Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-09
Town Turns Out to See the
Annual Circus Display.
AT CAPITOL
Even Congressman Leave the Build.
ing to Gaze on Pageant.
SMALL BOY IN HIS ELEMENT
Crowds Watch the Interesting Work
of Raising the Poles and Putt
ing Up the Big Tents.

thousands of youngsters strained their
eyes looking down the street over which
the circus parade was to pass this morn
ing. and when in the dim distance they
caught a glimpse of the wonderful cara
van and it's gold and crimson and gen.
eral glitter. the one shout which arose
all along the line was:
Gee, felers, here it comes
Just the same as last year and the year
before that and the year before that and
the year before that, and SO on back into
the time when the portly old gent that
you saw waiting with the dozen or 50
kids was kid himseH-just as far back
as all that this old town has been turn
ing out TO see the circus parade each
spring, as ii it was a home coming week
OF a March 4 without a storm
If there was any one who did not get
down to the line of march this morning
he was kept back by some pressing en-
gagement. AS early as 8 O'Clock the clans
of boys began to line the curbs, and hold
points of vantage which the late conner
might envy.
The steps of public buildings were COW
cred with people who had the appearance
of being fixture. They sat there with
out giving any hint Of going away until
the steam calliope came along footing its
melodious amen to the rest of the garish
pageant.
Congressman Watch, Too.
That members of Congress really are
little less than big boys was proved wher
the parade. passing the Capitol just be-
fore the converting Of the two Houses of
Congress, broke up practically every COM
mittee meeting in the big white building.
Groups of senators and representatives
hurried over to watch the animals and
gaily caparisoned riders and to listen to
the bands and the strident notes of the
caliiope. Senator Frye stopped his au-
tomobie close to the line of march and
score of his associates were within hail
of him.
Its a mighty good thing said Sen
ator Burrows, that the parade passed
before noon. II it hadn't we'd never
nave been able to muster a quorum
Champ Clark, minority leader in the
House, called attention to the fact that
the g. q. p. elephants in the parade were
not half so we'll received by the crowds
as the democratic donkeys ridden by the
clowns.
Its Significant he said. 49,.
The Circuses of Old.
Something in this circus parade" re-
marked the portly old gentleman at 10th
and Pennsylvania avenue, who had
brought dozen kids With him. '1ust to
give the kids show" Time was when
they didn't have but one Wild animal
cage and a band. Back in my home town
up in York state there was a circus there
come every year and by heck it had the
funniest clown in 1t that l ever saw.
He was so funny that used to laugh
for six months after seeing him. They
N a mi FINN
But if the portly gentleman was going
to make any remarks about the old time
circuses being better than the present
ones, or any similar remarks concerning
the humOr of clowns, the world lost it
ALL for just then a wagon load Of clowns
came along. each clown playing upon a
wind instrument. The portly gentleman
was taken so by surprise that he fell
against policeman. who thought the
man was in a bad way and started to
haul him off to patrol box.
Don't. DON'T shrieked the portly
gentleman" I'm only laughing at those
uurn fool Clowns
There were others like the old gentle
Gus parade the city has seen for many
day-perhaps the longest it has ever
seen. Barring that little gust of showery
rain that sent up umbrellas in hurry a
little after 10 o'clock. the morning was a
hne one for the annual pageant.
All the Old Friends There.
All the old friends were on hand. The
elephants were groomed and dressed as
we'll as an elephant can be- with oriental
looking chaps riding upon their heads
There were the camels with the Arabs
riding them in that seasick fashion, the
pretty horses with the pretty ladies in
gorgeous red and green gowns. There
were Cleopatra and Nero and several
other classics in cheese cloth, gladiators
and characters who will race for glory
at four performances. while the crowd
goes crazy. There were the ring masters.
riding like masters of the earth. There
We're the lions and tigers. the wonderful
blood-sweating behemoth of the Holy
Writ. There were panthers and little
wild cats and horrible looking hyenas
There were-but what's the use? II
was regular circus parade-and every-
body knew it at once without an intro
ductiOn.
Putting Up the Tents.
The circus received a warm welcome
yesterday when it landed in sections at
the grounds at 14th and H streets north
east, which for two days will be what
many well known writer's call canvas
city"
First Of all came the advance guard Of
peg drivers and canvas men-a strong
armed crew. who had hard work before
them. A sea Of canvas was laid out by
these men In remarkably short time.
With a boss canvasman hustling men in
eight dialects, and a gang Of putting,
painting roughnecks Juggling at the enor-
nous bulk of gray tent, the city seemed
to grow before ones very eyes without
a moments hesitation. The big tai! poles
went up. seeming by magic. Several
huskies laid them in position, a boss man
did little something with a block and
tackle. and presto. there was, an enor-
nous pole sticking straight into the air.
The biggest tent was unfurled from its
iumpy state in which the canvas was
transported and was transformed into
the big top in about half an hours time.
And during that half hour there was the
busiest gang OF canvas men in all East
Washington.
A big crowd watched the performance.
They watched the expert peg drivers
ten colored men who gathered with
sledges around a peg and swung away at
it with very fascinating precision. with
no more than enough room to swing the
sledges. and neither missing lick or hit
ting one another, fortunately. The cook
tent raised away OF to one side, held