The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-06
JUST ONE THING
AT Err ANOTHER.
And That About Tells the Story
Of John Robinson's Ten
Big Shows.
HOT WEATHER BAD FEATURE
Still, 1t Didn't Wilt Crowd, and
Man Who Had Fit Revived
and Walked In.
HOT WEATHER BAD FEATURE

In spite of the blazing, sitting, suf-
locating heat. yesterday was one OF
the biggest days in the circus line
that Richmond has seen for a long
time. The combination of Labor Day.
John Robinsons Ten Big Shows and
Acca Temple drew crowds to the show
grounds that the main tent, big six
master that it Is, could not begin to &C
commodate either in the afternoon or
night. and scores We're turned away
from both performances in bitter dis
appointment. BY 1 o'clock hundreds
had passed into the animal tent and
were feasting their juvenile or adult
eyes on the strange beasts that paced
an and down In their barred cages
and there was surgins crowd around
the ticket wagon which required the
undivided attention of several police
men. who endeavored to maintain the
semblance of a line.
Good-Natured Crowd.
But it was good-natured crowd;
there were no fights and few DRINKS.
One man fell to the ground in a At, but
a SPACE was quickly cleared, the am
hulance arrived in short order, ne was
revived, and went on with the crowd
into the show. The circus attendants
| themselves seemed more considerate,
| less impatient, while the officers of the
| Ten Big Shows and the officials of
! Acca Temple. who were acting together
! at the entrance, were the very pink OF
perfect politeness and the embodiment
of genial welcome, SO that. even II
one arrived ct the grounds hot and I'M
comfortable from a long ride on
packed car he entered the tent cheer
full and happy and prepared to enjoy
! life.
And enjoy it he did From the mo
ment the grand parade began and
there filed by the prairie schooner Mex
] leans, Indians, CosSacks. cowboys, cam
| els, dromedaries, elephants, ring horses,
high school horses, trained horses, po-
MES and just horses. and men and wo.
men and clowns. in every variety OF
! costume. accompanied by the brazen
/ hlare that only circus band can pro-
duct. until the man diyed from the
| highest point OF the "big top" to 9
wooden slide, down which he coasted or
/ his "tummy" at lightning speed. to
wind up with somersault on the
I ground, something was happening
every minute. Life in that tent was
| just one thing after another.
Some Wonderful Things.
There was group of wonderful,
| trained elephants, five in one ring, anc
T, alone in solitary grandeur in another
old Basil, most dignified Of pachy-
derms, who has been with the Robin
sons ever since the first John Robin
son went into the business, and WI.
is said to be ninety-three years OLD
There was a clown who stuck hatche
between the shoulder blades OF an
other and drove him, shrieking
anguish. from the tent; there was
man who jumped out OF barrels twent
feet from the ground and turned aerla
somersaults before he landed. A ma
walked up tight rope to the top 9
the tent and then slid down backwards
another lifted platform with four
teen men on it, after walking abou
with an S0O-pound dumb-bell on nj
shoulders, with six men swinging Q
1t. A woman held the end OF rop
between her teeth while she sWun
out over the spectators, and then twis'
ed about in neck breaking. jerking c1i