releases
himself from the trapeze, turns two
sOmersaults. and most bewidering
side 'twister" and is caught by the
other. II took four years of daily prac-
tice for the ClarkOnians to master this
act. So far as mass effects in the air
are concerned. the performance Of the
Imperial Viennese family. presenting
some dozen performers. some Of them
almost as skilled as the Clarkonians.
are without parallel
some Marvellous Riding.
Others who deserve n greater praise
than we have now space 10 give them.
are John Rooney. Who turns several