Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-05-14
Combined Circus and Animal Show
Will Delight Thousands in De.
cOrah.
WILL ARRIVE ON SUNDAY.
STREET PARADE AT NOON.
First Circus of the Year Will Attract
Immense Crowds to DecOrah,
From Many Miles About.

The people of northeastern Iowa
will come to Decorah next Monday to
see the Gollmar Bros. circus and
animal show. There will be thous-
ands of them, for everybody likes to
see the circus, and everybody that
can possibly get away will be on
hand. Gollmar Bros. have one Of
the really big circuses, monster ag-
gregation of handsome horses, wild
and strange animals, and a great
ensemble of performing artists,
clowns, and spectacular effects. They
have shown in Decorah before, and
always give good show. They will
come here from West Union on Sun
day and show Monday, on the city
hitching grounds If the weather is
favorable, but if not on the Bratfos
lots, where Buffalo Bills Wild West
showed last year.
Those who are disposed to be skep-
tical regarding the size and merit of
the Gollmar Brothers Circus will
have all doubts dispelled by seeing
the tremendous spectacular street
display given by that concern ON the
principal streets of this city at noon.
The pageant of the Gollmar Broth
ers is complete surprise. 1t is
lengthy professional array, such as
can only be produced by the fortu-
nate combination of unlimited
wealth, undaunted courage, original
ideas, and determination to eclipse
all similar displays. That the Coll
mars have succeeded in achieving
their purpose is generally conceded.
The Gollmars were among the first
showmen to make feature of fine
horses. They were first to make
feature of the ever attractive Shet-
land ponies, and this season have in
parade and horse fair" more Of
these children's pets than are to be
found with all other circuses. 4
Nearly all the great cities in the
country possess public menageries
which constantly buy wild animals;
quixotic individuals frequently buy
cubs of one kind or another, ranging
from tigers to bears many wealthy
Americans maintain private zoologi-
cal parks of greater or less extent,
and the score of large circus compan-
les must be constantly supplied be-
cause of the high death rate among
their animals. The record of imports
of the Gollmar Brothers Shows for
the past year is elephants, camels,
tigers, lions, leopards, pumas, path
ers and any number of small animals
and birds. There are enough wild
animals now in the Gollmar Broth
ers' winter quarters to stock big
show. All are never carried Oh the
road, in case of accident, fire, etc.
1t is fact that the Gollmars made
greater efforts, and have gone to
more expense to entertain the little
folks than any other managers. Old
er people can always find entertain
ment, but it is the little ones that are
neglected by many. Almost one-ha!f
of the space in the animal tent is fill
ed with objects of special interest to
the little people. The entire center
is filled with the finest Shetland
ponies ever seen in one collection.
They are of all sizes and colors.
These ponies are used in the mag
nificent parade to pull the little cages
of the miniature menagerie. Almost
one side of the big menagerie tent is
filled with little, cute and costly
cages, made in imitation of the larg-
er ones. These small cages are in
habited by small animals, such as
monkeys, etc. In the circus proper,
there are many clowns, who are en-
ployed for the sole purpose of enter
tanning the children. Buster Brown
is there, too.