The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-24
A prsrURBrNc ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

colored of all ages the announcement that the circus parade Is to go Into in- ocrous desuetude will bring pang of genuine grief for to them that is not only an interesting part of the ohow but Is the only free portion. To cut 1t out is to deprive about half the pop ulatior of its favorite entertainment.
 We don't exactly know when circus parades first came on. It may be that old Father Noah had something of the kind when he was lining up for his first and last grand exhibition. wheth- CT he did or not. we feel pretty sure that the ancient Greeks and Romans did. They had circuses and why not parades? If there is any evidence to the contrary we are not aware of 1t. and we have little doubt that before beginning their performances in the Coliseum or the stadium they marched in procession along the streets to show themselves off to their admiring fell Iow-citizens.
 However 1t may have been in the an- cient days, we well know what nas been the custom in modern times, for we can look backward considerably more than half a century and see. in of men and women (there was no me- nagerie then) in their gorgeous dresses. with gaily decked horses. bands of music and all the other pride. pomp and circumstance" of the modern clr- GUS outfit. With what ecstatic nmo- tions do the young people of these lat ter days throng the streets and side walks. climb the telegraph poles and fences, and occupy every other vant- age ground that will enable them to feast their eyes on the grand and soul thrilling spectacle! To copy the words of The Kansas City Journal
 Nothing could be more popular than a circus parade. Does 1t not bring forth almost the entire able-bodted population of every city, town and ham let wherein the tented mysteries spring up in mushroom growth during the sil- ence of the night? Is not the very apotheosis of the circus in US magn:n. stretches it's sinuous length through the principal streets; it's cages of fe- rocious beasts that add their blood curdling roars and barks and reptilian misses to the strains of "A Hot Time" footed forth in steamy sta3cafo from the rumbling calllope? And would any circus be complete without the we'll fed gentleman on pranctng charger who, from time imm memorial, has ad monished an open-mouthed popullce to hold your horses" in anticipation of the coming herd of lumbering ole- ''barker' on the first big cage who an- nounces in strident tones that the free exhibition" will immediately precede the afternoon performance?
 But MT. Bailey, one of the great men of modern circus fame, says the parade must be cut out because 1t no longer pays. The sordid spirit of gain is to be put against one of the most cherished associations of the past and the dearest entertainments of the pres ent. We don't believe the statement that it dosn't pay, for 1t Is not reas- enable. Among the thousands who watch the parade there will be many who had no previous thought of at tending the performance until their curiosity was whetted by the street show. When they see the gorgeous wagons with flaming pictures of im- possible beasts and reptiles painted on them they will begin to feel in tn sir pockets for the change. Then they will view the gaily dressed knights. the richly decked equestriennes and feel bound to see if the performance equals the promise. The young folks will begin to hunt for pennies and will start out on child-hunting expe- ditions in order to give themselves an excuse for getting inside the curtain.
 Not pay. indeed! That argument hasn't leg to stand on. It is only an excuse to add a few more dollars to the pile of the owners. Even if 1t does not pay financially, it pays in added popularity, and that ought to have weight with the owners. In fact, circus which wants to go back on all the cherished traditions of the past, and to deprive all ages. sexes and col ors of one of the chief attractions If its visit deserves to get the cold shoul- der and to be cut out of popular favor. Young and old alike should stay away from 1t and thus teach the sordid plu- tocrats that they can't play that game on youths and old age with profit Let the parade survive as long as the cir GUS does.