Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 113, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1915 — SPARKS’ CIRCUS HERE FOR TWO PERFORMANCES [ARTICLE]

SPARKS’ CIRCUS HERE FOR TWO PERFORMANCES

Parade This Morning Was a Veritable Riot of Color and Fiiie Trappings. Spring is here. There is no doubt about it. We are never sure that we are safe to put on our knee length B. V. D.’s until the baloon man, the noise of the squawker, the scream of the caliope and the shouts of the leather lunged speiler are heard once more in our midst. But today we have them all and the circus besides and we were among the many others whp took a ride out to the circus grounds with the kids of course, and the good wife too, and once more saw a performance that was about as good as anyone could expect to witness under a circus tent.

The Sparks show is no stranger here and has given us some clever performances in the past. This year the program is all new and contains many features are not only new but above the average in merit. A visit to the circus grounds reveals the fact that 'the show is comparatively all new this season. The tents, wagons and everything about the grounds, bespeak lavish expenditure and it is very evident that the proprietor, the genial Charles Sparks, is, to say the least, an optimist. The war scare or the conditions said to exist about the country did not prevent ham this season from sparing no expense to make the tour a memorable one in the history of the show and he is from all appearances prepared to give the crowd he looks to patronize his exhibition, the full worth of their money. The parade this morning was a veritable riot of color with some of the finest horses, the most beautiful tableaux wagons and trappings ever seen here with any hsow. In one respect the show this season has wan the thanks of a long suffering public. There was no ear splitting steam piano. In its place was a caliope using compressed air and the music ground out by the operator was real music, not unlike that of a mammoth pipe organ. It was really a pleasure to listen to it.

The attendajnce at the afternoon show was good and the performance pleased everyone. Captain Tiebor’s trained seals were the feature and they gave a wonderful act juggling jails and batons of fire, walking up and down ladders and balancing different objects on their noses to the delight of everyone. The Orton family presented a thrilling wire walking act and the McLain’s were clever performers on the trapeze. The two herds of elephants, one of them worked by a lady, went through their stunts in a clever manner and succeeded in playing musical instruments and talking through a telephone in a way that surprised everyone. There was some goodjriding by the Guices and Flora Bednii, and the Reynards rode bicycles and’ single wheels with an abandon that was startling. The clowns were there with a lot of new foolery and all of the acts were above (the average. The pony on the revolving tank was a great closing feature and was greeted with shouts of delight. In the after show Herr Fritz Brunner presented a positive thriller with his sou rlions working in a large steel arena. He concluded his wonderful performance by having the lions sit around a table while he fed them raw meat from his hare hands. As is always the case with the Sparks show there was not a semblance of trouble, the officials were all courteous and the Show is one that appeals to every lover of high class, clean amusement. Tonight doubtless another large audience will be present for the show is in every way worth seeing.