The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-08-05

THE CIRCUS
interesting Features of the Shows
Hard Journey to Bennington.


All of Bennington's ideals and
ideas on the subject of the proper ar
rival of circus were shattered and
Ignored Thursday morning when the
enormous Adam-Forepaugh and
Sells Bros, Shows United drew into
the local railroad yard some five
hours behind their schedule. A vast
record-breaking throng had stood in
and around the station from an early
hour, through wind, rain, sun and
heat. AS time went on, the crowds
coming in on excursion trains and
trolleys, who usually wait along the
main thoroughfares to witness the
morning street parade began to drift
toward the railroad yards. 1t is safe
to say, that when the first two sec
tons OF the circus train drew into the
local station larger crowd was as
sembled to witness their coming than
on any similar occasion in Benning-
ton. Very early In the morning the
railroad authorities put out a bulletin
stating that the circus would not ar
rive until 1890, but the circus ardour
was in no wise diminished, the crowd
continuing TO increase.
When, however, the first train came
In over the Chatham division, the
workmen were sitting on the steps
and platforms of the coaches and
Immediately got busy making short
work OF the unloading of great
trucks
The country element Immediately
began to search for the elephant cars
the lovers of fine horses sought out
the horse cars and the ever present
small boy did his best to take in all
the events. The streets were soon
resonant with the clatter and groan.
ing of the great tent and cook wagons
being taken to the circus grounds to
provide food and shelter for the cir
Gus people who in themselves form a
good-sized village.
The street parade was unavoidably
delayed a number of hours. but the
wait was not needed, as many had
/ feared that the late hour OF arrival
would force the management TO dis
pense with that feature of the DAYS
many glories, and the parade was
well worth the wait, with its many
bands, its floating banners, its roar
ing animals, prancing horses and
caperlng clowns. Great crowds stood
ON every corner, every doorway was
thronged, every sidewalk crushed
with sightseers.
The heavy thunder shower of the
afternoon brought the first real disap
pointment In the face Of the threat.
ening storm, many turned back fear
ing heavy wetting. Thinking that
the clouds were rapidly passing over.
me management, however. began the
sale OF seats and when finally the
doors OF the main tent were opened.
large crowd entered the great tent
TO witness the afternoon performance.
All felt that the originality. newness
and many pleasant features of the
great circus. cancelled any discom-
uture they had undergone.
The evening performance began
promptly at the hour advertised de.
spite the late hour of the close of the
hrst performance. Each perform
ance was preceded by a concert by
the Forepaugh and Sells Brothers
own orchestra. the music rendered be
ing equal TO that OF many orchestras
I touring the country.
AT the opening of the performance.
the Knights Cavalcade passed around
the great Hippodrome being Joined at
The menagerie entrance by the troupe
OF elephants gorgeously appareled.
As the parade passed out, the direct
or gave the signal and the great per.
/ Torrance began.
The swirl OF color. the nerve tear.
+ ing ieats of the aerial artists. the
sleyerness and pleasant originality of
a host of clowns, the tumbllng acts.
the horsemanship, the ten thousand
] eye-enehanting acts and numbers are
beyond a detailed description and
when the last performer made his
hnal bow and exit. many a small boy
and grown boys and girls. too. sighed
IN regretiul content The annual
circus was over,
a pleasant feature OF the day was
the politeness and cleanliness of the
attendants, the absence OF any gamb-
ling games and the entire originality
OF the whole performance. The AID.
am Forepaugh and Sells Bros. Enor.
nous Shows United deserved better
weather