The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-09
IT IS CIRCUS DAY
Barnum s. BaiIey's "Big Top"
With Two Shows Here.
Thousands From Out of Town
to See Exhibitions.
PARADE WAS UP TO STANDARD
Fifty Clowns in Spectacle Three
Miles in Length.
Costs $500 a Day to Operate
Immense Show.
PARADE WAS UP TO STANDARD

Figures Barnum & Bailey Circus.
$3.500.OoO invested. $500 average daily
expenses. Eighty nine double-length
1900 employees. $50 horses. 20 acres of
water proof canvas. - separate tents.
Twenty three advance SPECIALISTS.
Main tent $50 by 800 feet, seating 1880
people. $500 meals served daily In cook
Sixty ushers. Forty property men.
Office force of fourteen expert book
keepers, twenty-seven assistant treasurers,
six Of the highest salaried auditors In
Am Among eaiis the 500 performers. spaniards,
Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Arabians.
Aus t Ps;, English; French, German Ger 1tn,
ians.
Secret service department. Red Cross
department. presided by two ply
blacksmith shop. employing twenty lone
men: wagon shop, employing twelve men;
paint and carpenter shop. employing six
teen men; three veterinary surgeons.
Carries its attorney. Has its postman
and postoffice and weather forecaster.
of a million dollars 10 performing ele-
plants One robe worn by an elephant
Parade three miles long.
90 famous clowns.
1t was a real circus parade-Bar-
mum & Bailey in Topeka today.
| There were gorgeous wagons. with
bands atop of them, curvetting horses
and riders that looked as if they had
come right out of the fairy-story
| books. And there were lions and
tigers and elephants, all highly edu-
cational.
Yes, indeed, it was a real circus
parade, from the swell-looking hero
on horseback who led the way to the
calliope that brought up in the rear.
The parade took in a big section of
the city and the crowd that saw 1t
numbered way up in the thousands.
After the parade the crowd turned
| to the circus grounds and filled them
| rapidly. There was line before the
windows of the ticket wagons long
| before the hour of the first perform
ance, and when the ringmaster crack
ed his whip for the opening act the
big tent was damned.
Circus Army of 1880.
The big tent-'big top they call it
| in circus land-was erected this morn
| ing. and with that bit of work every
thing was in readiness for the crowds
| that were expected at the grounds.
+! The circus with its army of $50
men and women, three herds of ele-
plants and scores of Gagged animals,
and 700 beautiful horses arrived in
town this morning.
| Thousands saw the toilers of the
staff convert the bare lot and the ap-
parent tumble of canvas and timber
| into wonderland. The poles and slaves
of the main tent were in place and 1t
was a comparatively simple matter
to put up the huge canvas hall. The
big top is $40 feet long and will
seat 1890 people. This years con-
gress of freaks exhibited in the side
show is an attractive feature of sAoW
day.
A Complete City.
The crowd that witnessed the work
ers at their task this morning saw the
unfolding of a complete normal city.
| Every department of town organiza-
! ton, as far as it can be provided in
| a circus equipment. is provided FOR
There are fire and police departments.
an electric light plant, postoHce'
blacksmith and wagon works. harness
shop and a medical staff. The COM
missary arrangements of course, are
complete and perfect. The perform
ers and workers eat in huge mess
tent.
The circus represents an outlay OF
about $4.oOO.0o0. 1t must take IN
$1,000 every day it shows on the lot
to cover expenses.
The show bill is full of wonders.
There will be something to cape and
gasp at in all three of the rings pretty
nearly all the time. The newest feat
ure is majestic pageant entitled
Persia
The attendance this afternoon =
enormous. There will be a farewell
performance tonight at o'clock, the
doors opening at o'clock.
vssa 0aIaoF TIT v10MnFn