The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-24

The circus Is in Birmingham-the largest that moves-the gigantic af- fair floating the magic gonfalon of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey, and with the advent of this circus grandmothers of ruthless office bows are due for such 8 devastation as comes only upon circus day The circus comes here from Tupelo upon 100 double length red and vel low cars, crammed to the brim with everything that brings joy to pop | eyed urchins and their elders who retain Pollyana ideas as far as the circus is concerned, the first train arriving with the early streaks of dawn. Youngsters won't have to be prodded from bed this morning of all mornings, and hundreds will be on | hand with the arrival of the first train eager and willing to tote water to obese elephants, curry comb zebra or ride a docile camel from the trains to the show grounds at Smith park.
 It was very early this morning that Old John, sagest of the 40 pachy- derms in the big herd. began to un- 1 load himself. The other elephants walk down gangway placed against the side of the elephant cars, but John, who has been circusing since the days of P. T. Barnum, himself, refuses to compromise himself by any such unworthy performance. l When Johns mahout tells him that | it is his turn John backs up to the side door of the car. carefully puts one hind leg over the side to the ground, and then, leg by leg, hoists his huge bulk from the train. When he is all out he waits patiently for the more common elephantine minds to be unloaded, pokes out his diminur tive tall for the others to hook onto, and trumpets, Let's go."
 o o o
 On own Motive Power.
 The camels, elephants. sacred cat tie, zebras, yaks, and what the circus folk call the led" animals make the ! hike from the trains to the grounds under their own motive power, es- corted by scores of eager young sters, while the giraffes, the mother hippo" and baby. the armored rhi- noceros, Mrs. Soudana and her infant monkey, Jitney, and other aristocrats of the jungle travel comfortably in scarlet and gold dens and cages safe from the profane and curious eyes of inquisitive youngsters of all ages.
 There will be no parade Wednes- day morning; in fact, none has been staged by this circus in three years. Instead the entire morning with ev- cry ounce of horse and man power will be utilized in installing the en- campment of 80 tents, which by the noon hour are expected to be erected
 
 grounds for all the world like a clucking hen and it's brood of chicks, and where throughout Wednesday bankers will ballyhoo, lions roar, bands flare and children laugh and dance with joy.
 Some day a genius will outdo Web ster and coin words more descrip- tive of a circus than great" "colos- sal," "stupendous" and gigantic" but until that day arrives they are the only words in the dictionary that fit the present-day Ringling and Barnum merged circuses.
 Seats 10000 People.
 The main tent seats 16,000 people and there are 12 private dressing tops" for as many stars of the cir GUS. Over 700 horses of all breeds are carried and there are over 500 men and women performers. The organization carries it's own lawyer, detectives, physician, veterinarian, blacksmiths, wheelwright, postmas- ter-is in fact self-contained com munity within itself Meals are served in 8 huge dining tent by scores of white-coated walters, and the early morning meal served is a sight for dietitians to behold. To oplookers 1t appears to have been culinarily and architecturally de- signed for beautiful Belinda, world S fattest woman.
 Performances will be given at 9 and 8 o'clock Wednesday, and Thurs day the circus exhibits in Chatta- nooga.
 Much that is new is promised on the monster program which starts off with a pageant designed espe- cially for the little folks and offer ing scores of story book characters beloved of the youngsters. The trained wild animal acts are the best that Europe could furnish. Shyest of all the performers are the six baby elephants, Q new feature this year. The horse may have been driven from the streets of the cities, but he remains an integral part of this circus. One hundred superbly trained stallions are seen in single act. In every line of arenic skill only acknowledged champions will be seen, and the whole affair bears the Ringling- -Barnum seal of excellence.