Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-09
BIC CIRCUS HERE
Great and Magnificent Attrac-
ton Is Presented for the
Third Time.
AT The LOCAL Y. M. C. A.
Entertainment Includes the Big Show
Menagerie, Side Show, Concert,
and All Features.

Ine Dig 1. M. \. "A. circus gave its
irst performance last evening and the
circus tents were well filled when the
lime for the grand entry came This
is the third annual circus 70 be given
by the association and it eclipses al
others in number of acts and in the
quality of the show as whole. About
"a half hundred members of the asso-
citation and number from outside
take part in the different stunts and
the scale of the circus is not far re-
moved from that of real circus. 1t
is complete with side show before the
main performance and concert after
wards.
In Side Show.
The side show which has been made
especially attractive this year is shown
in the chapel of the association. The
cages containing the many wild ami
mails and freaks which the circus man.
agement claims We're imported espec-
tally for this occasion. from, all parts
| OF the world and even from the planet
Mars, are lined up against the walls
and completely surround the room.
The freaks include the tattooed man.
| he midget, Chinese giant. the
bearded lady, stranger who halls
from Mars, and the ever present snake
| charmer.
In the cages are many different var
! ieties of wild animals, some of which
were never seen in this country be-
| ore. at least that is the claim advanced
| by the barker" who tells where they
were all brought from AS a special
| contribution to the circus, Teddy
| Roosevelt sent over a real wild man
direct from the jungles of Africa and
he is shown along with the other wild
animals. The only thing in the wild
line that does not appear in the cages
of the menagerie, is wild flowers and
as these are too common the manage
ment thought them unnecessary.
Harry McCaskrin enjoys the title Of
animal trainer and he seems TO have
the beasts completely under his con-
tro as there are times when mere
whisper from him will cause the beasts
to do stunts that would put the men
lagerie or any other circus to shame.
| In Inc zig rent.
| The side show is all out and over
with before the big show commences
in the words of the barker and the
main show commences at 8 O'Clock
with a grand entry in which every one
who performs during the show takes
part. The freaks and wild animals
are even brought down from their
dens and cages in the side show 10
participate in this event. After the
grand entry, Ringmaster o. b. Hamp-
ton announces the acts and the follow
ing program is given: Leaping over
elephants by acrobats and clowns
work on the horizontal bar by the
Turner squad from Davenport. rope
climbing by Harry Shiffer, senior class
lof the Y. Nj. c. A. on the horse. gym
lnastic dance by the students class
football game by the clowns. feats IN
Icontortion by A. Oberlander and his
l5-year-old son, Willis, exhibit of
TRAINED animals by Harry McCaskrin
trainer work on parallel baTsFby Tur
ner squad from Davenport. work on
Itrapeze by Harry Shiffer. German band
lconcert. tumbling feats by Turner'S oi
Davenport. tumbling by the clowns
slack wire walking by clown and
Hastily, the great backwards drop from
La dizzy height" by Willis Woods.
Lastly. the Concert.
With this last act the main show is
lover and the army of supers gets busy
Arranging for the concert This is en-
) titled THE Chinese Cook and is {
laughable farce in which half doZer
characters take part. o. b. Hampton
: sings a song in the course of the play
: let which is really the feature of thu
: laffair Charles Imhof is the comedian
: and he performs as usual and causes
} bursts of laughter all the time he j:
on the stage.
The program will be changed ever.
) Ievening and also on Saturday after
moon which means practically a new
show tonight and tomorrow Afternoon
and evening. While some of tn,
Y stunts that are given in the course o
: the show are of farcial nature, it i
plainly shown that they are and the,
t are enjoyed all the more for that res
son. At the same time, many of tn
acts are such as would grace a req
circus and one is sure to get the ful