The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-03
R|NG[|NG CIRCUS GRAND SUCCESS Enormous Crowd Saw the Parade and Show
  JOAN OF ARC" GOOD
Costumes of Large Company of Per- formers Appeared of Excellent Quality and Quantity-Shows
 in Gadsden Today

I Yesterday was circus day in Blrming. l ham, and it was a day of perfect autumn splendor There were blue skies above
 genial sun whose rays were. not toe l warm and refreshing breezes that were not laden with dust An immense crowd thronged the streets to see the parade and afterwards hastened to 9he circus grounds, where two excellent perform
 ances by the Ringing circus were given to an attendance that taxed the capacity of the huge tents
 At approximately Il o'clock in the morn- ing the parade reached the business part of town, grand, glittering and gor- geous." As it proceeded along the densely crowded streets many were the exclama- tions of admiration and wonder at the
 endless array of animal cages, the gilded floats, the riders, both male and female, caparisoned in picturesque costumes; the clowns, the bands, the huge herd of ele- phants and the number of dens that
 were open to public view, disclosing to the gaping multitudes some magnificent spec l imens of the animal Kingdom, including representatives from tropic jungles and shaggy monsters from the Arctic re- gions.
 The parade was not only an immense and soul-satisfying spectacle, but the handsome appearance of the various cages elicited much favorable comment among people who remembered that the circus has been on the road a long time and is drawing near to the close of its | season. Of course, the costumes were not so fresh as they once were, but there was so much to see that this was a | matter of minor consideration which did not detract from the pleasure of the be- holder. At the end of the parade was
 the caliope, belching steam and music in | a way that thrilled the heart of every younester who heard It's strident notes | The circus performance was fully equal | to the expectations of those who were delighted by the fine parade. While there | were no strictly sensational features, the I new spectacle entitled 'Joan of Arc
 was splendidly presented by a large num- | Der of people, and was elaborately cos
 tuned The theme of the spectacle af- l forded opportunities for striking effects while the ballet of about 40 young women 1 was a most enjoyable and graceful fea- | ture. The Joan of Arc" pageant made | an appropriate first part for the per | formance and was followed by the usual | procession that opens the regular per | formance in all well ordered circuses. | Some aerial acts of thrilling kind were
 much appauded. The performers seemed l to be In tune with the bracing weather. l There was a swiftness and verve in all l the acts which was very noticeable. The aerial performers were especially dar- l ing and some very skillful feats were accomplished. by the flying trapeze art ists The human butterflies were much
 admired and some of the best wire-walk- | ing seen here in a long time was done | by several troupes. Novelties were intro duced from time to time that were re- ceived with applause. There was strong woman who carried five times her weight, a man who walked on his head easily as if his brains were just excelsior and bewildering array of the specialties
 more or less familiar to circus goers, all
 of which were well worth while. The performing animals, including the trained elephants and some seals, with almost human intelligence. created the
 enthusiasm which they deserved, while the equestrian acts were excellent One of the novelties introduced by the bare- back riders was a baseball game, done | by three riders standing on running horses; another was a mild sort of tennis game played in the same way.
 | In such an extensive array of perform i CTS 1t would be difficult to do justice to | all The circus in it's entirety was one ] that left nothing to be desired, either by 1 the small boy who was there. all eyes and ears, or by the grown persons who used him as an excuse for going. The clowns had several new burlesque num- bers to offer and they kept reasonably | busy most of the time. The hippodrome races were. as usual. quite thrilling, arous- l ing the crowd to a high pitch of en- | thusiasm.
 | Tho Ringling show left last night after the night performance for Gadsden, where 1 it will be seen today. The fine menageries | and the very entertaining performances given here served to strengthen the long | standing popularity which the Ringing circus has enjoyed with Birmingham lovers of amusement.