The Washington times., 1905-05-16
CIRCUS ENCHANTS
A GREAT THRONG
Mud and Rain No Bar to
Crowds Enjoyment.
MANY ENHANCING FEATURES
Elephant, Clown, Bareback Rider, Per-
former On TIapeze Seen in All
Their Ancient SplendoE.

With bIare Of trumpet, glittering tin
sci. and all the myriad mysteries and en-
chantments OF monster three-ring
circus, combining the traditions of the
past with the more brilliant and fasct-
mating features of the up-to-date circus,
Ringing Bros big show opened its two
days performance in washington yes
terday. The afternoon performance was
attended by 1900 people asd fully 20.00o
thronged the tent last night.
Ringing Bros. have returned TO the
East after q tour of the Western circuit,
bigger. better and brighter" as the
program says, than ever before. It was
q delighted audience which slowly
poured itself out from under the big
tent shortly before midnight. There
was mud un1erfoot and during the per-
formance the rain fell in sheets. but
these unpleasant circumstances could
not mar the pleasure OF such a per-
formance as that last night
Reserved seats were at premium
before O'clock The crowd barely
stopped to look at the uenagerie, has
tening on into the big tent. where the
band kept up a continuous strain of
melody. The band played every tune
known to be a popular repertoire except
one, and the crowd waited for Dixie
IL vain
Fun in the Side Shows.
The seductive and enticing tones OF
the "barlkers'' for the sideshows were
heard outside the big tent, and long
after the main performance was con-
Guided the freaks were entertaining
hundreds Of the curious who gazed at
the tlree-legged man and the snake
charner as eagerly as If they had
never seen a circus before and never
would have chance again.
The main performance began with his
torical allegory. poTtraying the meeting
of Francis I. OF France, and Henry VIII
: OF England, with all the nobility os
church and state of both countries upon
the Ffeld Of tire Cloth Of Gold.'' when
the treaty OF 1928 WIS signed. The bril-
liaat scene closed with a grand ballet, in
which half a hundred dancing girls per-
formed in scene notable for grace and
coIoF and movement.
Long and Crowded Program.
The progras was long and crowded full
OF interesting features. the performing
elephants. the mid-air feats Of skill and
daring. the tumbling. the equestrian
work. the bicyclsts, and last but not
least, the exciting hippodrome.
The clowns were many and amusing
Frank LesIie's trained pigs were a new
feature Of the performance. and Miss
DeIserest's intelligent CANNES delighted
old and young. The dancing OF the
Ciairons and the Ceiinis. eight in all.
was revelation In this line of art.
The most daring and skilIfu1 feat OF
the evening was performed by Frank
Smith. the Upside Down Man" whose
exhibition Of nerve in standing on his
head and balancing on a single swing
ing trapeze aroused the spectators to
repeated cheers. The fact that no net
was spread beneath him as he posed
IN the very tip-top Of the tent added TO
the danger Of the feat
The usual concert closed the per
Torrance. Then the lights went out. the
performers hurried to the dressing
rooms, the elephants munehed their hay.
the lemonade merchants closed their
stands. the crowd departed and another
tribute had been raid to the popularity
circus.
Another performance is being given
this afternoon. while the final performs
a1ace will begin tonight at O'Clock