The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-05-03

with "OlQ Glory HyluS dLOlL III
the early morning breeze from the
ridge every pole of the mammoth
tents of the Sparks shows the big cir
Gus invaded Fairmont today and ere
the sun went down had accomplished
a peaceful conquest Of the city.
The citizens capitulated gladly and
it was all in all conflict devoid OF
the horrors of actual warfare. The
small army of the shows funmakers
and gloom dispellers trained their
guns upon dull care and charming
femininity's eye batteries worked UNI
ceasingly and effectively upon the gal
riors their charms instantly disarming
the susceptible male members of the
species.
Their invasion of the down town dis.
trict was carried out just as planned
and although the whole city was arous
ed and turned out enmass as if by riot
call, the invasion was as welcome as
the arrival of relief ship by the Bel
gians OF the floating Of another loan
by the allies,
In plain English the Sparks show is
here again today and everybody is
happy. It arrived shortly after day
light from Clarksburg where it show
ed yesterday to big business and the
long trains Of the first section was I'M
loaded before most Of us had decided
to enjoy our daily plunge and a mil
lionaire's breakfast. There were fif-
teen cars in the first section loaded
with the tents and parade wagons and
more than a hundred head Of the finest
baggage stock ever seen here. The
teams Of six and eight horses hauled
the heavy wagons to the show ground
IN quick time and breakfast that look
ed good to the observer was served
to the three hundred employees short
ly after seven o'clock. The show Is
we'll equipped with canvas, all new,
and spotless white, parafned against
rain and the big tent has seating ca
pacity Of $500. 1t didn't take the
working men long to put up the ten
big tents Ind long before the bugle
sounded the parade was lined up
and ready for its long march through
the business section. 1t was a par
ade that was "a delight to the eye
and treat to the ear for there was
an abundance Of music that was a
harmonious blending Of sound and
not the customary blare Of untuned
brass. There were three bands, two
callIopes, the one shooting steam
skywards in the hands Of an artist
and display of horses that placed
the show In class by itself. Har-
nesses and trapping were new, the
drivers clean shaven and respectable
looking, they didn't smoke cigarettes
or swear at their steeds and they
were neatly uniformed. In fact, in
this respect the show displayed an
array Of wardrobe that bespoke law
ish expenditure. The ladies, all good
looking by the way, wore becoming
gowns Of plush silk and satin OF var.
led and effective coloring that formed
q pleasing ensemblage. The cages
and dens were rich In furnishings Of
gold leaf and varnish and the open
dens Of animals displayed some heal
thy specimens Of the forest and jun
gle. The customary herd of elephants
and camels ambled along at the end
Of the long procession and then
came the lusty lunged spielers an
nouncing the free show on the show
grounds. The crowd as usual ODE
diently fell in behind and went out
and took In the pit show and side
shows and spent the time pleasantly
until the big show began. The per-
Torrance was In keeping with the
Sparks standard and pleased every
one Of the thousands present. The
seals, the trained elephants, the spin.
ming. pony, the aerialists, the up side
down man, the riding and o., course
the clown that were genuinely CONT
eGl Ill Wed with each ethar 70 put W