Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-05-31
JERUSALEM AND CRUsADEs
DEPICTED BY RINGLINGs


Ringling Brothers worlds greatest
shows lead their huge circus program
this year with magnificent dramatic
spectacle. Jerusalem an the Cru
sadeS. involving cast of 100 char
acters. Il ballet of 600 and singing
chorus of 200. More than 1000 cos
tunes, designed and made by Paris
ian artists of worldwide fame. are
worn, and the music, composed especi-
ally for this grand production, is rem
dered by the largest and only portable
grand organ ever made. and selected
band of 80 soloists The musical en-
Enlistment is peculiarly effective and
permeates the entire production.
Never in the history of the circus has
there been offered to the public n
spectacle Of the magnitude, the orig
inality and fascinating nature of this
stupendous performance. No circus
i'll existence could afford the fabulous
expenditure of money invested by the
Ringling Brothers in this radiant and
dramatic Interpretation of the beau
tiful and romantic story of the CRU
sades. The subject portrays life in
| the ennObling days of chivalry, when
| loyalty, bravery, justice and gentle
| ness went hand in hand, and a cour-
| tesy to- an enemy and woman was a
| cheerful duty. The men and women
of this age are inspiring pictures of
devotion to high ideals. and depict in
glorious flower the sentiment of chiv-
airy from which the stirring Crusades
sprung. The spectacle opens upon a
hill nf fnr hp
| Crusadcs. multitudes move about the
vast space before the great cathedral
| of ClaremCnt. France. from whence
the invading army started, scanning
the tournament notices and instru-
mcnts to be used by the contesting
knights in the tourney, which is to
| Iebrate the departure of the war
rior hosts. Bcjeweled and enpurpled
royalty; obsequiOus servitors, gally
CARRIED; ecclesiastics. sparkling with
precious ensignia of rank; mounted
knights, with shields and helmets in
laid with gold and precious stones;
monks, seminarians and other lOwly
children of church devotion and work;
court ladies in daintily fashioned fab
RIGS of glstening sheen: mobiles of
blue-blooded bearing and dress; sol
diers. grim and glittering in armor of
steel; singing maidens. dancing girls
with garlands. pilgrims, vassals, pages,
sword. shield and helmet bearers. and
countless other pictorial types of the
period intermingle kaleidoscopicalIy
i'm this massive and enthralIing scene
of charming splendors. The most eX-
citing of ancient sports, including
inItSfinn SNNnr1 COMMITS
ing exercises. equestrian exploits. ath-
letic competitions and other thrilling
pastmes are reproduced in the SPLEEN
did tournament. \ horse ballet is in
troduced to illustrate the wonderful
equine education of three SquadrOns
of the highest bred animals in the
world. The marching pageant. as the
Crusaders leave upon their holy mis-
SIGN. is the most magnificent and be-
wilderingly beautiful professional dis
play ever seen under canvas.
All the barbaric radiance and volup-
tious luxury of the Egyptian court in
the medieval days of the first Cru
Sades are depicted in the environment
and action of the next gorgeous scene.
ballet advertisement is presented
for the enjoyment of the Egyptian
ruler and his numerous court. The
enormous scope of stage room is tax
ed to the utmost by the brilliant gath
ering. Dancing girls flood the stage,
and gracefully glide through bewitch-
ing conceits of terpsichorean inven-
ton. The costumes are creations Of
| art. fashioned by Partisan masters.
and models of exquisite elegance and
| " e
has been staged with the lavish disre-
gard of expense, and with such over
wheIming success. as this production
by Ringing Brothers of Jerusalem
and the Crusades.
The marvellous shows Will exhibit
at Davenport Saturday, June IS.