The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-30


Novelty will be the keynote of to-
days Barnum q Bailey's circus. the best
elements of the dear. old-time circus
mingling with the newest things in
gorgeous spectacles. Monotony and rep
etition have been eliminated. 1t is said,
Eighty-fiye double length railroad
cars are required to transport the Bar
mum e Bailey circus. They are operated
in four train sections The first sec
tion, known in the language of the cir
Gus as the "flying squadron" was
scheduled to leave Gadsden. where the
show played yesterday, soon after mid
night. The dining tents which it con-
veys will inaugurate the encampment
at Smith park, and food viii await the
hungry hundreds when they reach the
grounds.
The circus parade will make it's start
as near 10 o'clock this morning as con-
ditions will permit. The pageant
stretches three miles in length and it's
beauty, promise Is given, viii surpass
the expectations of the young and old
Nearly two score elephants will tread
the route and of camels, zebras, zebus.
sacred cattle. yaks and other led" ami d.
mails there will be legion. Dozens OF
open cages will disclose their Jungle
inmates and trainers. More than 700
equines, ranging from the powerful
plumed draft and Percherons and
Clydesdales, thoroughbred chariot
racers and ring horses to the sturdy
little Shetland ponies, ever dear to the
hearts of the children. will display
themselves.
The allegorical and tableaux floats
and other vehicular appurtenances OF
the parade are new in construction and
conception and as ornately beautiful as
the best efforts of distinguished de-
signers, sculptors and decorators can
yield. Six bands will give ceaseless
brass harmony and the nonsense of
clowns will pervade the long line.
The circus performances win be-
gin promptly at 2 o'clock in the aft
ernoon and at o'clock at night and
the Barnum & Bailey management an
nounce that comfortable accommoda-
tions for nearly $1,000 persons are pro-
vided in their mammoth new weather
proof tents.
ITO Cages in Menagerie
The menagerie comprises an equip
ment of 110 cages and includes, with
few exceptions, every beast. bird and
reptile mentioned in natural history
No country has been too remote to
Illustrate the great travelling zoos
search for rare and curious animals
ihitC 6iAalItSi a EllIOCetOS ana a
are freaks of the animal
world from the depths of Africa which
VIII excite curious attention. One great
cage harbors 100 jumping. chattering
The aggregate display, the
circus affirms, has no travelling dupli-
cate in all the world and is equailed
in only two principal zoos in this coun-
try.
The big innovation of the Barnum &
Bailey performances will be "The Spec
tacle of Cleopatra an adaptation of an
episode in Egyptian history. 1t is the
story of Marc Antony and Cleopatra. The
entrance of the great Roman captain
into Alexandria, conqueror, his yielding
to the wiles of the temptress and his
final fate on his own sword when Caesar
avenging legions surround the city are
shown in vast pantomime The gorgeous
which pass majestically before
Mare Antony and Cleopatra replace the
grand entree' of other years The ballet
of more than three hundred presents as
dainty and delightful dancing girls as
New York could provide
Among the other novelties In the arena
emphasis is made upon a ludicrous ele-
phant baseball game, In which one huge
beast makes a home run. Ella Bradna,
an English miss, will make her first ap-
pearance here. She comes acclaimed as
the worlds most daring and skillful bare
back rider. Her exploits have created a
wherever she has been seen this
season.
The Royal Mikado troupe of jlu jitsu
champions also have something decidedly
new. They are fresh from japan and
give remarkable scientific exhibition
with strenuous elimination
wrestling contest in which the member
who succeeds In throwing five champions
wins the bout. They apparently undergo
d frar 1..f..
and come out alive.
New Art of Self Defense
A distinguished foreign newcomer TO the
circus Is Johannes Josefsson, an Icelandic
expert in the science of self-defense
against attack by knife, club or revolver.
He also demonstrates how person whose
hands have been tightly tied may yet
keep an enemy at arms length. The art
as practiced by Josefsson is known as
China a form of wrestling and self
defense peculiar to Iceland and said to
date back to the eleventh century. AS
proof of his belief in his own powers
Josefsson offers a large sum. which he
will forfeit to any Acknowledged
strong men" and wrestling champions
are particularly invited to make the at
to stand UP against him for
five minutes. Further, any member of
the circus audience may attack him, while
uIlaIHleur Win KNIFE, provided the
weapon be no more than a foot long.
AS for the remainder of the show,
Barnum & Bailey give assurance that the
services of the worlds famous eques-
trians, gymnasts. acrobats. aerialists and
other athletes have been enlisted The
clowns number 40; the active participants
in the exhibits below and aloft near.y
500
Tickets will be on sale for both per-
formances all day today. by a special
circus representative. at the Gum drug
store at the regular prices charged at
the ticket wagons on the show grounds
By advance purchase intending patrons
VIII avoid the expected crowds at the
scene OF exhibition sale.