Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1914 — Ringling Bros. Circus in Chicago. [ARTICLE]

Ringling Bros. Circus in Chicago.

A reliable messenger of spring is the announcement that on Saturday, April 11, Rlngling Brothers’ big circus will begin its annual Chicago engagement at the Coliseum. It is said that the past winter’s preparations have been most productive of novelties and Innovations. Already a large force of carpvni s and mechanics are at work in the big Wabash avenue structure making ready to house the mammoth 8 9-car circus, which is soon to leave Its winter quarters at Baraboo, Wiis. Stage help, electricians and schnic artists are giving the finishing touches to the tralnload of scenery which is to be used in the colossal spectacle of "Solomon and the Queen of Sheba,” which will precede the regular circus program. Rehearsals for the ballet or 300 dancing girls are under way, directed by the famous ballet master Ottokar Bartrtk, of the Metropolitan Grand Opera House, New York City Costumers are busily engaged in fitting and refitting the tons of costumes required for the cast th&t includes 1,250 people, 735 horses and 32 camels. The arenic program is to be exceptionally brilliant this year, abounding foreign and American acts new to circusdom. The menagerie contains 1,003 wild gnlmals, 41 elephants, 5 giraffes and a “baby zoo.” A halfhundred clowns and harlequins will introduce satires on current events, 20 families of aeriellsts will perform miraculous stunts in mid-air, and the riding acts are best ever assembled in the history of circuses. Two performances will be given daily during a short season.—Advt.