A reporter for the Galesburg Weekly Mail wrote “The greatest show on earth” had possession of Galesburg on Monday, August 5, 1897. This is a nearly verbatim report of the visit of the Barnum and Bailey's Circus. The circus arrived from Rock Island on Sunday morning and spread its canvas sky over the Knox College ball park. Long processions of carriages filed out East Main Street all day long and great crowds gathered about the grounds to get a glimpse behind the scenes of show life.

At 10:30 Monday morning the parade of the circus moved from the show grounds in the usual circuit around the Public Square and down Main Street. The street was lined with spectators who extracted the usual pleasure from the panorama of gilded chariots and well groomed horses. The most striking feature of the parade was the forty-horse team, which draws the main chariot. They were driven four abreast and in patent leather trappings with gaily colored plumes; they attracted much attention and admiration.

That afternoon the first performance of the show was given. The reporter seemed to think the presentation was fully up to the high standard set by Barnum. The circus performance proper began with the revival of the great entree of olden times and made a big hit. Then followed two hours of clever circus work, beginning with three herds of performing elephants who gave an exhibition of training far superior to anything of the kind ever seen here before. Following the elephant act was a tumbling act by a score of thoroughly trained atheletes.

Then came the star attractions with three women riders attended by female clowns, a woman ringmaster and women object holders.

Numerous groups of trained animals appeared with credit to their owners and trainers. Especially worthy of comment was the appearance of Professor John O'Brien and his seventy horses under marvelous control. The bareback riders were all of a high class. The arialists gave some very startling evidence of their supremacy in that line. There were the usual performances on the bars, trapeze and other paraphernalia, all of which were well worth seeing.

The performance closed with a variety of races and a concert. The performance was to be repeated in the evening and it was expected a large crowd would attend.

It was also reported that a baby leopard had  been born in the menagerie of the circus on Sunday morning. It was christened “Galesburg” and presented to Mayor F.F. Cooke. He proposed to bring it up to maturity for a pet.

As a boy Carl Sandburg would get up at the crack of dawn, eat a slab of homemade bread with butter spread on it and hurry off to the circus grounds. His hope was to help water the animals or perform some other menial job in order to get a ticket to the performance. On one occasion he had crawled under the edge of the tent to see inside. He was rudely pulled out by his legs and told to go elsewhere.

This year the Barnum and Bailey and Ringling Brothers Circus closed. The elephants were sent to their retirement home and we have only memories of a colorful delight.