Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-25

got two little fellows who expect you
to take them this evening. You will
be there not for the children's sake
alone, but you want TO see the show
yourself So does Lizzie. She is your
wife now.
First Visit in Seven Years.
There have been shows by the
| thousand big and little ones. They
| all have striven TO be Barnums. They
are 10 be commended for this. But
time has proven that there can be
only one Barnum and only one Bailey.
| They stand distinctly alone in the dis
! seminatiOn of this class of amusement,
| They have an enterprise that has new
er been approached. This is no idle
| boast. Ii is fact. They come offer
| ing the greatest show on earth. And
| they have got the show. There is no
| humbuggery They have everything
they advertise. You know they have.
| because you have been there before.
1t used 10 be said that Barnum uttered
the statement that the American peo-
pie loved TO be fooled. Undoubtedly
they do. But if he did say this he
| knew also that the American people de-
manded a fair return for their money.
| He has given il TO them from the day
he entered the business. They are re-
ceiving it and a little added in the
circus that is offered here today. 1t
! has not been here before in seven
years. Five years were spent abroad.
The old world was awed by the magni-
tude of this travelling organization.
| The people there never believed 1t
possible to move from one town TO an
other. day after day. such an institu-
tiOn.
Performers Well Cared For.
The show grounds are at Eighteenth
avenue and Ninth street. 1t is a veri-
table city. Thousands of people were
there yesterday to see how big cir
Gus puts in Sunday.
One hundred and fifty performers
and officials of the show put up at the
local hotels during yesterday. The
remainder of the army were at the
grounds. They are an intelligent,
clean appearing crowd of people.
They are religious, and many of them
were present at the services IN the
Rock Island churches. Every possible
detail is looked after in caring for
the comfort of the performers. They
have the best of edibles, their sleep
ing quarters are finely appointed, i'll
fact their life is made as pleasant as
if they were stopping in a first-class
hotel.
An evidence of the enterprise of the
Barnum & Bailey management is
shown in the providing of a press
tent at the grounds. This is for the
newspaper men. 1t is not 4 play for
favor. 1t is simply an accommodation
that the circus knows is needful.
There are stenOgraphers on hand, and
if a newspaper man happens to have
something that he wishes to write up
while waiting for the performance to
begin. or after the show in over. the
stenographers are at his command. If
ne happens to want to write a story
about the circus. all well and good. 1t
IS up to him. The press tent is for
his use.
Allen Still Heads The Show.
Whiting Allen is still the press rep
resentative for the Barnum & Bailey !
show. 1t would not seem like show |
day for the newspaper offices if Allen |
did not blow in. He has been with |
Barnum & Bailey a great many years. |
He made Europe with them, and hob |
nobbed with royalty. Allen is not only |
clever newspaper man. He is |
diplomat. He should be in the service |
of his country. 1t is not right that |
one of his rare capacity should be al |
lowed to run loose over the country |
ahead of a circus But then Barnum
& Bailey are after the best in all |
lines. That is the reason someone
else has not corralled Allen.
The parade this morning at 10 !
O'Clock was the most gorgeous ever
seen here. 1t seemed as if the whole |
population of the three cities and the |
country towns surrounding was gath
cred in the streets along which the |
parade passed. 1t came on Twelfth
street. moved east on Fourth avenue
o Twentieth. north to Second avenue,
west to Ninth and south to the
grounds. The evening performance