Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-10-07
EVENING STAR.
ELEPHANT PERF0RMazcEs-rHE AMI
MATED LApDER.
CorrespoMdsnce of The Boston Pos,
pApIS Cont ID lSS

correspondence of tbc Boston Pos.
PARIS, Sept. II, 1854.
Since saw an elephant stand on his
head at the circus in Paris, have not
been more amused than l was an evening
or two since at the Cirque de lImpera-
trice. The elephants was evidently voting
and very docile creatures, and appeared
in the immense area of saw dust and tan
to be somewhat smaller than usual.
They were handled bv% muscular fellow,
who had more eonl over them than
any mahout ever Nv in India They
waltzed, danced, promsnadea, and waiked
on their heads. | never laughed more in
my life than at this singular performance.
TO see the trunk and tusks place them,
selves firmly on small raised platform
IN the ring, and then to behold the huge
slouching legs and diminuti.e tail gradu-
ally elevated, the act disclosing vast ex-
panse of dirty, tawny looking belly. was
infinitely ludicrous. The elephants
seemed to enjoy his attitude, too, v,r,
much, and disclosed no modesty what
ever in revealing the whole beauty OF
their construction to an intelligent pub
lie. A reward Of a cracker or an apple
invariably elected repetition and once
In the. ardor OF success, one aspiring an
lmal tumhled forward on his back! His
TALL shook the house, and for moment
or two discompoSed him; but he quickly
recovered himself, and emulated has com
panien, who, in his unnatural attitude
| had been quiet but observing spectator
fof the effects of too lofty throwing OF
the hind legs towards the ceiling. They
subsequently interlaoed their trunks, and
TO discriminating strain from the Or
chestra, performed series of evoiutions
which, if they were not characterized by
an extraordinary rapidity, were at leas,
distinguishable for the dignity attending
their accomplishment. Feats with Their
trunks they exhibited in profusion: bul
| the grand and lofty tumbling, and the
| waltzing were things, to me, as supreme
ly ridiculous as they were wonderfully
industrious. They circulated their keep
er, at his command, in every direction
| saluted the audience, embraced each
other, and gracefully retired from the
| arena, bearing between them the biped
| whose stature, in comparison, appeared
50 contemplate, and overwhelmed with
| applauseS and laudations from the delight.
ed spectators. ALI Paris focked TO ser
| them during the engagement, and the
owner, L supi ose, reaped handsome
fortune.
The animated ladder is also an extra.
ordinary performance. Nerve, skill a1,G
composure distine uish the individual who
immortallzes himself nightly for five
francs night. lie mounts a na, row lad
der some Ten feet high, and from the top
most round really appears 10 Undue il
with human intelligence and animation
1t struts, trots, gallops, beats Il measure
OF Is stationary under his influence. As
a tina.e, he holds it and himself in eauili.
brlum and fiddles the carnival of Paga
iini In very creditable manner. Ths
ladder does not move hairs breadth
II seems TO be driven in the ground and
the man tied to 1t, so utterly motionless
do both remain with the exception o
the motion necessary to the violin play.
lngi until he has concluded-then botf
walk away as steady ss possible Ravel 5
ladder feat is decidedly inferior to it
though at the Howard Atnen@um he
member to have seen him exploit yer,
sublimely. The leg developement neces.
sary to this performance, we can b9tl
believe, must be enormous. The fellow
however, is like almost al the French
circus peri rmers-stort, sqrar and
very quick and graceful in his move.
ments. They are many other entertain.
ments incident TO the Empress circus
which are equally striking and interes.
ting; but | will not exhaust your patienc,
in detailing them.