New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-26
IA FRESH AIR CIRCUS
Great Day at Shepherd Knapp Home
When Barnum Hasn't in 1T.

A circus the invention OF particularly
bright party at the Shepherd Knapp Home
Gently To be sure. the attendants were called upon
TO bring the idea to a complete realization. but
they found such ready talent among the children
that the project vas carried through with great
success Many OF The features OF the modern cir
Gus and sideshow were faithfully represented.
to the peanut and lemonade stands
Inc main performance was preceded by parade.
Inc attendants and children who to take
part repaired early in the afternoon to nearby
barn TO don the costumes, which had all been made
from materials at hand. After a generous quantity
OF powder and paint had been applied and the 'ac-
tors had been rugged UP in their gorgeous rament
they slowly filed out Of the barn and met the gaze
OF two hundred awestricken children. With dig
nifty that lifted the occasion. which the jeers Of
some or the older boys could disturb, the
parade formed in lire and began the march
At the head was OF the attendants mounted
on Maud, the horse belonging the home In a
gay costume OF yellow cheesecIoth with flowing
streamers on his head. he had all the outward ap-
pearance OF Roman charioteer. Next came two
clowns. painted and dressed beyond recognition
So skfuy had they disguised themselves that the
little girls In the party frightened when they
nrst appeared, but their fear Immediately
changed to admiration when they saw the next
feature This was little Mary Wagner. dressed In
a gown of fmy black gauze The flowing sleeves
and graceful lines of the skirt made the costume
beautiful but that which took the eyes OF the chill
dren most of all were the sparkling stars and
moons which studded the yelling She carried
tambourine and danced she moved along In the
parade.
"Oh. isn't Mary Just grand" murmured lit
tie girl II wish could dance like that"
But there were more wonders still TO come One
or the attendants, dressed up as a negro nanny.
had rour little pickaninnies clinging 10 her when
she came along. Another played the part OF an
Indian maid She used brightly colored horse
70
doll had been strapped TO represent pappoose.
Ihere was also gaudy arrayed fortune teller
shttering with tinsel and spangles that tinkIed
as she moved and sparkled in the sunlight. There
were many other features. too, but the children
were too interested the clowns and little Mary's
dancing to want to stop long to the finish of
the parade. and they found their way 10 the
circus ground After the grand parade the per-
formers pitched their tents in one of the fields
near the home. One tent was devoted 10 the
gypsy who told the fortunes OF the children. Many
OF them listened with their eyes wide open with as
constituent at the wonderful OF great riches to
be theirs In the future. Health happiness and
esauty all were TO be given. They lined up before
the fortune teers tent and stood waiting patient
W. eager 20 receive IL from the fortune tellers
own lips that wealth would some day be theirs
IN another tent was a boy dressed up to repre-
sent monkey. and the mask he wore was nearly
enough to convince many Of the children The
monkey was fed at regular intervals and danced
10 music There was a squaw who sold candy and
pedler who sold peanuts. The clowns had
charge OF the "hit-the- niger show. One OF the
boys BACKED up and offered his head as a target
through hole In the sheet which had been hung
In the tent. Five balls sold for cent and
the boy or girl who hit the niger got stick OF
candy.
The circus afforded amusement all one Sunday
afternoon The costumes and other appurtenauces
were given To the home for Just such purposes BY
the neghbors in the surrounding villages. and the
accumulation OF several seasons helped TO give the
entertainment on extensive scale Before the
circus broke up the freaks clowns and all the other
participants Joined hands In a ring and played ..Al
Around the Mulberry Bush"
FIFTY children were sent out by the Fresh Air
Fund yesterday. In the morning Twenty-Five went
10 beini' " T.. and IN the afternoon twenty-five
went to Goshen. N. Y. Thirty-seven came back
from Wellesvilie. " Y. and fifty from Goshen. in
the morning; ten from Sodus Centre. N Y and
ten from Gloversville n. Y. in the afternoon