New-York tribune., 1904-10-16

teur circus conducted by the parish OF the
Church Of Our Lady Of Lourdes OF Washington
heights this city. This is said 10 be the first
time. in this city at least. that church has
conducted a circus a means Of raising money
II was held in a large tent said to have been
used at time by the Barnum & Bailey
Circus. This erected a vacant lot at
Convent-ave. and West One hundred and-fOr
Foventh-st- In conjunction with the circus were
held a kirmess and bazaar. The result. so
tnose connected with 1t assert. was a success in
every respect. Several thousand persons
bmbled under the tent in the course OF the week
10 enjoy the pranks of the amateur circus per-
formers. the dances and the novel features Of the
bazaar.
Tie atmosphere OF the circus was as near like
that Of a real Greatest Show on Earth" as Il
was POSSIBLE 20 make It under the conditions.
The descriptions of the performances were I'm the
usual gTandiloquent language OF the always
truthful circus advertisements There were
hair raising feats on the horizontal bar" rough
riders whose 'Inatchless mastery OF the fiery.
unframed steed" permitted the hair 10 resume its
natural position again; exhibition by "nimble
Turn Vereiners affording a sight OF the form
divine. instructing US how TO land gracefully
after a trolley smash or dynamite uproar":
jousts between the knights and ladies of Ham
Nton Grange on papier-Inache horses. and ''an
e-olUsively local aggregation Of rrepressible
downs unexcelled outside Of TOony' Park or
the New Orleans Mardl Gras warranted 10 be
ally funny and 70 make you feel So
The selection OF an amateur circus as a means
of adding to the building fund IS characteristic
of the rector. the Rev. DR.. Joseph II. Mcmahon.
arI the parish. Those in charge put It: las the
cal for the ordinary support of these laudable
Enterprises becomes to the parishioners common
less irlcsome. II seems wise that at times we
should step out Of the common rut and make our
appeal in a way that viii excite new interest and
beget new generosity"
Conventionality is Ostracized In this parish.
Almost everything about the church is striking
ly out of the ordinary The first evidence OF
originality is found in the church edifice itself
and the method OF securing II. Although the
parish is only trlhe over three years Old hav-
Ing been established by Archbishop Corrigan
the feast OF the Sacred Heart, on June Il. 1901.
II has a fine edifice unique of it's kind I'm the
city. Instead OF waiting for architect TO pre-
pare plans for edifice and spending large
sums of money for the hewing of the stone, the
parish secured the stones OF the walls of the
Old Academy of Design. which stood on the cor
ner OF Twenty -thrd-st. and FOurth-ave AS a
decision to buy the stones not reached until
after they had been taken down, putting them
together again much like putting together
picture puzzle, except that IL more difn-
cult. A portion of the site of the home of Alex
ander Hamilton bought, and the stone
hauled to it. Then began the piecing together
Of the Venetian Gothic building 1t was finally
accomplished. only one two changes being
made in the entrance.
There Was still lacking harmonious rear
wall The Rev. Father Mcmahon formerly
connected with ST. Patrick's Cathedral. lady
chapel was to be added in the rear of
the Cathedral The marble wall I'm the
of the great altar would have TO be re-