The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-27
CIRCUS DAY BRINGS CROWDS ID TOWN Streets Lined to See Parade
 During Morning BIG TENTS WERE PACKED Performance Was Unusually Good and Rngling Bros. Have Introduced
 Some Decided Novelties
 This Year
BIG TENTS WERE PACKED

Yesterday was circus day in Birming- ham-the day of all days, after Christmas and the Fourth of July-for the small boy. The morning came auspiciously, its charm enhanced by certain frosti- ness of the atmosphere which did not keep youngsters in bed any longer than usual At an early hour crowds were abroad and the streets began to fill up with many strangers Excursions from neighboring towns brought large com pany of visitors who took in the sights of Birmingham and made the circus their piece de resistance for the day. The show was the well-known Ringing Brothers enterprise, one of the best although the Ringlings now dominate practically all the larger tented shows
 At the announced hour of 10 o'clock, or a little after, the street parade in Ks glitter and magnificence," see published works of the press agent, wended it's way down several of the principal bus mess streets and back to the circus grounds being viewed by great con course of people who were pleased by the pageant and notably inspired by the mellifuous notes of the calliope. It is to be remarked that the calliope has made great strides in recent years. In addi- ton to being larger and more musical, it is operated or played, if you prefer by a master who has several tunes at his command, and they are apt to be strict ly up-to-date, ranging from ragtime to al affecting when rendered on steam uiano." The parade was a success and was sufficiently long and varied to justi- fy the extravaganza of previous an- nouncements.
 A record breaking crowd saw the after noon performance at the show grounds at Smiths park. Not only was every available seat occupied, but the people overhowed into the hippodrome course and were seated about the track six and eight deep So dense was the assembly that it was impossible to give the races and these were omitted. Even without these features, thrilling in themselves and of more than passing interest, the performance was extremely good. The acts of all descriptions, notably the fly
 ing trapeze work the acrobatic work and the riding, were well done. Although it has been said that circus acts are pretty much the same year in and year ont. a number of genuine novelties are introduced by the Ringlings this year The vaudeville numbers given on the two stages were without exception high class and presented by people who must com mand large salaries by their ability
 While there was not so much opportunity for newness in the ring acts. they were all creditable of their kind, including inc horses and elephants, while the bare back riding won deserved applause
 Among the best acts were those of inc Weayers. who swung suspended by their teeth and did various feats in mid air and the Four Jordans on the high wire. Daisy Hodginrs bareback riding and that of Emma Stickney, member of famous circus family of riders; the l Patty Brothers, one of whom walks down steps on his head: the Marnello-Marnitz | company of up-side-down bell ringers; burdle-ridng act by Miss Emma Stickney; trained pigs of Iil Kerslake; the aero batic riding act of the Les Bastlens, graceful and pretty; the Baker troupe and the Jackson family on bicycles; the | cart-riding of the three Duttons; the | Clarkonians. the Alvarez trope and the | Jordan family. aerial stars. The double | somersault in mid-air of an automobile containing a young woman, Mile La | Belle Roche, was decided thriller l and came up to expectations.
 The menagerie is exceedingly fine con | taining a very large herd of elephants; l TWO giraffes now becoming rare In me l naeeries on account of difficulty in ob- taining and taking care of these sensi- | five animals, and many other specimens l from all parts of the world.