Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-02-28
SIDE LIGHTS on the
CIRCOS BUSINESS

Jack LeClair, clown of the Ringing
Bros circus, is playing the w. V. M
A. time with a comedy acrObatic act,
called Trolley Car Duo. Jack says he
doesn't expect to be found under the
white tops this year, as he comes IN
the draft, and has been placed in
class l.
+ + + +
Although I have not been able to
get the opening dates of the big shows
yet, they will undoubtedly go out on
schedule time, as in former years.
The names of Adam Forepaugh, P. T.
Barnum, James A. Bailey and many
others, all along down the line to the
great Ringlings of today, will go down
in history as men that made joy out
of sorrow for millions of people. LONG
LIVE THE CIRCUS.
+ + + / +
There is every indication that there
will be a large number of tent shows
in California in the spring, as news
from railroad Offices indicates that
several organizations have already
made contracts for movements. Word
received here recently indicates that
among the circuses, the Sells-Floto
shows will make California in the
spring, and AL. G. Barnes expects to
fn Canada
where General Agent w. K. Peck is at
present, making contracts. The Bern
ardi Greater Exposition shows, winter
ing at4Palo Alto, will start out from
there;f, one Wortham show from
Texas; will route it's way through there
and one now at Kent, Wash, will play
pretty close to San Francisco from
the north, in addition to the various
small tricks" which go out every
season.
7 + + +
According to a route book of Al.
G. Barnes circus, received last week
(thanks, Mr.. Sender) the show dur
ing the past season. travelled 16,
miles, gave 485 performances (246 mat
inees and 239 night shows) and lost
ten performances. The circus opened
at Santa Monica, Calf, on March 5,
and closed at Long Beach, Calf.
Crawford Fairbanks, one Of the
largest stockholders of the Hagen
beck Wallace circus, has turned over
his residence, one of the finest and
most costly in the city, to the Red
Cross. Mr.. Fairbanks is now at his
winter home at Miami, Fla.
t i + !
1t was something like a dozen
years ago, while the Barnum & Bal
ley show was exhibiting in GAINESVILLE
that | had a long visit with Mr.. Bal
ley, and then told him that l thought
he had followed the business long
enough and asked him why he did
not turn. it over into other and hands
and retire. 1t was then that he told
me that when his time came he want
ed to die listening to the band. While
he died at his country home few
miles out of New York where it was
impossible for him to hear the band
play, yet his great show was going on
and the band was playing just the
same when the end. came. At M
Bailey's death the careers of two Of
the greatest showmen of that time
ended. In the year book of 1891 is a
detailed account of the death and
burial of P. T. Barnum, as follows:
"Just before time for the commence
ment of the evening performance a
telegram was received announcing
the death of the Hon. P. T. Barnum.
In less than fifteen minutes after the
news was received the streets were
thronged with newsboys selling extras
announcing that the end had come.
The New York morning papers con-
tanned many beautiful eulogies chron-
icling the death of Mr. Barnum. No
exhibitions were given on account of
his death Flags were displayed at
half mast on the Garden and many
public buildings. Business was en-
tirely suspended at Bridgeport and
the entire city was draped in mourn
ing out of respect to the late and
honored townsman. The funeral SER
vices were held at the South church,
the RewsRobert Colyer delivering the
sermon. The church was packed al
most to t'suffocation and thousands
gathered outside unable to gain ad-
mission. Among those in attendance
NO SEEDS THIS YEAR