The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-02
SEEN ON THE PIKE.
Parker Amusements Appear to Grow
in Popularity.


The biggest crowd of the week by
hundreds passed through the gates of
the Parker shows last night. The Pike
was crowded close to its capacity. At
the. Coliseum the entire south steps of
the state house were covered with peo-
PIE and many were standing on either
side of the stage. This congestion be-
gan before eight o'clock anu lasted al
most until midnight.
me cosmopolitan audience which the
shows draw is one of the features of
4 the whole thing. There were almost
as many women as men present last
night. Almost every walk of life had
/ its representatives. The wholesome
ness of the shows and their clean moral
atmosphere makes it possible for any
one to attend.
If one were to try to pick out the
most popular show, he would be in d
quandary judging from last nights
crowd. Almost every ticket seller had
/ his hands full. The Coliseum, however,
/ drew the most attention-it always
does. The Weber family of tumblers
and acrobats are among the strongest
/ IN that line which have ever appeared
| in Topeka. The agile movements of
the children elected unstinted applause
/ from the crowd. AS usual the Wheel
| ers were favorites. with their trick BIZ
| cycle riding and clown antics. Demona,
| looping the loop in the wooden ball,
/ has about the neatest act in the bust
/ ness The ''spieler'' saws that she gets
more money annually for this than the
president of the United States. There
/ is but about one in several thousand,
| however, who would want her job, and
| who would not rather take that of the
presidents.
! After she had performed her act In
the afternoon she was asked to describe
the sensation which the whirling doubt
| less1y gave ner. oh" she replied, II
can not describe that very well.
know all the time what is going on,
and am perfectly conscious of the revo-
lutions of the ball. I believe l could
tell at any time in the circuit just
where the ball is, or just where I am
on the tr9 OK
The ball jumped on the loop for a
space of about 4 feet yesterday after
noon. Did you notice that" she was
asked. Yes. indeed" she replied. Il
knew Just when it happened" And she
pointed out the place on the track.
Demona had three accidents at Cor
feyville. One time the ball did not &C
crue enough momentum and fell from
the top of the loop. Demona's neck
was hurt but not seriously. The other
accidents Cid her no injury.
Last year Denona was with the Col
Inns Carnival company, doing the same
act which she is now performing. 1t
was her first year in the work. Next
year she plans a double loop. If she
performs this act. it will certainly De
a thirty-third degree thriller.
That people are still figuring on Ann s
age was demonstrated to almost any
body's satisfaction. So popular was
this place that the doorkeeper had to
make people wait and take their turn
in going into the show. The doorway
was damned black with people all the
| evening and a big crowd was waiting
outside The How Old Is Ann" show ts
/ made up - but then it would not be
fair to tell the secret.
The Girl from Abilene"swi be close
to any of them for popularity. This
rich Kaleidoscope display of beauty
and light has all prior claims on the
| word artistic. All the evening long the
rows of seats under the tent were filled
with people 1t was almost matter OF
| taking your turn" at this show also
| The Hindoo Mystery was also under
the wire at the finish SO far as crowds
were concerned. People like magic and
| they mphasized that fact last night
The dark tent of this miracle worker
was filled all evening long. Though
people know that much of this is dlgltal
| dexterity, yet they go and go again aho
| again and wonder how it is all done.
Despite the big attendance. the crowd
was very orderly Confetti fell like
snow fakes but the crowd did not seem
| to mind it. The good nature OF the
merry makers and the general spirit OF
] FIN and frolic which pervaded tae
/ ssIoike" proved conclusively that the
/ crowd enjoyed itself. And that Is
what the show is for.