Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-07-26
RINGLINGS' SHOW GETS WET
Rain Dampens Ground, but Does Not
Keep the Big Crowd
Away.

Two immense crowds witnessed the per-
formances of Ringing Bros circus yester-
day. The eveRng show was threatened
somewhat by the heavy rain that fell about
o'clock but the mud around sthe tents
was not enough to keep the people away
and the monster tent was crowded. at both
performances. -.. ~.
The parade at II o'clock drew out one of
the largest crowds that has been on the
streets of Omaha for a long time. The
streets along the line of march were lined
with people who craned their necks and
strained their eyes 10 take in every feature
of the procession of concentrated splendor
All the usual spectacles were on exhibition.
from the clowns in the band wagon to the
steam caliope. II was said to be one OF the
largest parades ever given in Omaha
The weather man made good with the
best of circus weather until o'clock in
the afternoon. when he pulled the rain
stopper and let the water down in bucket
fulls on the afternoon crowd just after
the show closed. This made the grounds
bad for the evening, the water standing
in puddles in some places. but the crowd
splashed through II good naturedly and
fortunately found the inside of the tents
high and dry. The rain did not affect the
quality of the performance.
The display of animals was an interest
ing attraction and the crowd seemed reluc-
tant to leave the menagerie tent for the
main show when the time came. Tho
giraffes, occupying a space in the center
of the tent, came in for a good deal OF
attention. The big tent was lined with
cages and pens containing almost every
conceivable form OF animal
The program, which was almost bewiIder-
ing with the three rings and two stages.
was opened with an Introductory spectacle,
The Field OF the Cloth Of Gold" one of
the most elaborate of the kind every wit
messed here. All OF the magnlficence OF
medieval chivalry is summed up in the
pageant and It closes with an immense
ballet danced by seventy-five whirling girls
| in rich costumes.
The feats of daring and skill follow each
other so closely that the nervous and
| excitable are held in a succession of thrills
/ from the beginning to the end. One fat
woman almost tainted from nervous ex-
element last night when the young woman
| swinging on the arm extension trapese
held by her companion dropped twenty feet
| to stop with a jerk when the end of the
/ rope was reached. A chorus of half-sup-
! pressed Explanations OF horror greeted the
| ClarkOnlans in their feat OF turning two
summeTsaults and a complete side twist
while whirling through the air A company
OF Japs furnish plenty Of Amusement with
sensational slack and slant rope acts hand
balancing and juggling.
Then there were the usual club swinging
and throwing numbers with variations from
last season. Contortionists, fancy dancers
and tumblers of all kinds completed the
program OF skill.
The Ringing clowns, in number some
thing less than fifty, were very much aliv,
and kept the crowd in spasms OF laughter
during the entire evening. All the ole
favorites were there, with a number Of
new ones Comedy exploits of unusual skill
on the aerial ladder by George O. Dole anC
on the horizontal bars by the four Nelson
comiques drew liberal applause for thei
skill and laughter for their drollness Tn,
and their troupes in bareback feats KEEP
the crowd laughing.
The trained animals did not have Al
prominent a place on the program as the,
had other seasons. The three groups o
trained elephants were both skilful an,
eomical in their pranks. Educated ponie
and dogs also proved entertaining on
OF the groups was accompanied by a traine,
game cock. The acting seals and razor
back hogs are missed from the program
this year.
A little less thrilling than the other acts
but none the less popular. were the exhibi
tons % driving and riding horses the pal
driven b. M and Ars. Rh0dA Royal bsinl