Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-07-14
Soats, Dogs and Monkeys-A Queer
Exhibitions.


now On exhibition IN New York. The fol-
lowing detailed account will be found III
teresting;
one of the funniest public shows that we
have seeh in many years, is now IN luii
blast at the Astor Place Opera House, New
York A dozen monkeys, four or hive dogs
ADD an educated goat, perform as regular
theatrical characters, exhibiting some OF
the most curioas monkey tricks magma
Die. We went there the other evening and
found the house crowded In the first
scene we saw a miniature dinner table, with
dinner and fxings thereon, at which SIX
tashionably dressed monkeys were seated.
They were waited on by Frenchman,
who, at the moment our first glimpse, was
going round the table filling the wine-glas-
SEES, each monkey in turn holding his glass
up over his right shoulder, and when it was
filled, drinking off his toast and water with
considerable grace. After going through
all the routine of good dinner, (mon-
key waiting-maid, dressed as prlm as
possible, came running in, and, taking the
two candles from the hand of the exhibitor,
ran off with them behind the scenes /; and
the curtain fell. The next scene was a
performance on the slack rope by two mon
KEYS IN succession, and the following were
the feats executed. The rope was arrang-
cd like a common swing. The monkey
performer first enjoyed swing in the usu-
al manner going as high as the scenery
slermitted; the motion, however, being COM
nunicated by the hand of the exhibitor
Then the monkey stood upon the rope, land
swung as high as before. Finally he turn
ed somerset, after the manner Of slack
rope dancers; then another; then backward;
then half dozen; and concluded by somer-
setting continuously, like Wheel with
great rapiditv. There was next perform
ance on the tight-rope. The monkey OF
this scene was dressed IN the usual style OF
rope dancers, and was assisted by white
balancing pole, which he held gracefully,
and really appeared to depend upon for
preserving his equilibrium. AT first, he re-
fused to begin. The music struck up, the
master coaxed and threatened, but the gen.
;leman remained immovable at the further
end of the rope. A thought strikes the at
tendant; he has forgotten to chalk the mon
keys feet This done, Jake seIzes his
pole, and dances along to the end OF the
rope, back again to the middle, leaps into
the air, many times in succession, Jumps
over his pole, both forward and backward,
loses his balance, falls and catches the rope
by one hand, swings there for q moment
IS replaced, jumps again, and so on to the
end cf the scene. Next, enter a carriage
drawn by two white dogs, monkey coach
man on the box, monkey footman standing
behind, monkey "marchioness" inside, ar
rayed in riding dress of black satin
They drove around the stage several times
AT length wheel comes of, down goes
the carriage, the marchioness leaps to the
groand, the footman picks up the wheel and
rolls it to the carriage, the coachman flies
to his horses head and holds them fast
The marchioness walks to The chair placed
for her accommodation, holding up her long
dress in very lady-like style, land remains
seated till her vehicle is repaired when
she bounds again into i. and drives off,
Then there were some equestrian exercis-
es, the horses being dogs, and the riders
monkeys. Then goat was introduced,
which walked on its knees, fired off pis-
tol by pulling string attached to the triS-
ger, and did various other feats. A large
white dog was the next performer, whose
doings were perhaps as surprising as those
of any other member Of the troupe. AT
first, he merely ran round and round the
stage; at signal from the exhibitor, he
lifted one of his forefeet, and ran on the
other three, as though he had become sud
denly lame then he changed the magma
ny lameness to his other forefoot; then to
one of his hindfeet; then TO the other
next, he was lame in his right forefoot and
his left hindfoot, at the same time gallop-
ing around on two feet only; last, and most
wonderful of all, he lifted from the grorn3
one forefoot and one hindfoot on The same
side, and in that extraordinary manner ran
round the stage rapidly several times. The
pantomimic scene of the "Deserter, Great
ed considerable amusement. The deserter
was personated by dog dressed in the IL
inform of a French soldier. He took his
place on the stage very demurely. An adj
vocate in his robes produced the legal au-
thority for the execution. When all was
ready, the eyes of the Deserter were BAN
daged, monkey soldier advanced, took
aim and fired. The Deserter fell forward,
dramatically dead and though the exhibit
or lifted him roughly by one leg, he made
no notion and his limbs hung down lam
guidly. Then came the grave digger, with
lantern, spade and black deadcart. The
dead body was placed in it. away went the
monkey sexton, drawing his load in the
dawdling, mechanical manner OF a monkey
who was used to it. Toward the close Of
the evening the entertainments were vari-
ed by the Revolutionary Hero, or the ''re-
volving man." This individual spun round
upon one leg, with something like the ra-
pidlty of a humming top-fast enough, at
least, for the colors of his dress to blend,
and the parts of his body to be undistln-
guishabe. But more: while thus revolving,
he held on each hand large dinner plate,
and on each plate there were three or four
tumblers half full of colored water; and, to
his immortal honor be it recorded not a
drop was spilled. The performances clos
cd by 'the ascension of the dog John Bull,
surrounded by a brilliant display of fire.
works" John seized the end of a rope in
his teeth, and though he was lifted twenty
feet from the stage, and surrounded by
scmi-volcano of fireworks. vet did the gal
liant Bull cling TO the ropes end with the
tenacity with which the King of Terrors is
popularity supposed TO adhere to a son of
Africa, whose spirit has taken its flight 10
another and better world Such are the
entertainments which have attracted over
whelming audiences, night after night,