The Washington times., 1914-05-04
THOUSANDS IN LINE
TO SEE CIRCUS PASS
Wild Beasts. Clowns. and Pran-
cling Steeds Draw Crowds
Along Route of Parade.

Summer weather. bright sunshine,
which reflects resplendcntly costumes.
trappings and flashing metal, laughter
and shrieks of delight ushered in the
circus season today and made the line
IF street parade one continual triumph
The army of circus goers. young and
old: of high and low degree. has not
diminished BANKERS bushed against
bootblack and mingled his plaudits with
those of clerk and janitor. Society
danes Craned their high-born heads
over the shoulders of shop-girIs and
manicurists and exchanged comments
like old friends. AS a Ieveler of the
classes the circus will have to be put
on a par with baseball The odor of
wild animals and sawdust. OF popcorn
and peanuts, the barking of the side
show men. have combined TO make
every child forget all but the circus
and its attendant fascinations. every
man and woman to recall his child
hood days and again live over the days
OF former "Barnum and Baileys.''
Long before 10 o'clock, the hour
set for the parade. the streets
were lined with excited. whispering
chattering thousands. Necks craning.
eyes shining, each We'd with his neigh
Dor in the desire TO be the first to
herald the coming of the circus parade.
There they come 1t was a con-
certed cry of excitement and Joy, for
the circus, like Christmas. comes but
once year. Every one had glorious
time, for It was wonderful parade.
more wonderful and glittering than ever
before, lust as circus parades are al
ways more wonderful and rlittertng.
From the first shining glimpse OF
the royal heralds, who trumpeted the
approach of the circus royalty. TO the
last sight and sound of the time -honored
steam calliope. 1t was one ever-increas-
ing riot of music. thrill, and fun.
Heralds Lead Parade.
Behind the ten heralds, gorgeousiy
bedecked came that great. big glowing
band-wagon, twentyfour horses pranc-
In out in front. riotous music blaring
forth and drowning the shouts and
lauhter of children with circus melody.
Then. SH. What is that grinding and
creaking. that occasional weird below?
What do those fortress-like. barred
wagons portend? Hears peat faster,
the curb, little boys push back from
! the curbs, little boys push out nearer.
| It's the animals. The real circus.
| First there were twelve tigers, great
| yellow-striped beasts, pacing restiessIy
| up and down and glaring out at the
| crowds with balS>ul eyes: then eight
| cen lions, big powerful, tewny-coated,
with great names and lashing tais.
adding TO the grind and creak OF "aS-
ons and the shrieks CT excited chill
dren their hollow. blood chilling roars;
/ then four sleek, lean. cat-like leopards,
running back and forth a<d leaplns
! arGrily at the bars in their eHortS
to reach the crowd. and then the
! IIaf
| caused shudders of horror to surge
th1 ough the watching thousands.
| Then came more big wagons. one
with great gold letters announcinS
rhinoceros, and the next that It held
the ''blood-sweating Behometh OF Holy
Writ
Line a Riot of Color.
! Following these wagons. there was
an ever-changing riot OF color. as Sor-
Seous euuestriennes. the four-hOrse
Roman chariots. the Oriental poten-
! tate. surrounded by his slaves. the
sbuffling camels. and horsemon. and
| floats and fiaring. blaring bands. swept
! by and were lost TO view. Then came
| the greatest JOY of all-thtrtE m -"
! great shuffling elephants some with
and others with just nothing but Orien-
: tails swinging TO and fro on their great
heads on the clowns mustn't he for
| gotten. They were all through tho
Earade and kept the little ones con-
vulsed with their droll acts and COS
( tunes.
The opening number on the program
! this afternoon is a spectacular pageant
entitled The Wizard OF Arabia, telling
! IN Dantomimic splcndor beautiful fair
| legend. Then comes q game OF baseball
, played by great. numbering elephants,
which is wonderful in showing the mar
! velous intelligence OF the largest Of
beasts. and Signor Bagonghi, a dwarf
| rider who creates no end OF merriment
bv his eccentric equestrian feats. Last.
| but not least, are the clowns there
! must be Atty of them.
There will be n performance this
! evening at O'clock, doors opening At I
to enable the crowds TO pass an hour III
the menagerie. Two farewell perform
| anCeS will be given Tuesday afternoon
and evening and then the circus will
fold up its tents and steal away until
another year.