The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-03-03
BIG SHOW A GRAND SUCCESS
FROM EVERY VIEWPOINT.


to as Fine an Exhibition as
Mankato Has Witnessed in Many
Year; An Excellent Program
Well Carried Out.
From Thursdays Daily.
The appearance of Barnumrs, Fore
paugh's or Ringing Bros. circus have
never created greater Juror in
Mankato than the Y. Nj. C. A. circus.
The initial performance last night
drew such crowd that those who
did not arrive before eight o'clock
were turned away by policeman,
as every seat and all of the available
standing room was taken. Nearly
a thousand people were crowded into
the gymnasium, filing the rows of
plank seats and everything else that
could be sat upon, even the floor.
The attendance was unexpectedly
large. The room was decorated
with flags and bunting.
Was a Glittering Success.
The show itself was glittering
success. From the grand entree
of performers and animals it was a
whirlwind of wondrous performances,
a cyclone of fun, and tidal wave
of Joy unconfined All of the sur
roundings of the real thing were
there-the big side shows with their
pounding cymbals and rafting mu-
sic, drawing the dimes from the
crowd. the numerous boys selling
ice cold lemonade, candy, peanuts,
crackerjack and what not, and fin
ally the after show concert, with
its ticket selling during the conclud-
ing acts of the circus. The clowns
were there with their funny stunts,
and afforded large measure of en-
tertainment for the crowd. keeping
everyone laughing
Show Well Put On.
The show was well put on, and
everyone taking part is deserving
of credit. Almost everyone having
4 part was a home youth, and this
added to the interest. Naturally, a
considerable part of the performance
consisted of athletic and gymnasium
work by classes or individuals taking
the part in the gymnasium under
the competent instruction of Physi-
cal Director Allison, under whose
personal superintendent the circus
was put on. All of these showed
the benefit of the athletic education
that they have been receiving and
no tests of strength or endurance
seemed too much for the young
men to accomplish.
Elephant Did Tricks.
Then there was the elephant that
did tricks, with Ray Hughes and Ray
Cowgirl inside of him, and led by
Professor ]. G. Norby, dressed to
represent an Indian trainer. There
was fierce looking lion, imperson-
ated by Wheaton Williams, and a
big black bear, animated by Lyn
Hedberg. There was Happy Hooli-
gan and contortionist, trapese
workers, tumblers, etc. Almost every
thing but the bareback riding and
the chariot races were there.
The clowns were Secretary Deer
hake, Carl Monsoon, Jay Nicholson,
Joe Jameson, Joe Stein, Tom Jones
and Ernest Jones, and they certainly
deserve much praise for the many
funny stunts and acts of droll hui
NOR that they did. They were a
whole show in themselves.
The Twentieth Century band was
present and played throughout the
evening, filling the big gymnasium
with melody while the various acts
were being put on. This was one
of the many pleasing features of the
evening.
Made a Grand Entree.
The circus opened with a grand
entree and parade of all of the nu-
merous performers and the wild AMI
mails, led by their keepers. After
this came a gymnasium barn dance,
by the juniors, and it showed how
strengthening to the muscles tI,e
work has been. The boys gave a
very pretty exhibition, their move
ments keeping time with the music.
Some splendid pyramid work was
done by the seniors and juniors sep
arately, and the senior leaders fol-
lowed with some excellent and diff
cult work on the parallel bars. Then
came fine tumbling act, by Badger,
Charland, Gerlach, Brazier, Z. Jones,
G. and H. Willard and Allison The
senior leaders gave high bar eX-
hibition that was creditable. These
young men are Director Allen, Allan
Fleischbein, Thomas Jones. M. f..
Pittman and Richard Wood. Then
came a mimic baseball game by the
clowns, showing the faults and the
troubles of the umpire, and giving a
takeoff on the battery work This
was highly amusing to the fans in
the crowd, especially.
Then came the side horse, with a
splendid exhibition of agility by the
high school students, all of whom
, did remarkably we'll The trick ele-
plant did some droll stunts, and a
stranger who happened into the city
yesterday did some fine contortion
work. This last number was not on
the printed programs, as the young
man did not appear until yesterday
afternoon and was Immediately on.