Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-08-11
TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE
Attended the Forepaush-Sells
Bros. Circus in Alma Last
Friday.
MORE WONDERFUL EACH YEAR
How the $50 People of the Circus are
Fed and the Enormous Daily
Expenses.

A new date was established last Fri-
dav when the great Forepaugh-Sells
Bros. circus showed i'll the city, and all
things for a year TO come at least Will be
reckoned from that day.
Crowds began TO gather as early as
five O'Clock, many driving from ten or
twelve miles distant, TO see the three
big sections arrive and unload. The
first section with the horses pulled IN
about 80 and it was nearly ten O'Clock
before the sixty-eight cars were emptled,
progress being somewhat retarded by
about 100 inexperienced hands whom
they had just hired ON account OF
strike among them.
The magnificent street parade was
the first real enjoyment of the day
program. II started from the grounds
about II o'clock and the beautifully
decorated wagons, chariots and musical
vehicles. more than hundred horses,
elephants. camels and cages of wild
animals. covered distance of nearly
mile. taking twenty minutes to pass the
city hall
The afternoon performance began at
2:30 before 1000 spectators and lasted
about two hours and half. Something
was going on in the three rings all the
time beside two platforms, and III the
-. IL. fut, fg1Ha the
rings. New features have been added
until the saving that all circuses are
alike is no longer true. The grand
Panama "A display of all nations, was
a most impressive sight and fitting
opening Of the long program. Animals
Of almost every description performed
astonishing feats perhaps the most
wonderful being the trained seals and
performing bull. The acrobats in this
show are probably the most wonderful
ever seen in Tins city, and the feats by
the Japs were truly remarkable. One
bareback rider turned a backward somer-
sault from the back of one horse under
motion TO the back of another following
which was most difficult feat.
An entirely new feature was the sketch
by the seven O'Briens, representing
party of gaily attired ladies and gentle
men on their way TO the Derby races in
a splendid Park Drag drawn by four
INLAND team, the participants perform
ing some skilful feats of riding and pas
sing from coach 10 horses, mounting
and dismounting, etc. The military
drill by the Zouaves was another feature
which pleased everyone, and their wall
scaling feat was done with the same
clock like accuracy which characterized
the drill
The evening performance drew ont
about 3, 900 people, and by the time the
program was over the work of tearing
down and reloading was well under way,
and the last section left the city about
1890 They went to Ionia from here,
and Snndayed in Grand Rapids.
One of the most interesting things
dUOul lillH hihAi t'hh VI WiANii
our readers know little about, is the
method of feeding and the amount con-
sumed daily by the 7s0people connected
with il. The hotel which travels with
the circus is run by a sci a-ate company,
and are paid by the circus company
according to the number of meals they
serve. The consumption of food for the
three meals each day as given by the
manager TO the RECORD reporter is a.
follows: 1900 loares of bread, 1900
pounds of meat, 100 gallons of milk, 300
dozen eggs, coffee sufficient for 800
gallons, 20 bushels Of potatoes, IL bushels
of green vegetables, ll0pounds of butter
and for Sunday dinners 400 dressed
chickens. Frank Bennett received the
contract for 400 loaves of bread and so
pies. All their meats are received three
times week directly from Swift's
packing house, Chicago. and their staple
groceries are purchased at wholesale.
The dining room has a seating capacity
Of $50 and the meals are served on the
European plan by60 walters. Perform
ers, business managers and workmen ell
eat in the same tent and all have the
same fare, the only distinction being
that the former two classes eat from
earthen dishes while the workmen are
served on porcelain.
Besides this great quantity of food for
their human army the animals consume