Evening journal., 1908-05-09
LOAD OF GUM
SHOES IN MUD
Rain Of Past Few Days Robbed
Circus Crowd of Much
Footwear
ANIMALS DID CLEVER STUNTS

Exactly what is the void In the
human heart which only a circus can
nh no psychologist has yet arisen TO
explain. but the fact remains that
though mud Is eight inches deep the
populace will HE itself to the tented
city. Barnum 4 Bailey's played to ca
day.
The Greatest Show on Earth did busl-
ness on the familiar Lancaster avenue
lot where the land Is OF a peculiar
lgummy consistency. The practical call
1t a clay soil. but whatever its name
it's nature is unusually Objectionable
for IL can pluck Off a shoe ana hold It
In a clammy grasp while you wait
The mud in front Of the big tent was
by actual measurement eight inches
deep. and a wagon load Of overshoes
was found sticking in 1t this morn
ing.
Also before both performances yes.
terday there emanated from this lake
region the screams of women who felt
their footwear being drawn from them,
and had a horrid sensation that once Il
was lost In the goo" nothing on earth
could ever recover II.
one young woman who gave a par
ticularly heart -rendlng scream was
found TO have lost both over-shoe and
under-shoe and TO be extending a stock
inged foot for assistance. First aid was
rendered by three small boys and a
policeman. and soon she was hobblink
on again, but with a look OF dreadful
uncertainty.
A few Victoria crosses should be dis
IN nw Q
the grounds, by the bye, for they gave
yeoman service yesterday In listening
! patiently to more troubles than they
had ever heard before.
Apart from the weather. which wasn't
its fault the Greatest Show on Earth
was a bowling success. II was like
ones childish recollections Of IL. only
thousand times better.
The performing animals demand a
word Of praise all 10 themselves. one
large elephant and two coach dogs
gave an exhibition which elected many
'ohs" and "ahs." The elephant sa-
on a barrel as gently as a cooling dove
and allowed the coach dogs to climb
nimbly TO its outstretched front feet
and rest there.
The bears formed themselves into
band, which played what was doubt
less intended for a musical composl-
tion. and trundled wheelbarrows. and
rode velocipedes.
/ As a matter Of fact. there was some.
thing doing every minute in the three
rings. At one moment the air would
be flled with people flying from ira
pezes; at another the ground was full
| or tumbling acrobats. Always the
space Immediately In front OF the speo
tators was peopled with clowns in alb.
surd makeups all more or less funny
but the spirits OF all were tempered
by the mud that clung to garments
about the lower entremities. oxfords
and even pumps.
The crowd which had one mind 10
go home when a storm threatened n
Kick up outside the big tent. changed
| IL when they thought OF the "leap-to.
death-act," which was to come last
Like citizens Of ancient Rome or
Spanish lovers Of the bull-hght. thev
determined TO stay and see that lean
and get whatever sensation out OF II
there was TO be had They STAYED.
through thick and thin-and particu-
larry thin-watch'ng beautiful ladies
ride barebacked horses and brawnv
men do acrobatic stunts until the great
moment arrived. Then, with hearts
In their mouths. they saw the women
strapped IN the cars. saw those We
hicles start and perform their great
feat one turning a somersault in tha
air the other following closely but es-
Gaping harm.
When this was over and II was quite
certain that the performers had escap-
ed injury, and there was nothing moro
In the shape OF an accident TO lool,
for. the crowd arose and started once
more TO ford the river Of mud. Women
pulled their overshoes on with grim
determination 10 make them stav n
that were possible. plunged I'm. 10
emerge breathless at the car line much
the worse for contact with this wicked
world.