The San Francisco call., 1913-08-24
GREATEST CIRCUS
OF ALL HAS 81 CARS
Nearly All Actors Are From
Europe and Appear Here
for First Time

The circus is coming. Ask any boy
or girl in town. and you will learn that
the clowns, the spotted ponies and the
calliope are scheduled to arrive early
next Saturday morning, spill a welter
of red and gold through the streets
with the usual 10 o'clock pageant. and
give performances for three whole
days.
As no summer has ever officially con-
cluded Its visit in San Francisco with
out a circus. Ringing Brothers have
slammed a hundred thrilling novelties
on a program, painted the clowns
smiles little wider. busted the wist-
full, blinking elephants, added a big
spectacle called Joan of Arc'' for good
measure and are now bound for Cali
fornia-
They will stop at Oakland to give a
couple of performances on Friday, but
Saturday morning will find all the hosts
and baggage of Spapgletown in San
Francisco for three joyous days of
sawdust peanuts and pink lemonade.
1t is promised that this season S
Ringing show is the biggest that has
ever visited this city. Southern Pa
cific railroad officials state the equip
ment is the heaviest and the personnel
the largest ever consigned to their
told, there are 81 cars. These are
divided into four sections. They carry
6S2 horses, 40 camels, 80 elephants and
108 dens of wild animals. The figures
OF the regular monthly census taken
by the circus management in Seattle
10 days ago show that the Ringlings
were at that time carrying 1907 per-
sons In their trains.
The increase in the personnel is more
largely due to the addition of the
spectacle OF Joan of Arc" which is
this seasons feature OF the Ringing
program. In this pantomime the his
toric peasant girl OF France has been
made the center of a most magnifl-
Gently costumed spectacle. 1t intro
hundreds of horses and tells the story
of the Maid Of Orleans who went forth
to battle for her country and her king.
RUSSIAN ACTRESS AS JOAN
The role Of Jean is depicted by Nine,
Bartik, Russian actress and a pupil
OF M. Pierre Devereau, the French
teacher of pantomfy1fc art. Features
Of the big spectacle include the music,
Introducing pipe organ obligatos, a
coronation march, with the most beau
tiful horses ever used In a circus pa
geant; the paean OF victory and a NAM
moth ballet of 400 dancing girls.
To present properly this massive play
the Ringlings were obliged to have
built specially designed main tent.
This measures 498 feet In length by
234 in width. Fully one-half OF this
big top" Is occupied by the stages
from which the spectacle Is enacted
and the scenery and electrical equip
ment Incidental to its portrayal. De-
spite this the tent Is large enough to
seat 10000 spectators.
The Joan of Arc" pantomime will
open the Ringing circus program both
afternoon and night during the three
days engagement. Extensive as 1t is,
the statement Is made that 1t is but an
added feature which has In no way
curtailed the customary arenic car
nival. The latter will begin with the
fall of the curtain on the spectacle. In
this regard the present has been
termed innovation and novelty year.
with the Ringing show. This phrase
was suggested from the fact that OF
the 375 artists who take part in the
aerial, ring and hippodrome numbers
approximately 80 per cent are foreign
ers who are making their first visit
| to this country.
Admirers of the artists who work
high in the air will find all records In
perch acts broken by the Mirano and
Andersen brothers, who perform at q
height of SO feet. There will be q
whole company OF strong men and
women. but the greatest of these are
the Saxon trio. Arthur Saxon Will lift
an oak plank upon which viii be seated
IS men and he and his brother will
support bridge while 1t Is crossed by
q seven passenger touring car filled
with occupants. There will be wire
walkers by the dozen. and In the Mexi-
can wizard, Mijares. will be found the
most sensational slack wire performer
yet offered in circusdom. The aerial
artists will be led by the Clarkonians
and the Nelson family. Att times there
will be as many as 80 men and women
lin the tent top.