The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-22
HAD A BIC CROWD.
Barnum g. Bailey Show Met the
Expectations.
Special Pains Taken for Com
fort Of Patrons.
MANY NEW FEATURES.
Only o. Few Familiar Faces Are
Seen.
Probably the Lagest Show Ever
Seen Here.

Barnum & Bailey'S circus played TO
full house last night and to a fairly
good crowd in the afternoon.
The fact that Barnum & Bailey's en-
terprise is the oldest of the big circus
companies now touring the world is
perhaps responsible for the fact that it
is Barnum & Bailey which establishes
the standard for all circuses.
There is not another circus in exist
ence which does as much for the com
fort of its patrons as is done for those
who attend this show. An innovation
which has never before been seen in
Topeka was the feature of opera chairs
in the reserved seat section. 1t appealed
to those who were fortunate enough to
get them. Another thing was the row
of boxes which extends the whole
length of the reserved seat section. The
boxes also contain chairs and patrons
may sit through the two ana one haL
hours of the performance IN comfort.
Uniformed usherS do all in their power
for the comfort of the patrons ana tney
are shown as much courtesy ana atteh-
ton as in any theater in the country
The headliners with the circus are
the three bicycle acts.
"Volo the volitant," makes a WHO
ride down a steep incline concluding
with a long leap into the air. The rlder
dasnes down the incline ana strlkeS an
shoots both wheel and rider high into
the air and forward across a 20 loot
chasm where he safely alights on an
inclined platform and rides away. ne
explodes a cannon as he leaves the plat
form for mis- leap, adding to the eXclte-
ment.
MANY have seen the loop-the-loop
act on bicycle, but the climax 10 aGt >
of this nature is given by "Ancillott1,
who "loops-the-loop" and "loops-the-
gap" at the same time. A big gap Is
left in the top of the loop, and riding
down the incline Ancillott WINDS ms
way half way round the loop where
leaving the wooden support, mes
through space, rider and wheel both up
side down, until the inverted Wheel
strikes the opposite section of the loop
IT is certainly an exhibition of nerve,
and it is said Ancillotti gets $l5 per DAY
for his As seconds work If ne doesh
he ought to.
Gus are we'll known to Topekans. John
Rooney, Nettie Carol, and FRANK
Smith have been here with the mid
winter circus on two different occa-
stons.
With the exception of the three
performers the others were unknown
to the average circus goer IN IoPeka-
The fact that Barnum q BalIey 5
circus had not been seen mere pe1ore
for twelve years and that it has been
abroad for five years accounts for the
fact that many new faces are now en-
listed in the WOrk OF
Barnum & Bailey's circus is I'M
doubtedly the leader of all in its class.
EVERYTHING is carried out on a larger
and more elaborate scale than in any
other show. 1t is substantial and you
cannot help seeing that the quality is
there also. 1t is hardly possible to
mention special features of entertain
ment, there are so many.
Many novelties picked up abroad
are introduced in the show. The mu-
sic is exceptionally fine and the
clowns are there in droves.
Barnum & Bailey's menagerie is
probably the largest ever exhibited
here. In addition to the menagerie a
score or more of freaks are exhibited
free of charge in that tent There
also are exhibited models of the United
States warships.
Today the circus plays at Emporia-
1t visits Hutchinson, Wichita, lola, and
Independence, and closes the road
season next month in Missouri. Fol-
lowing the close of the road tour
three weeks stand will be made at
Boston before the show goes into win
ter quarters at Bridgeport Conn.
One bit of clown humor in the cir
Gus may be greatly appreciated by the
people of lola when the show plays
there A clown has a baseball game
all by himself. He finally becomes in
volved in a dispute with an imaginary
umpire. The official will not give in
and so the player motions to his imag-
inery companions and picks up his
traps and walks off the field.