The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-26
IT FILLS The BILL .
Midwinter Exposition Is Better
Than Ever.
Booths Are Attractive and Eff
fects Pleasing.
VAUDEVILLE FEATURE
The Japanese Troup and Strong
Man Are Fayorites.
Some Of the Things Shown In
the Booths.
FEATURE

At 1870 o'clock the sightseer may en-
ter the Auditorium for the Midwinter
exposition and may remain until six
when the show is closed for the supper
hour. AT 7:30 the house is opened for
the evening, the doors closing for the
night at II p. m. There is no opening
in the morning. The entertainments
performances begin for the afternoon at
and at for the evening. The rest of
the time is hardly sufficient for the
sightseer to make the rounds of the
booths where the instructive, the inter
esting or the appetizing is on display.
The U and I club has a concession
booth at the back of the hall, in the
center, where small glass souvenirs of
the exposition are sold. This is the only
concession in the exposition and all the
money received by it is devoted to
exhibit on the north side of the building,
one OF the most interesting booths. is
also under the control of the U and l
club This feature is brought by the
Kerns glass blowers and trifies of blown
glass are made to order and sold as
mementOeS of the fair.
The intensely disagreeable weather
which prevailed in Topeka Monday cut
afternoon and evening, although the
night receipts were considerably larger.
Today the promise is for a large attend
ance as the weather has cleared and
although cold is not severe. Yesterdays
crowd was well pleased with the ex-
hibits and with the performances of the
vaudeville artists and everyone who
visited the exposition will be a paying
advertisement during the remainder of
the show. This was the case last year
as was manifested by the gradually
growing daily attendance.
While the advance notices of the per-
formanees put on by the speciality
artists have been flattering, they have
not overstated their value as entertain-
ment attractions. Each is as nearly
perfect as can readily be conceived.
With the Nambas, the Japanese family,
the crowds yesterday were particularly
pleased. Topeka audiences are cold.
and ought to warm up when they see
something they like. While the COM
ments upon every act were Indicative
of satisfaction, there wasn't much hand
clapping- It's discourag ing to perform
ers. Nambas the head of the troupe,
can do more with his toes and feet
than good many performers are able
to accomplish with their hands His
first act is juggling with a Japanese
parasol. and for ten minutes or longer
he keeps 1t constantly in motion with
his feet as he lies on his back upon a
table. With his feet and toes he opens
the parasol, balances it and losses it
In the air. catching it nicely as it falls
He spins 1t as a dude twirIs his walking
STICK. he opens it and balances it on
the rim and closes his act by shutting
1t nicely, twirling it a few times and
putting 1t on the floor One of the
small japanese boys is then substituted
Tor the umbrella and is put through
much the same movements. One diff
cult act is that in which the two boys
are given a ride upon merry go-round
lmprovised of a long bamboo which
Is supported on Namba's feet and
twirled by him. The revolutions, slow
yond belief. and until the two lads are
IN very danger of their lives. Oturo.
Namba's sister, does some fairly good
trapese work md winds up with a
startling act upon the aerial bar 20 feet
ABOVE the stage. Her feet are fastened
to the bar. and with no other support
she whirls her body about it. finally
coming to balance on top. This act is
rather trying to the nerves of the spec
tator. who feels relief when Oturo
comes down.
Senior and Sonora Francelia are about
the most muscular people who have
ever visited Topeka. In a sleeveless
Jersey the senor's powerful muscles are
on display in every act while the mag
nif1cent physique of his wife is equally
we'll demonstrated by the acts which
she performs. The two are Portuguese
The man weighs 1876 pounds while his
wife tips the scale at 210. In one act
he muscles" with one hand. a dunn
bell weighing 24S pounds. This act is
concluded when his wife lifts and car
rfes both her husband and the weight
on her shoulders. In one performance
Francelia does cakewaIlz while carry
ing his wife who sits in a chair which
he holds only by his teeth.
With the exception Of the oil and
glass exhibit the displays at the Audi
torium have been complete since the
beginning. The securing of this exhibit.
has been attended with some difficulties
and while it contains many things of
interest it is not entirely finished. The
Coffeyville Bottle Glass company has
an exhibit on the road which has been
delayed somewhere for three or four
days. The same seems to be true of the
display of oil samples from various
parts of the oil field. These things will
be in a little later. Prof Grimsley has
secured and has arranged a number of
photographs of gushing oil wells. One
picture shows an oil well which was
set on fire by a boy while lighting a
cigarette. This sort of accident is OF
infrequent occurrence and a burning
oil well is a hard thing to stop. Such
fires are put out. however, by throwing
steam into the blaze in very large
quantities. This process is, naturally.
a difficult one.