The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-06
BARNUM CIRCUS
PARADE THRILLS


liers. There were half a dozen bands
and one a mounted band. The leading
band chariot was drawn by 10 splendid
Pereherons, and the chap who has trou-
Lie WITH one pair of rcins when he takes
his best girl out for Sunday ride
gazed with astonshment and envy at
the nonchalant character who piloted
this remarkable "hitch. -
The funny old clown who sang the
comic song, reeled off quips and
ccrundrums and made the ringmaster
ridiculous has become medley, a mul.
titudc of abstracts, whirlwind of un-
identified comedy, altering to all ages.
He appeared in the parade this morn.
ing in the form of brass band Each
one personifed In himself some age and
characteristic of elowndom. While all
others in the cavalcade looked straight
ahead and were decorum incarnate, the
clowns in that band were in merry
mood. They addressed every one
man, woman, girl or child-and with
the most humorous sallies kept the
crowd amused
1t is recorded that Nero fiddled while
Rome burned. Harrisburg might have
been attacked before the crowds on the
streets would have noticed this morn.
ing. They were out for amusement
and the circus delivered it in large
packages
Trappings Clean and Bright
Old P. T. Barnum meant well in his
ancient day and did well enough, but if
he had seen this parade to-day given
by the circus he founded he would have
been envious. The display of horse
flesh alone was well worth while. The
costumes, trappings and ell properties
were clean and bright and from stem to
stern the pageant was worthy of the
best traditions of this admittedly great
est show on earth.
But if the parade was the finest
ever, as much can be said of the per.
formance this afternoon, when this
thousand-sided miracle of the amuse-
ment world entertained and delighted a
great audience
The circus started with glorious
pageant Illustrating the departure of
Lalla Rookh from Delhi. 1t was a
gorgeous affair, with perfect ocean of
color to dazzle the eye, and enlists the
services of over 1000 persons, together
with hordes of elephants and horses.
Then came the circus proper, and it was
an eye-opener for the base person who
''has seen it ALL Right from the
opening number there was more ginger
and so and snap than was ever before
seen At a circus.
And the great charm of it all was the
great number of performances and acts
that could really be called new Pal.
lenberg's bears, who did everything but
talk; Marcella s trained parrots, ma
caws and cockatoos, who also did ev.
erything, including talking; the war
elephants in spirited battle panto-
mime; Thalero IS fox terriers and riding
monkeys; Adgie' s II lions in a steel
arena; all these were being seen for
the first time here and were among
the high lights on program which con.
tanned nothing commonplace or of
mediocre nature.
Whirlwind Display of Riding
Among the riding numbers, the Eng
lish Hannaford Family were seen in
whirlwind display of riding which goes
beyond words to describe. And the
clowns! There must have been fifty of
them and they were the best ever.
Aground and aloft. there was never an
idle moment and those who tried to see
everything must surely feel the need of
an occulist.
Surely it was a great performance
in conception, arrangement and
negotiation, and especially so in the