The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-11-04
Elephant Pcrforma mancc-..A minated Lad.

PARIS, September II, 1854.
Since saw an elephant stand on his head
at the circus in Paris ! have not been more
amused than was an evening or two since
at the Cirque de fImpcratrice. The Gle.
plants were evidently young and very docilc
creatures, and appeared in the immense area
Of saw-dust &C., 10 be somewhat smaller
than usual. They were handled by mus
cular fellow, who had more control over them
than any mahout | ever saw in lndla.-They
waltzcd, danced, promcnadcd, and Wdiled on
Hcir kedds ! never laughed more in my
life than at their singular performance. 10
sec the trunk and t,iSks lace themselves firm
" on a small raised platform in the ring, and
then to behold the huge slouchns legs and
diminutve tail gradually elevated, the act
disclosing vas, -xpanse Of dirty, tawney.
looking belly, was infinitely ludicrous.
A reward of cracker or an apple invara
bly, elected repetition, and once, in the ar
dor Of success, one aspiring animal tumbled
forward onto his back His fall shook the
house and for q moment or two discomposcd
him but he quickly recovered himself, and
soon clnulated his companion, who in his un-
natural attitude had been quiet but obser-
wing spectator Of the effects Of n too lofty
! throwing OF the hind legs towards the ceiling.
FcatS with their trunks were exhibited III
profuSion, but the ground and lofty tumbling
and the Waiting were things, to me, as SUI
preIncy ridiculous as they were wonderfully
industrious. They circulated their keeper,
, at his command, in every direction, saluted
the audience embraced each other, and
gracefully retired from the arena; bearing
between them the hipcd whose stature, in
comparison, appeared 50 contemplate, and
overwhelmed with applause and laudatlOna
. from the delighted spectators All Paris
/ iockcd to see them during the engagement,
and the owner, suppose, rcapcd 4 handsome
fortune.
, The animated ladder is also an oxtraOrli-
nary performance. Nerve, skill and compo
sure distinguished the individual who mmor.
talizes himself nightly for five francs sight
/ lie mounts a narrow ladder some ten feet
high, and from the topmost round really ap
pears to imbuc it with human intelligence
and animation. 1t struts, trots, gallops
beats a measure, or is stationary under his in
hucncc As finale, he holds it and hiinsel
in equilibrium. and hddlcs the carnival o
, Pagnnni in very crcditablc manner. Th'
ladder does not move hairs breadth; i
seems to be driven in the ground, and th,
man tied 10 il, 20 utterly mutionICss do boil
remain with the exception Of the motion ne
cessary to the violin playing until he ha
roncludcd---thcn both walk away AS stcadil,
as possible. Ravcl's ladder feat is decided.
inferior to it, though at the Howard Athene
nm, remember to have seen him exploit We
ry subiimely. Tho leg development necessa
~ to this performance We can both believe
must be enormous The fellow, however,
like almost all the French circus performers
short, square, and very quick and graceful i
his movements. There are many other cr
tcrtauments incident TO the Empress circu
which are equally striking and interesting
but will not exhaust your patience in dc
failing them Bosiois Post