Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 112, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1904 — THE CARNIVAL SHOWS. [ARTICLE]

THE CARNIVAL SHOWS.

An Aggregation of Unusual Excellence Of the several carnival shows that have visited Rensselaer, the one here now, Robinson’s Amusement Company, is best, in every respect There is not a poor or ’•bum” show in the lot, which is more than coni J be said of any other ever here; and there are absolutely toobj ctionible, vulgar nor dem iraliziog fen'll esconueuted wit 1 any of the stump. Tlie free feature* Lave never been eqnalh d in merit I y any previously here. The Keech family in their trap z< nets are exlr i fine j and so is Mi’ile Orooco, ,wbo gives the spiral globe act near the K. of j P. building, and especially is her '

evening performance, which ends in a blaze of fireworks, a spectacle of rare excellence. As to the high dive by Nick Garter it far exoells any other of the kind ever seen here. He gives two performances a day, at 1:30 and 7:30 p. m. when ths weather permits Be springs off backwards from a sheer bight of 100 feet in the air, makes a complete summersault as be comes down, and lands safely in a four foot deep tank of water, with a splash .that sends barrels of the water surging over the top of the lank. He always “lands,” or rather “watera” feet down, with his body at an angle of 35 or 40 degrees. He weighs 140 pjunds, and strikes the water a blow of 14,000 pounds.

The Italian band that furnishes the free music is. itself worth ooming miles to bear; while the electric illuminations at night, are worth coming miles to see. As to the individual shows, to dssoribe them all in an extended manner would be too long an article. The Temple of Music, or Willards’ Theater, is a high class musical and theatrical performance, of unusual excellence. The Railroad Train Robbery is a very interesting realistic depiction, by life size moving pictures, of a train robbery and the, cleaning out of the robbers by valiant cow boys It is all right, Miss Jones gives a ‘’hypnotized” flying lady performance that for extent and completeness that compares with previous “Lunette the flying ladies” about as an oil paint ing by Whistler would compare with a 30 chromo, with the frame thrown in. It is wonderfully mystifying and wonderfully beautiful.

The Glass Blowers are thorough artists in that moat interesting art, and Hannah and her baby in the same tent, are an interesting and entirely unique attraction. Leanora, who “baffles all science” does the disappearing box trick to perfection, and if she does not baffle all science, she does baffle all who try to see how she does it Dreamland is another right good show, where by som<» ingenius hocus pocus people appear in strange forms, such as dwarf bodies with giant head, oat bodies with human beads etc., and the queer things they do mak e one of the funniest shows on earth. The Electrical Mysteries is the show in front of the post-office. Good judges say it is a right nice dean show; but being without any “bally-hooer” nor even a sign the people have not flecked into it very much as yet. The “Country Store” is managed by the Rathbone Sisters. A big range of articles are on the shelves and the customers pay 10 cents for a ticket and get what Dame Fortune gives them. Some one will get an organ for 10 cents, worth twice the money and then some. It is a right good organ. Big Willie, the Fatty Felix and then some of the oarnival, is truly

a marvel of abnormal human adipose developement. He is 18 years old, 5 feet four inches tall and 90 inches around. If he does not weigh the 592 pounds he is billed in at he certainly looks like he did. The Ferris Wheel and the Merry-go-round are all right, but like molaiaee, they need warm weather to make them run profitably.