The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-07-12

THE QUADRuPED THEATRE.

THE QUADKU FED HEA RE.
Such OF our readers as have never seen any
account of tue troupe OF monkeys. dogs and
coats performing at the Astor Place Opera
Aouse New York, will be interested in the fol
IoSjag description from the Home Journal:
When entered the performance had COM
raepced. On the stage was a table arranged
ss ior dinner, ut which six fashionably dressed
r,3nkeYs were seated, They were waited on
b, Frrnchmaa, who, at the moment Of our
Ersi glimpse, was going round the table filling
the wiaG glasses, each monkey III turn holding
g., glass up over his right shoulder, and wnen
was tlled. drinking off his toast and water
with considerable grace. This, it appeared,
vas the bumper al parting, for a moment after,
(moRheyl waI!lngmaId came running in, and
rsking the Candle from the hand of the exhib-
.or ran Of with II behind the scenes; and the
curtain lei.
The next scene was a performance on the
slack rope by two monkeys III succession, and
;le following we're the teats executed. The
rope was arranged like common swing. The
monkey performer 6rst enjoyed swing in the
ssaal manner, going us high us the scenery
permitted; the motion, however, being com.
muaicaied bv the hand of the exhibitor. Then
the monkey siCod upon the rope and swung as
high as before. Finally, he turned u somerset
ii er the manner OF slack rope dancers; then
another, tnen backwards, then half Il dozen,
and concluded by sOmersetling continuously,
Ike wheel, with great rapidity. There was
Hext g performance on the tight rope. The
monkey OF this scene was dressed in the usual
STYLE Of rope dancers, and was assisted by
wuile balancing pole, which he held graceful
w. Lud really appeared 10 depend upon for
preserving his equilibrium. Al first he refused
10 bcgia.
The music struck up, the master coaxed and
threatened, but the gentleman remained mmov-
able at the further end Of the rope. A thought
strikes the attendant; he has forgotten to
chalk tie monkeys foot. This done, Jocko
sezes his pole and Ounces along 10 the end OF
the rope, back again 10 the middle, leaps into
the air many times in succession. jumps over
h pole, bolh forwards and backwards, loses
his balance, falls and clutches the rope by one
hand. swings there for a moment, is replaced,
jamps up again, and so on TO the end of the
scene. Next enter carrlage drawn by two
white dogs, monkey coachmen ON the box
monkey foomen standing behind, monkey
marchioness' inside, arrayed in dress OF
black satin. They driyeI around the stage se-
Veral times.
aAt length the wheel comes of, down goes
the carriage. the marchoness leaps TO the
ground, the footmau picks up the wheel aud
rolls II 10 The carriage, the coachman flies to
the horses heads and hold them fast. The
Jnarc ch!Uness walks 10 a chair placed for her
accommodation, holding up her long dress in
very lady like style, and remains seated Till
her wheel is repaired, when she bounds again
INTO it and drives Off Then there were some
equestrian exercises-ihe horses being dogs,
and their riders monkeys. Then a goat was
introduced. which walked on lis knees, fired
on pistol by pulling string attached TO the
Trigger, and did various other feats. large
white dog was the next performer, whose
donss were, perhaps, as surprising as those of
any other member of the troupe.
At first he merely ran round and round the
stage: az u signal from the exhibitor, he lifted
one OF MS fore feet, and ran on the other three,
as though he had become Suddenly lame then
ne changed the mag mary lameness TO his other
ioFe foot; then TO one OF his hind feet then to
the other; next he WAS lame in his right fore
Ioo' and his left hind loot, al the same time gal
lopihg around on two feet only last, and most
wonderful OF all, he lifted from the ground one
tore loot aud one hind foot on the same side, and
IN that extraordinary manner ran round the
stage rapidly several times.
Inc pantom!ne scene OF the 'desertef" Great
cd considerable amusement.
The deserter was personated by a dog Dress
cd III the uniform of French soldier. He took
his place on the stage very demurely. An ad-
vocaIe in bis robes produced the iegal authori
y tor The execution. When all was ready, The
eyes of the deserter were bandaged. monkey
soldier advanced, took aim, and fired. The de
serter iell forward, dramatically dead aud
though the exhibitor lifted him roughly by one
leg, he made no motion, and his limbs hung
down laaguidIy. Then came the grave dig
ger, with lantern, spade, and blacx K dead cari.-
ne dead body was placed in IL, and away went
me monkey sexton, drawing his load 10 The
da"dilng, mechanical manner OF a monkey
VINO was used 10 it. Towards the close OF the
evening the entertainments were varied by the
revolutionary hero alluded 10 above as the ''re-
FoiFing man." This individual spun round
apon one leg with something OF the rapidity OF
4 huinnhng Top enough AT least for the CO.
,ofS OF ms dress TO blend, and the parts OF MS
body TO be undistnguishable.
But more: while thus revolving he held
upon each hand large dinner plate, and upon
each plate there were three or four tumblers
bli Iuii OF coiored water, and TO his immor-
tai honoF be If recorded, not drop spilled. The
performances closed BY the " ascension of the
dog John Bull, surrounded by brilliant dis
play q FIRE. works" John seized the end OF a
rope III his teeth, aud though he wns lifted Up
twenty feet from The stage, and surrounded by
a seaii-yolcano of fireworks, yet did the gall
'ai.i Bul cling 10 the ropes end with the tena-
Gjiy viii, " hich the hiog of Terrors is popn
9arly supposed 10 adhere 10 Il sun of Africa,
whose spirit has taken Eight To another and
Heiler 9oTid. such are the entertainments
Which have Attracted oserw 3elmiDg audiences,
Oight aiisI night, ~si,e the Thermometer has
pesh ranging from eighty degrees 10 tile stew
iag point.
~ George Barrett, tar actor-Gentleman
"eofge-now keeps millinery store in Brook
Ign.