Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-07-13

90 pHll.k bELPHiA. July 9. 1853.

To the Editor of The Standard
IL you read our papers you have doubtless seen
extensive advertisement headed, The Parisean
Hippodrome.' Well, "a few nights ago, L with the
rest Of mankind, went to see the elephant; and as
you will not be likely to have the opportunity
in North Carolina, will endeayor TO give you some
idea of the novelties presented
The ordinary preparation for circus exhibitions is
The architecture observed in the Partisan HiPpodrome
The scale is the difference the circus has one flag
staff in the centre, from which the canvas fails grace
fully, extending to the outer circle, while the Hip
podrome has dozen more. This impaTts TO the
latter and its white canvass, the appearance of clus
ter OF miniature mountains, all covered with snow
The in question is perhaps two hundred and fifty
feet in diametre, filing entire square, at the
corner of Broad and Locust streets. The interior
presents charming spectacle, did when l was
there. The poles which supported the canvass were
while, but stood at irregular points like SO many
small forest trees anc were interspersed with any
numt er of gas chandeliers. Around the outer edge
of the enclosure were seats, rising, above the
other to the height of perhaps ten feet. These were
filed and probably afforded good view to five
thousand spectators. Next TO the circle of seats
the outer circle Of the ring course. This
is thirty feet wide, and leaves in the centre of all
second ring about as large as that OF common crcns.
For purpose which detected, the larger ring,
or main race course, is oblong, making the turns
shorter at each end. At given signal, that is the
ringing of loud bell. about forty horses with their
male and female riders, and large NUMBER OF Pc
destrans representing knights, Squres and others,
entered from one eide, and moved gradually around
the main ring. This represented, the field of cloth
OF gold and the gaudy lrappings and gIittering ar
could not have done injustice the beautiful
original After variety Of evolulions this interest
ing and noiseess vanished amid great
The second spectacle of interest was SIX Partisan
ladies', well mounted, and at full speed for a mile
heat. This sufficiently exciting, hut was brought
to abrupt termination by of the horses falling,
and 10 all appearances, upon the very top of its rider,
and to all appearances, braking every bone in her
body, but she taken up, put upon her horse
,l,NS1,
of the spectators.
Three next entered the course, each riding
two horses you have in the circus, but with
tbs difference, they We're TO ride race, and real
race, and paid to do il 20 the letter, whatever the
result. They started at the sound of the BELL and
ran their mile out at full speed, with out accident,
and to the great delight Of all hands.
Next came the sport which has always distin-
guished the Hppodrome, the renowned chariot
We were all, myself among the rest, anxious, first
and foremost, TO see Chariot. Some how or other
had allowed my idea Of one of these vehicles 10
take very airy, delicate shape; what was my sur
prise. therefore, to three Drays, each with two
horses abreast, come flying into the ring They
were well made, handsomely painted, had only two
wheels, however. but the body! What is your idea
Of chariot body They were, for all the world, like
eight-square water pitcher narrowing towards the
top, and terminating in large rim. This latter
reached TO the ampits of the female charioteer and
afforded but little more space than necessary for
her to stand in. The bottom of this great pitcher
Inediatey behind the pitcher opening to walk
in at, but there was place to sill down. that atti
tude not being appropriate TO the chariot way you
fix it. But nothing for all this, they were
under way, and such race you never saw. The
shape of the ring began TO explain itself; hen
got ahead on the long side of the obiong the
horse naturally approached the turning point by
ming close upon the outer edge of the ring. This
gave the next an opportunity of cutting in on the
inner side, but at the next turning point il would be
dropped behind in the same way. This continued
all through, with rather too much regularity, that u.s.
The device rather indiffrenly kept up; for it is
evidently the object of the oval ring 10 place the
charios alternately before and behind. However, it
ended without accident, and the characters bowed
themselves out with considerable favor
Now, speaking candidly, can imag zine little ex
element about Bull6ght, but how a nation OF peo-
pie, respectable as the Greeks cracked up to
have been, could 20 into spasms at chariot race,
cannot possibly conceive. Why, you may ten
times as big scrfle among the Drays Pearl
street, at any hour of the day, and all for nothing
But the world is a curious toyshop, and there all
sorts Of purchasers.
There were a variety of other entertainments after
the races, but they were all of piece.
This is that glorious day. the Fourth of July, and
night, city authorities spend twenty thousand
dollars in fire works, to amuse us, hope, little
more than the Hppojrome. ] suppose you burn
little powder heretofore? My first public speech
was made the Fourth Of July. How many signs,
tears and ephemerel joys, have marked my toilsome
progress since that bright day Of bright and falla
cious hopes? How manyihears lhat then beat in
youthful throbs, still, forever quiet in the grave?
How many dreams, dreams that were woven from its
sunbeams, have vanished into thin air {? Where
that graced my brow, the fire that. But all was
vanity Of vanities then, and il is worse than nifty
to ask for them now. S. H.