The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-09-04

TO LARGE
to- PARADE

= -
A circus that is eetoo big to give
street parade is a novelty even In
these days of colossal enterprises
and mammoth amusement institn-
tons. But that is the announce
ment of the Barnum & Bailey circus
which exhibits in Clarksburg, FRI
day, Sept. Ia.
in speaking Of the reasons for this
striking innovation, representative
of the big show, said recently: = The
Barnum s. Bailey circus has become
so large that a parade is no Longer
possible or even desirable. If we
could be absolutely sure of getting
into town by daybrealS, the parade
would still be feasible, but with our
five long trains of cars, this is too
much to expect of the railroad COM
panies. In many instances it is 8
or 9 o'clock before the last section
arrives, and 10 o'clock before it is-
unloaded and the paraphernalia
transferred to the show grounds.
This leaves just sufficient time to
erect the big tents and prepare for
the afternoon performance. To take
several hundred men away from the
show grounds at the most critieFl
time in the morning, in order to give
a parade, would mean delay in open
ing, and consequent discomfort to
the public. To compel thousands OF
people to stand out in front of the
entrance in the hot sun OF rain, be
cause the giving of the parade has
DELAYED the opening for an hour OIL
more. is positively cruel; but there
is frequently no help for it when
parades are given. BY eliminating
the parade the public is also saved
long and often uncomfortable watt
on the streets pending the always
more or less delayed procession,
which at best has nothing new to
offer, to say nothing of the interior
cncc with public traffic and the
business of the cityFs merchants.
Many municipal governments have
recognized the later facts by eitheE
refusing to give licenses for parades
1r by making the tax so high as to |
he prohibitive. Street parades were
all right when circuses were small, ,
and were necessary from an adver-
Using standpoint. The Barnum &
Bailey show is too well known to
need advertising of this character
and instead of wasting time. and
energy on a conventional street dis
play. every effort is concentrated up
~, fbo y,arformoOce
The experiment of cutting out the |
parade was tried in this country for
the first time last season. and the
circus man was asked what effect
the innovation had upon the bust
ness of the big show.
eff anything, it helped tie pat
ronage." was the reply. "The ne
cessity for eliminating the parade
because of the magnitude OF the
show was generally recognized, and
the public was anxious to see
show that was actually too big to
give a procession. Before the adj
vent of the show in some of tn !,
Western cities there were some un- I
favorable comments regarding the
no IHTuNlC- AOdAulN even ia w 'AS''S3 L
but after the public and the news
paper men saw the performance,
ioticed the increased vim and ginger
hat was installed into it because the
and animals were not
overworked, and the greater enjoy
ment of the people because they had
not been worn out by long period
IF tiresome waiting, there was but
me verdict, and that was that the
of the parade was sue
ess from every standpoint"
The Barnum & Bailey circus Is
he only one that has had the cour-
lge to cut out theparade. Another
we'll known Snowman, when asked if
MS show would follow suit, replied
Il would like to, but I can't. The
3arnum & Bailey circus is the only
me that is big enough to do it."
And it is evident that it has intro
uccd this innovation in the circus
rorld because the show gives popu-
ar satisfaction without the aid Of
that is at best conventional dis
lay of so-caled pageantry.