The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-19
CIRCUS OPENS
TO FULL HOUSE
Every Seat IsIaken at Initial
Show
UNDERELKSMANAGEMENI
First Nights Performance ! S
Big Success

lines brass palio, tiie S1Ae-e III
on each side with dozens Of Roman fire
candles and glittcring strings Of mean
descent lamps overhead, the big mid
winter circus was opened last night with
q parade starting at the corner Of Main
and Douglas and following the latter
street to the corner of st. Francis, where
the turn was made that led to the Au-
dilorium. the most spacious and alto
gether the most suitable building in the
state for the presentation of perform
arce Of such magnificent salibre.
Early in the evening the large building
commenced TO ill with amusement low
ing people. not only of Wichita. but from
surrounding cities and towns, until at
$50, when The drop curtain was rung
UP. disclosing to view q genuine saw
dust and tanbark ring, together with a
perfect network OF aerial apparatus The
entire seating capacity Of the building
Nag occupied.
At the rise Of the curtain a brilliant
Introductory equine ballet was offered,
ST.. perfectly matched grey horses, seem
ingly moving as one animal, guided
through Il series OL tht1LtAoi-9 ~ 90
many riders dressed in spangles and all
the glittering paraphranalia Of the cir
Gus
After the Introductory first part Mile.
Annetta. graceful exponent Of the
science of "a deIs3rte and pasture, pre-
scented a very clever act. consisting of
strength-dcvelopinE and daring exercises
on the flying rings. The turn in its en-
tirety was one Of grace and ease, the
woman creating the impression in the
minds Of her auditors that her studies
had been pursued under under the in
struction Of birds. This is one of the
feature acts engaged for the great Bar
mum * Bailey Circus for the coming
season
The entife company next took part in
a whirlwind lofty leapins and tumbling
act, leaping and yaulting over horses
placed side by side The feature Of this
act was the double someusaults over the
horses rs performed by Pete Bel, who
stands without peer in that particular
line
Miss Julia Lowande. who, in private
life is Mrs. Shipp. the queen Of eques-
triennes. offered "a somewhat different
exhibition of the oId-time lady eques-
trian act and was roundly applauded
for She many pleasing stunts she CAV.
Her costume, Il modified evening dress.
was such as TO make her performance
even more difficult and lent an air Of
modesty to her work that was charming.
Mr.. and Mrs Ship viii be with the
Forepaugh-SelIs show, season 1891.
10 circus performance would be com
pletc without bunch Of clowns, those
funny fellows who add the ginger to the
ring. Nothing more could be wished FOR
I'm this instl nee as the four clowns Of
the Ship circus are certainly industrious
and lose no opportunity to force them
selves to the front with SINE witty cally
or burlcsque business of the slap-tsick
order. Steve MiJCo. that old-time Veter-
an Of the ring made many friends and
received fun need of applause with
his clever burlesquo musical work, play
ing "a trombone solo i'm friShtfully lac
Grated time and with awful effect and
stiu reaching every note sharp clear and
distinct.
It is rather a difficult matter to draw
any distinction. ln the work of the differ
ent artists who made up the program. as
every turn. every act. and every feature
was of the better order; hat still. if one
were to choose for individual merit.
among the others the team of Bell &
Henery would certainly stand out clear
and distinct The comedy work of Mr.
Bell was perhaps somewhat firing as
the clowns I'LL in every other minute
with a similar lit of performance hut
the whirlwiud acrobatic work of the
member of the team. his lightning flashes
and quick twistcrs more than made up
Tor any shortcomings On the part Of the
other
Bert Mayo who must certainly have
devoted his life time or the greater part
of it to the training of horses. has in
the magnificent black equine wonder
with which lac entertained tine audience
the acme of perfection i'm brute intelli-
last night. an animal that has reached
crnce. To see that horse apparently no
different than hundreds of others to be
seen every day. so through the PAGES as
suggested by his master was treat alone
vall worth the price OF admission
The De Coma family a company of
Ladies' and gentlemen who do their turn
IN fun evening dress are very clever and
deserved the applause that was given
them SO freely although the work NJ the
end of the program was of such nature
as To cause their first act 10 appear some
what tame
Who has ever attended circus but
has watched with GREATNESS interest the
appearance of the equesuians and their
darinE eyoluUous en- the swiftly moving
horses John and Carrie Rooney. stand
ing prc-emi-enJ and alone I'm their par
ucUlarly dangerous chosen profession
present a series OF acts in double form
that are We'll calculated 10 charm and de-
light an audience of circus loving people.
john Rooney is undoubtedly the peer OF ali
artists in thar line and his Somersault
later in The act from one horse to the
back Of the second following tandem
was one Of the features of the evening.
OWNS n The insufficient hracing of the
stage underneath his first attempt was
failure. hut with the courage OF natural
born performer the feat was tried again
and with success The applause he re-
ccivcd on making the seemingly inpos-
sible Leap was proof positive that the e.
fort was ppreciated. These incompar-
able artists are engaged Tor the great
Barnum & Bailey show for the coming
season
An UNIQUE Introduction was Sig Porsol
and his educated bear an set that an