The Washington times., 1906-05-15
Great Tented ShOW
With Daring FeatS
Charms Thousands
GrOwn-Ups We're Children
for the Day.
MANY STARTLING FEATURES
Equestrian Performances, Acrobatic
Teams and the Great ''Dip of Death"
Enthralled the Vast Th1ong.

Thousands of children gathered yes
terday afternoon and night under the
big circus tent OF the Barnum & Bailey
show az Fifteenth and II streets north
east. Some were really truly children,
and others were just those who I'VE
grown in years and strength, but with
the old child love of an old-time circus.
If there was a boy In that vast throng
last night who enjoyed the wonderful
performances more than the average
grown up who was there. then he was
difficult 70 find. Austere statesmen let
loose the bonds that held IN check
their dignity and roared with the null
tiplied small boy at tie antics OF a
dozen clowns; handsomely Sowned
women. whose sphere is the drawing
room, sat on the hard seats, surro aided
by the hoipolloi shrieking in delight at
one turn after the other. II was all
so good. The very odor OF sawdust
mixed in with that of roasting pea
nuts took that vast throng Of humanity.
each individual one, back years and
years. and miles and miles, over the
sweetest road on lifes highway-the
beautiful road Of childhood. Numerous
parties Of grownups swarmed in through
the little opening. Many were the ex-
Some hid behind the fact that it was
so much fun TO get a crowd together
and go along just 10 sit up and eat pea
nuts and drink circus lemonade" But
way deep in the very marrow of their
bones, hidden so that only the most
discerning could see. was the circus
germ, writhing. reaching out and set
ting up an awful howl for the big tent
The adjoinirg streets 10 the circus tent
looked like-weu, It just looked Ike
there was a circus in town. Nothing
else ever gets the same kind of crowd.
The big drum doomed out a circus wei
come, and even the ticket man had the
same old story 20 throw at you as YOU
came in. Across the muddy. uncertain
ground streamed thousands of people
eager for a glimpse of the inside Long
rows Of animal cages lined the first tent
and up on a raised platform Lillipu-
tian woman nearly broke her back try
ing TO brush a bit OF dust from the very
tip end Of the giants coat tail
Great Peace Pageant.
From the first blare of the signal
trumpet. announcing the approach of
the Peace pageant until the flap OF the
last side show was closed for the night,
there was circus enough TO satisfy any
one.
The great Peace" pageant, arranged
by Bolossy Kiralfy. took the place ot The
usual parade around the arena. and
brought out representatives, Of nearly
every nation r the world. 1t concluded
with a symbolicaI representation Of
peace between Russia and Japan.
Then came the real circus. Anybody
that had less than six eyes missed a
lot one young fellow was seen to mics
everything because he was afraid re
would. There was rush of acrobatics,
daring equestrian achievements. tumb-
ling. juggling, and everything else that
a circus performer could bring himself
to do.
Three equestrian acts opened the ring
shows and offered some of the most
daring achievements OF this kind ever
seen locally. Trained elephants, tight
rope walking. pole balancing, and Jug
Cling followed in such quick succession
that it was all one could do to keep
track of these feats.
Too Many Features to Enumerate.
II one attempted 10 enunerate sep
arately and define each feature Of the
marvellous program which these circus