The Washington herald., 1922-05-16
MRS. HARDING GETS OVATION
FROM BIG CIRCUS AUDIENCE
Capacity Crowds Visit
Famed Show-Two Per-
formances Today.

Capacity crowds attended the
opening performance of Ringing
Brothers = Barnum and Bsiley's
combined circus yesterday.
Occupying a box In the center OF
the grandstand at yesterdays mati-
nee. as guest of Iohn lahgling.
owner OF the big show. was Mrs.
Warren G. Harding. wife of the
President. Mrs. Harding was ac-
companied BY Mrs. Edward B. Mo
Lean and the Mclean children
They arrived in a White House au-
tomobile and entered through the
stage entrance ard were, escorted
across the arena by Mr. Ringling,
who sat with them during the per.
formance. Mrs. Harding was ac-
corded an ovation.
Huge Ape Is Puzzle.
An Interesting feature wholly
without the big show. but which Is in
corporated In one of the side shows.
is a huge ape which just arrived
yesterday. The species of the ami
NAL has not been determined by
naturalists, according to Clyde
Ingles, manager of the exhibit. Mr..
Ingles said the ape was captured
in Dutch East Rorneo several years
ago. He is larger than the average
man and. while rated as being
fierce, seemed tractable. He Is kept
in a cage which will not permit
complete relaxation. He weighs
more than 300 pounds officials of
the National Geological Park will
be invited to view the monster.
Clowns and Acrobats Please.
In the big top clowns romped
merrily, acrobats caused gasps of
wonderment. while artistic ex-
hlbits drew thunderous applause.
The voluble press agent announced
in the grand souvenir program
that the displays are dedicated ito
the Riddle you borrowed to bring
(you) to the circus"
IF course. every show has its star,
and the Ringing Circus Is no ex-
ception. Dainty petite Lillian Lett
zet, queen of gymnasts, fills this role
and hes title is undisputed. All other
acts are halted while hers is staged.
Grasping the looped end Of a rope
with one hand she is drawn into
the air midway between canvas and
ground where in the glare of nu-
merous spotlights she throws her
body over her shoulder for upwards
of seventy times. 1t Is said by gym
nasts that no one has ever been
able to perform this feat except Miss
Leitzel.
Beautiful Animal Act.
An act of beauty Is that of Nine
Ella Bradna and her beautiful milk
white horses, dogs and pigeons. The
act is series CT surprises. At the
climax scores of pigeons are liber-
ated from cage in the top of the
tent and they come futtering to their
smiling mistress in the ring light
ing on her aIms shoulders and head.
Then a baby cariole drawn by a big
"hite shepherd dog rolls in bearing
the label Pigeon Hotel" whereupon
they all f1utter inside and are drawn
Iway. A smashing finish is an en-
semble of Mime. Bradna. horse. dogs
and pigeons with white carriage
in which they make their exit.
All Loyal and his dogs including
the only known clown dog in the
world charmed with their antics.
Bears ON skates.
Trained animal acts were fea-
tured at the opening Of the show
with the Shroeders displaying polar
bears, Peter Radke with man-eat-
ing African lions, Miss Kildare and
Miss Rush with their beasts of the
Jungle; the Pallenbergs with clown
bears doing everything from roller
skating to walking on stills. Olga
Celeste exhibiting complete control
over a herd of leopards, and NJ.
Philadelphia with his group OF
trained leopards
Miss Mabel Stark showed won
derful work with a cage of man
eating tigers and a black leopard.
said to he the only one known. 1t
is claimed that never before have