The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-10-18
Greatest Show on Earth
Greatly Handicapped in
Keeping Local Date.
DELAYED TRAIN
STOP THE PARADE
Ten Thousand or More,
However, Witness an Alb
breviated Performance.

Pensacola witnessed its first tent
less circus yesterday, and the limo
vation proved an enjoyable one, fol
the crowd which usually sees only
the stage set, saw the equally in
teresting life behind the scenes, saw
the clown without his putty, Charlie
Chaplin without the mustache, and
the hundreds of other performers
without the spangles and cloaks they
don to hold the eye of the public.
They saw that trick elephant is q
mighty useful thing, as well as being
ornamental in the ring, when one OF
the great wagons bog to the hub in
mud. They saw what vast organi-
zation a circus really is; saw the
kitchen that would make big hotel
blush for shame; saw the actors and
actresses without the paint and
powder, without all the artificiality of
the spot lights and sawdust, and de-
cided that it was better than the
show itself, and a sight very seldom
seen.
But the show was the thing, and de-
spite the almost insurmountable OBJ.
stacles in the way of the managers
a very creditable performance was
given, witnessed by ten thousand
people.
Officials connected with the organi-
cation stated that it is the first time
that the Barnum and Bailey organi-
zation ever missed giving its entire
program in the same city on two oc-
casions, and it is the first time in
history that it was ever staged with
out the "big top"
/. Several years ago, this circus was
forced to cancel an engagement here
because the rain was so heavy that it
was impossible to move the wagons.
Covering a period of thirteen years
the circus has missed but two engage
ments on account of rain, the other
occurring in Topeka.
Delayed train schedules was the
first obstacle in the way of the circus
and the limited time made it practi-
cally impossible to move all of the
equipment to the grounds. On ar
rival here it was discovered that the
city had designated Government
street as the route for hauling the
equipment through the city, and that
the bad roads at the end of the pave
ment rendered it impossible to haul
the heavy wagons. For this reason,
much of the equipment was never un-
could be taken to the grounds were
presented.
The management of the circus
stated last tight that despite the dis
appointment of the crowds in omit
ting the parade, and one show, TINT
it was the best natured crowd they
had every seen.
But the crowd enjoyed itself in
specting the inside machinery of
circus when the top is taken off. and
delighted in the motor driven stake
driver, and better still, the old fash
ioned "twelve man power driver hit
ting on all twelve, and no man strik-
ing another's sledge hammer. The
electric power plant, the great
laundry, mess hall, and quarters all
came in for their inspection, and
offered a never ending variety of at
fractions to the inquisitive crowd.
Best of all, though, many discovered
the mysteries of packing a giraffe,
and to their surprise found that his
head is not tucked away in peri
scope, but that he is neatly folded.
like a steamer chair, and slipped in
a little box.