The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-26


 The big show arrived in Birmingham early yesterday on it's mile-long train, coming over the Southern from Anniston. The train was split into five sections, the last arriving before o'clock. The work of unloading was accomplished in double quick time before the usual audience of early rsers and whisked brisky away to Smith park.
 Only the tents necessary to shelter man and beast were put up Then the crowds began to arrive. They came in carriages, in automobiles and on foot. Small boys climbed ever and through the fences, old men hobbled in on canes and nurse girls wheeled the babies over
 People wandered at will through the stables where hundreds of beautiful horses were being washed and sleel1ed up for today. They invaded the roped in- closure around the canvas hotel where corps of cooks was preparing savory roasts and light biscuit for dinner.
 One old lady, who had her trained eye on the kitchen equipment for some time, took a delicious whiff of great broiling oven.
 q do declare,p she exclaimed, "circus folks eat real food"
 It was hard to keep the crowds out of the menagerie Time after time the bold CT ones raised the side wall and peeped in. A woman from the country, leading a small boy, elbowed her way into the animal tent through one of the laps in the canvas siding. She was stopped by keeper, evidently an Englishman from his accent, and told that visitors were not ad- mitted on Sundays.
 'I jest want to ask" said she, 'if you have any sacred white elephants?"
 we as none that's what you might call white, ma am' said the keeper, 'but they're all very very very sacred"
 The size of the circus was occasion for much surprise and it is all new and bright in appearance. Aside from the crowding here and there of the throngs of visitors it was a quiet day on the grounds. Only such work as is necessary for the proper care of the workmen and animals was done. This over, the remaining hours were spent in rest. Canvas men lounged around the sidings reading Sunday papers or writing letters on tables of baled hay. The performers remained in their cars or at the hotels. Early this morning the main tent, the postoffice and the various shops will be erected and Ringlingville will become busy city.
 This is a jubilee year with the Ringing Bros Twenty-Five years ago they gave their first performance on the public square of their native town, Baraboo, Wis, under a homemade tent, and with the assistance of one horse. The aud fence sat on blanks borrowed from a neighboring lumber yard Today the Ringlings own, besides the enterprise that is here today, the Barnum & Bailey cir cus the Forepaugh and Sells Bros show and the equipment of the Buffalo Bill show They employ 4000 people and POGO horses and operate extensive shops and quarters at Baraboo, Wis, Bridgeport, Conn.,, and Stoke-on-Trent, England l With the circus that is now entertaining Birmingham there are employed 1886 men, women and children. There are 25O per formers and more than 200 of these are 1 foreigners, making their first tour of 1 America. It is an all-European show, with a novelty and surprise every minute. The automobile double somer- l sault performed by Miss La Belle Roche, is daring and sensational enough to sat isfy the most morbid.
 Early this morning a branch ticket of 1 flee will be opened in Williams drug store, FOOT Second avenue, where reserved seats and admissions will be sold at the 1 same price charged on the grounds. The | afternoon show will open at o'clock and | the night performance at s. the doors 1 opening an hour earlier for an inspection l of a great menagerie.