Evening journal., 1919-05-17
CIRCUS JOYS ARE
NOW A MEMORY
Thrills Galore Under Big
Tent for Thousands of
Delighted Folk
HAPPY CROWDS
DESPITE MUD

Probably the most densely-populated
spot in America yesterday afternoon
and evening was the tract OF land
stretching riverNards from Market and
TNcniy-ninth streets and temporarily
the home Of the Hiugling Brothers and
Barnum and Bailey Combined Circus.
That il was one Of the largest circus
crowds ever assembled in Wilmington,
Will be fcrNenily testified by the thou
sands who had 10 brace back with all
their streiglh TO avoid crushed ribs.
The crowds followed the parade out
TO The circus grounds on foot, by jit-
ney, and clustered like flies on the in
side and outside Of trolley cars. Every
APPROACH 10 The grounds was an incXlri-
cable tange Of autos. refrcshment
stands. circus-goers, balloon and nov
city souvenir vendors, street cars. and
an occasional big circus van with six
or eight white horses.
Many secured seats in the monster
tent, which covered acres OF ground,
before 4 o'clock. and had a long wait
for the performance, which did not get
under way before 4 o'clock. From noon
until midnight there was a reverend
ing stream Of people 10 and from, in
and out. and around the tents.
The high price OF cones, souvenirs,
and other circus trimmings, was rath-
er a shock TO this years patrons. but
did not visibly interfere with sales.
There was an unusually large repre-
sentation from down the State. VIII
minglon relatives enjoyed a sudden
popularity with ont Of town cousins.
The circus people share the feelings
Of the soldiers regarding mud. The
muddy roads made slow work for the
heavy vans and trucks, and put the
circus behind schedule yesterday. It
meant an enormous amount Of work
upon The part OF hundreds OF men 30
get the big tent" and all its appur-
tenances ready in time for the after
noon show.
Not only was the big show and the
nenagerie the source OF unallOyed JOY.
especially to the young. although
everyone Is young who attends the
circus, but the side show, with its
gians pigmies, dwarfs. missing
links" bearded lady. stout" lady,
sword swallOwer. tatOoed lady. Congo
the Ape Man and other curiosities was
also a centre OF attraction for those
who enjoy the bizarre and unusual.
The big show was entirely satisfac-
tory. The clowns were funny, The per-
forming geese were amazing. and tho
cleverness OF the trained seals gave
many people serious doubts as 10
whether they would not replace their
Faithful Fidos with trick Sammy Seals.
There were horse races, and monkey
and pony races, acrobats, and death
iegying thriller acts. The Red Cross
1urse scene acted out by the elephants
was one Of the best-liked events. The
effort Of trying to see everything on a.i
the rings and stages at once. annually
INDUCED in by this community. was
harder than ever to achieve This year.
Today. many a Wilmingtonian is
having the dickens OF time keeping
his mind on his work with that mind
brim fun Of white horses, beautiful
riders. humping calliopes, whlrling
ch9riois. cutting-up clowns, flying
irapeze men, siS-story giraffes, and all
the rest OF the noisy. sparkling, brilliant
AIRY OF humans and animals commonly
known as 1.-THE circus