Evening star., 1931-05-18
|CROWDS THRILLED
| AS CIRCUS ARRIVES
Thousands See Wild Animals
UnIoaded-ChiIdren Help
Water Elephants.

Washingtonians, big and small, capi-
tulated today to the thrills of the
Greatest Show on Earth
Long before the spectacular parade of
performers and wild animals started the
dizzy cycle of circus events, the tented
city that sprang up yesterday on the
old Camp MeigS site, at Fifth street and
Florida avenue. was crowded with thou
sands OF expectant children and grown
ups, eager to be first in line at the
initial matinee performance.
Combining the two most famous cir
cuses OF the old, romantic days under
the big top" Ringing Bros. and Bar
mum and Bailey-pames that are boy
hood reminders to most adults-has
come to Washington again for its ira
dltioDal two-day stand. New faces and
new Ieats OF daring and skill, together
with the greatest managerie ever as
seHD1ed under canvas, are heralded
WIN iamlIiar events that never seem to
lose thelr lure for the circus lover. For
the thousands who can't leave school
and business today there will be other
performances tonight and tomorrow aft
erhoon ana evening before the tented
CITY rolls away again.
Circus Trains Are Late.
The four trains that brought the cir
Gus 10 town yesterday were about two
hourS late, but early arrivals waited
patiently TO watch the roustabouts and
circus crews unload and water and feed
tne huge collection of animals from Ali
parts of the world go
While go colcred men dragged sec
ions OF the big top" into place and
otner gangs grunted and sang as thev
alose t IN tne thousands of stakes, the
SaaH CsHEea CITY with amazing swiftness took
uennlte form. But the four circus
trains. with their 1000 or more Of
ANIMALS and 500 people, was the sne-
cial treat for the kiddies. who scrarn-
Died over themselves TO volunteer to
elephants.
The nine-ton sea a-elephant-ouite a
alnerent sort Of elephant from the
kn2Wn African yariety-had a car ali
There are TOO horses travelling with
are trained to entertain in the rinn
among the 900 inhabitants of the
circus city are 800 internationally ac-
Grained spangled performers.
Makes Daring Dive.
Among the trained features in the
lourtn traln was the Orland-Mara sem
' sasion' a breath-taking display. in
which Orland, with pretty Miss Mara
cEnging securely to his back dives
Ircm the dome of the tent tn land ,Ino,3
his chest far below on a toboeesn
| chute. eah
The flying Codonas, with Alfredo the
only man accomplishing a triple sorner-
sauit In midair to a hand-to-hand
catch, are with the circus again this
year. But the presence of Alfredo Co
narda will be poignant with sad mem
orfes, for it was his wife, Lillian IeitzeI
a star performer Of last year, who was
nung to her death in a circus at Vienna
few months ago
The matinee tomorrow will begin Mt
O'Clock and the night shows at a
O'Clock. The tent has a seating capacitv
OF 10000 The side-show features af-
ford additional attraction.
Ihere are many funny clowns-i00
II you count them. Hugo Zacchini, the
human projectile, who is shot headlong
from the muzzle of seige gun across
the tent, is another old and never tir-
ing feature. Con Colleano, the king
OF all wire artists; Luecita Leers. Eli.
ropes darling of aerial gymnastics; the
Wallendas. two troupes of dare-deviIs
who do hair-raising stunts on lO0-foot
wires in the peak of the tent without
protecting nets, besides a score of other
famous artists. also are among the main
features in this years show.