Evening journal., 1908-05-08
THRONGS SEE THE
CIRCUS WONDERS
Parade Late in Starting, But
Everybody Waited for the
Great Pageant

New and bright. with chariots, a.
legorical floats and trappings, spick and
span, a pageant Of gold and gorgeous
ness, the Barnum and Bailey street par
ade attracted crowds Of spectators
along the line Of march this morning
Juvenile residents Of Wilmington
lay awake a great part Of last night
wondering whether the rain would ever
cease falling. and great part of the
adult population did a little wondering,
too The day came with gloomy oui.
look but at ten o'clock Old Sol man
aged to break through the clouds for
the first time In three days to take
a peep down upon the earth. With
the prospect Of clear weather came the
crowds that lined the route Of the
circus parade. Popcorn was eaten and
peanuts we're shelled by the circus day
throngs along the curb.
Delay in Starting.
The circus men found the grounds
at Front and Union streets soggy be
cause Of the incessant rains. but the
army of canvasmen and others are ac-
customed to all Kinds Of conditions ana
they soon were raising the tented city
The circus arrived between o'clock
and daylight from Baltimore and un-
loaded at Third and Railroad
1t was a long haul TO the grounds
on Lancaster avenue west Of Union
street, and this together with the wei
condition Of the canvas delayed the
erection Of tents and the preparation
Of the whBons for the stret parade
Consequently the pageant was late in
.rf
before the spectacle reachui the center
Of the city where thousands Of per-
sons had waited patiently for hours tc
see the elephants and other things to
be SEEN
Meanwhile vendors Of salt water taffy
hokypoky and other circus day edi
bles reaped a harvest.
Everybody on Tiptoe.
Everybody was on tip-toe for the
sights and sounds, characteristic and
peculiar which accompany the army
! OF men and women, horses and animals.
which make up the modern circus. The
smell OF saw dust, peanuts, the straw
the medley OF sounds from throheing
! thousands, and from the multitude Of
animals, Gagged and free, within the
menagerie, together with waving ban
ners, undescribabie hustle and appar-
ont confusion, all combine to make
| up that unique creation, circus day.
! The parade was the greatest ever
witnessed on circus day. and niuititudes
OF children, under and not under the
parental wing, Razed with wonder and
delight at the wild animals.
Numerous brass bands played spirit-
ed music, and the steam calliope footed
merrily The crowd became young
again in its enjoyment OF the elephants.
Queer looking camels. open cages Of
Wild animals, amusing antics OF tn
clowns, allegorical foats groups OF old
time knights and far eastern denizens
arrayed IN all the goregousness OF their
native attire, the pranclng horses.
chariots cmbellished in god, troops Of
equestrians, historical tableaux. mili
tarv display and other entertaining
features.
The afternoon exhibition began at
2 o'clock, the large arenic tent being
crowded. The opening act or grand
entree will be delightful to the eye. in
! Producing natives Of oriental countries.
elephants, horses and camels In rich.
ornamental trappings. Three rings.
two elevated stages and the hippodron,e
oval are devoted to acrobatic feats os
from the crowd An entertaining feat
ure Is provided by the three herds or
performing elephants. The awkward
looking animals perform the most di:-
ficult and astonishing tricks and feats
of agility
The greatest feature Of all. TO old
and young alike. Is the regiment Of
clowns, which create no end of hilar-
ious laughter.
Autos that Pass IN the Air" the
sensational feature of the perform.
ance, is a breath catching feat that
surpasses all previous death -defyine
acts One OF the most interesting feat
ures OF the Barnum and Bailey show
is Baby Bunting. The little three
months old elephant There will bc
a performance again tonight at 8
o'clock
Car loads OF ashes and the liberal
use Of straw together with the water.
proof canvas OF the great arenic tent
rendered conditions az the grounds
quite comfortable for patrons this
afternoon.