The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-06-29
A Day in Waterville.

Z ASAy IA w 0k&A VAA1&s
Early one bright June morning found us at
the railway station anxiously awaiting the de-
parture of the Belfast train. our destination
being Waterville, the Mecca that certain morn
ing of not few circus lovers. At seven o'clock
the train pulled out of the depot carrying about
fifty passengers. The green fields Of the East
Side slipping down to the calm waters of the
Passagassawaukeag presented picture OF
peace and contentment, and above Beaver Tail
the woods in their verdure invited to cool shell
ter from the warm rays of the morning sun.
All along the route places were visible where
the forest fires had left their devastating
wake. Dotting the fields here and there the
daisies lifted their heads as if in welcome. and
sleek cattle grazed contentedly on many
pastured slope. The clear, broad waters of
Unity Lake sparkled bright in the morning
sunlight. The childish questions Of a little
boy on the train gave us much amusement, but
proved annoying to his anxious mother. At
all the stations en- route a number boarded the
train and an especially large number at Knox
and Thorndike, so that on reaching Burnham
the three cars were well filled.
After short wait at Burnham we left by
way Of Clinton and Benton for Waterville,
which was reached after about an hours ride.
On nearing the station the first thing to at
tract our eyes was the show cars OF Ringing
Bros. The tree-shaded and well kept grounds
of Colby College give the visitor to Water
vile good impression of the city. From
the station we passed down street lined
with stately eIms to Main street to witness
the circus parade. About 1880 o'clock mu-
sic announced the approach of the van of
the parade. The clean appearance of every
thing, the men in uniform and the sleek,
handsome horses in their gorgeous trappings,
all won admiration from US. At noon search
for restaurant seemed almost futile until at
last we spied private dining room on one of
the side streets. A Short trolley ride in the
afternoon brought US to the Central Maine
Fair grounds, where the usual amount of dust
and heat prevalent on circus day was expert
enced. The attractions at the side shows were
many and included pigmy, native of British
East India, an American japanese jugger,
snake-charmer, bearded lady from Michigan,
three legged boy, armless man who used
his toes as well as we would our hands and
was an expert with the pen, and the much adj
mired human doll, twenty-one years of age
and standing but twenty inches high, with
the features and form of child of about
two years. After doing some shopping in
town we attended the circus in the evening.
Passing through the main entrance into the
menagerie tent we viewed the different cages
of wild animals, the herd of elephants, the
giraffe, the camels, ponies, zebras, the hippo
potamus, polar bears, rhinoceroses, and many
others. The elephants attracted much atten-
ton from the crowd, who kept busy feeding
them with peanuts. A vender of peanuts ex-
actly back of the herd announced, "Buy nice,
fresh peanuts here and feed the elephants"
From the menagerie tent we went into the
main tent, with a seating capacity of $4,000
where we beheld the large circus arena,
including three rings and two elevated stages
between, and large hippodrome race course
outside. The circus band gave concert be-
fore the opening of the show, and at 8 o'clock
pageant of dazzling and royal splendor repre-
senting Oriental peoples passed before our
eyes. After circling the ring few times
they retired and the ring performance began.
We centered our interest in one ring, as it was
difficult to take them all in at one time. First
order was bareback riding in its many. forms in
by both male and female artists. Then herd
of performing elephants occupied the three
rings and amused the audience with their
antics Some of the many interesting fea-
lures were horizontal bar performing, aero
batic feats, tumbling, juggling, stunts on the
slack wire, thrilling acts on the flying trapese,
etc., all of which were high class exhibitions.
The clowns were many and their funny tricks
kept the audience in happy mood. The
circus let out at 10 o'clock, after which we
took hurried walk to the station about one
mile away Owing to wreck on one of the
lines our train scheduled to leave at 10.45
o'clock did not arrive until an hour later and
consequently tired crowd hung about the
station until IL o'clock. A train for Skowhe-
gan pulled in about the appointed time and
quite few Belfast people boarded it by mis-
take After that, "This train goes to Show
hogan" was a sort of by-word among the
crowd. At O'Clock tired and sleepy crowd
arrived in Belfast, having spent a most enjoy
able day and also having had their fill of "cir-
GUS for one day. GM.D.