The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-07-27
TOO BIG TO- PARADE,
6arrum e. 6aiIey's Elimination Of the
!: Street Pageant No Longer An,
- =. 90 ExnAni,.s ant ~

-
j. The elimination Of the street. parade
Is no longer an experiment with the
Barnun & Bailey circus. This Is the
big shows third wear without pre-.
lfninary procession, and the innova-
ton, the management, declares, has
proved a popular and successful one
from every point of view. 49,,
A representative Off, the show. in
speaking Of the matter recently said:
''The Barnum & Bailey circus is liter
ally too big to give a parade. even If
1t were considered desirable or neces-
sary. AS a matter Of fact, there is
no general demand for the circus pa
rade, and every other circus manage
ment in America would cut it out If
1t was not a necessary means of ad-
vertising their show and arousing In
terest in the performances. The re-
mark Is frequently made that the
Rarnum & Bailey circus is the only
show in the world that woulc dare to
eliminate the parade The reason for
this is obvious.
"Barnum & Bailey do not need the
parade as means OF advertising the
show or attracting the public to- the
circus grounds. The Barnum &
Bailey name its great reputation, and
the fact that the public is absolutely
assured OF a superb performance, are
sufficient to crowd It's tents without
the questionable aid of a street dis
play. A parade is undoubtedly q good
advertisement for a show that needs
it. Barnum & Bailey do not need it.
Who ever heard of an Irving,
Sothern, or a Marlowe giving street
parade? In the dramatic world pa
rades are confined to repertoire shows,
minstrel and Uncle Toms Cabin ag-
gregations. No circus can afford to be
grouped in such class. and q circus
that cannot crowd it's tents without a
street parade has something wrong
with its performance and reputation.
There are, Of course, other reasons
for eliminating the parade besides the
belief that PROFESSIONS are no longer
necessary for advertising purposes. II
we could be absolutely sure of arriv-
Ing In town by daybreak, day after
day, it might be possible to give the
parade simply as a free Offering to
trains Of cars, this is too much to sex-
pect of the railroad companies. In
many instances it is eight or nine
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 per-
Torrance. To take several hundred
men away from the show grounds at
the most critical time in the morning,
In order to give a parade, would mean
delay In opening, and consequent dis
comfort to the public. To compel
thousands Of people to stand. out in
front Of the entrance. In the hot sun
Or rain, because the giving of the pa
rade has delayed the opening for an
hour or 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 a
long and often uncomfortable wait on
the streets pending the always more
or less delayed procession. which at
best has nothing new to offer. to say
nothing Of the interference with pub
city's merchants. Many municipal
governments have recognized the lat
ter fact by either refusing to give
licenses for parades, or ny making the
tax so high as to be prohibitive.
"The elimination Of the street pa
rade means a very much better per-
Torrance in every way. The horses
and elephants, instead Of being worn
out by several hours marching through
the streets, are, rested, fresh and full
OF life and ginger; the performers, not
being overworked, give their acts with
dash and go that is refreshing, and
even the animals in the menagerine.
instead Of being sleepy and indolent
from their tour through the streets,
are wide awake, and for this reason.
doubly attractive.
AT first there was considerable
skepticism on the part of the press
as to the wisdom of the new depart
ure, but criticism from this source has
entirely ceased. Day after day, In
cities where the show has exhibited.
the management is commenced for
their good sense and foresight"
The absence Of the parade is. ac-
cording to all reports, more than COM
pensateds for by this years arenic acts
and "thrillers." There are a number
OF big sensations, and. the structural
steel used in these startling actsI alone
utilizes the carrying capacity OF sew
eral railroad cars. Incidentally, it Is
announced that a splendid free show
will be given on the exhibition grounds
daily at II and o'clock, by Prince
Youturkey, remarkable performer. on
an elevated wire cable. =. 3:
DEsPONDENT. HE SUICIDES.
CHICAGO, July 24.-George B. Ross.
at one time proprietor of some Of the
leading hotels in this city, today CONF
mitted suicide in his room at the Chi
caHo Athlatic aasocia tios, h. aK,aa4i, :.