The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-24
BIG C|RCUSW
HERE IN A[L|1S
GL|T7ERANDIGOLD
But the Railroad Company
Fell Down on the
.zMz Job. y =
GREAT CROWD !NEG!IY

| t4a
Hardly two hours after the arrival.
OF the immense string Of cars which
compose the Ringing Brothers circus
entered town. street cars, steam trains,
jitney lines and road walks were Jam.
med with visitors to the city who
reached here, some before daylight.
The announcement made yesterday
that the circus would not come 10 the
business side Of the city and that the
farthest point to be reached by the
pageant would be First street made no
difference TO the thousands who
thronged Main street between Cleye.
land avenue and Quincy street. This
section of the city between the hours
of 5 and II was absolutely tmpassa,
BILE at times.
Fairmont avenue never In ifs his.
tory was used as grand stand W 80
many thousands. Every conceivable
nook from the Y. M. c. a. teythei show
ground was packed with parade
watchers. This includes the sunny
spots as well as the shaded. In the
I'm today It was about as hot % Il
ever gets, north Of the Carolinas. Il
was n tysscal circus day with all It's
amusing Incidents and IT'S Joy.
Apparently a circus Is agcircls re-
gardless OF its size. Holt's prug Store
window drew hundreds OF spectators
during the morning hours. The win
dow contains few live snakes. These
snakes are not owned by Ringing but
are being used as window display.
The front OF the store was blocked
for several hours.
The Normal school grounds was
covered with magnificent color dir
play OF women's hats, dresses, CHI.
dren's dresses, toy balloons. fiags, ban.
ners, pennants and the darker shades
of mems apparel. y.
|. Fourth street was a mass iof colors
also. hundreds OF the weary pacing
themselves on the church Ssteps at
Fourth street and Fairmonts sayenue.
All went well until the yisitors be.
gan to notice the bulletin on the win.
dow Of the Main street stores which
were pasted up by the West virgniian.
These bulletins told the saddest tales
OF the day. 1t was no mine horror,
no ocean liner sinking, there vas
change In the German situation; 1t
simply told that there will be no per.
formance tonight. The reason was
given as the inability Of the railroad
to get the show trains to Cambridge,
o.. tomorrow. = :.
This gave rise to many questions, as
TO why the circus people; would miss
an evening show in Fairmont for
daylight show in Cambridge. The cir.
Gus always wants to give its afternoon
performance In preference to its even.
ing because there are hundreds oflpeo-
pie who attend circuses that must OF
necessity leave the city IN time to
reach their homes before night. An
other reason. is that many people oh.
ject to taking their children to night
performances on account Of q prob
able inconvenience In the Eway8of get
ting them lost and mixed up I'm Jams.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad
between Clarksburg and Parkersburg
Is well known In this section! for IT'S
tunels. It was these tunnels that ,caus.
ed the Ringing show to take down rs
ents after the afternoon performance.
They are too small for the large cars
OF the circus to fit through. IN con
sequence of this the circus train must
go from Fairmont to Parkersburg by
way Of Wheeling which adds about
four hours to the run to Cambridge. Il
There were many sights on the
streets this morning that were OF
amusing interest to both the ruban
and the rural spectator. For insance
one comely young lady who saw At
to change her baby's clothing did
go on the steps In front OF HartIey's
store: She did not draw. a very large
crowd but all who saw were somewhat
entertained. When she figured that
baby was In comfort she naked IL up
kissed the dear little thing and lost
herself In the mass Of humanity which
turned out to see the monkeyshines Of
the elephants and the camels.
1t looked as II 14.324 people STONED
totalk to Traffic Officer Tom Ford
on the Watson corner TO ask him
where the parade was coming 10 and
to direct them to their cousins house
so they go there for dinner. Many
asked the way to the show grounds.
The circus man In charge OF the pa.
rade even stopped to ask the traffic
cop where the parade was going to
take place., Tom, having read last
nights West Virginian. told him
where the parade was going 70 be and
the pageant manager drove away en-.
lightened. IL.