Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-24
DAILY EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTRtLI8RNCR.

. noon, Monsieur Franconi resolved no longer 10
defer the opening OF tbs Hippcdrome, and ac-
toTdinGly the doors opened Ia the evening, for
public performance. Ii had been originally
determined in the morning, to have a full
dress rehearsal at 2 ?. m, on the above named
day. but this was put off at the last minute,
the performance being deferred until the
evening Public curiosity had been so ex-
cited. especially since the publication in our
columns Of the Franeoni correspondence that
a large asSemblage in spite of the weather
was c5IIected in Judiciary Square, AID about
the City Hall, towards the evening, long be-
fore the hour announced for the opening Of the
doors At one time, great anxiety was felt
lest the performances would again be post
pIned, and We really believe that if such an
ann0unc ement had been made forcibIe entry
would have been attempted, so anxious we're
the people about to witness the exhibition.
However. any likelihood Of such an attempt
ssyas soon stopped, by the opening of the doors
"A itthe appointed hour, seven o'clock, and by
The time that the performance began. there
/, vas very good sized assemblage collected
Indeed, lad the weather been more favorable.
I We feel confident that the place would have
1een crowded with spectators. This prevented
many ladies from being present, there he mo-
only few who had the hardihood to venture
out,
pagautry OF = tournament, than which noIhino
m0ie grand could be exhibited. and in which
historical fidelity had been truthfully attic nded
TO. giving the spectators a clear conception of
the splender exhibited at these games off tho
feuial times. The tournament ended with The
carrying of OF one of the horses, as dead. the
noble animal acting his part in the show like
sratlonal being. This was followed by the ex-
traordluary gymnastie performances of the
BrnrhnrS WI
muscular power, and of wonderful suppleness
OF limbs, were received with rounds of applause.
nat race was tho next performance by the
LADY equestrians OF the troupe, which led to
some amount OF betting among the spectators.
as much interest being felt as if it was a real
race in the open country. The successful
horSewOman, Mrs De We're, an American ladv.
was complimented as she rode round the
circle af.er the race, with shouts of ap-
plause. The next advertisement was ostrich
racing, with small children as the riders.
which elected from the ludicrous sight. roars
ofiaughter. Roman races as they are called.
succeeded, in which each rider stood upri eht
Oh two horses, and in this manner the raee
was contended by four riders and Eight horses.
Monsieur Henri Franconi afterwards appeared
on his dancing horse, Johnster, and went
through n series of exercises, the animal dane
ing to the measure of the music frsm the Or
chestra 1t was admirably performed and as
much credit is due to the rider for his horse
manship. as to the horse for its wonderful do
cility and training. The first part of the per-
fornances then concluded with chariot race
between three of the fair euuestrians. each
driving span of horses.
The second part, after an intermission of fif
teen minutes, was opened with the beautiful
pageantry CT the Car of Flowers, which must
De seen in order to be understood, being alto
gether unique exhibition. Monsieur Fran
conf then appeared On his celebrated horse
= Bayard' which executed some wonderful
tedtS OF jumping, and rearing up to an aston
>hing degree. After which there was exhib-
tied the most singular OF the evenings per
tormance, the = Course des Singes' as it il
called IN which number of monkeys and
apes are the jockies. Their riding ON
horseback, their ludierous appearance. and
the mock reality Of the race, with each of the
monkey riders as solid as if it was an affair of
Ike and death took immensely the spectators
being confused with laughter during the
waoie time. Some gymnastic exercises fol-
lowed, termed = hes Jeux Icarieps." perform-
ed by Professor Nixon and his pupils, which
are extraordinary performances, considering
the Juvenility OF the performers A steeple
chase followed by the lady equestrians and
afterwards some further gymnastic exercises.
such rs balancing a large pole, &c by the
Brothers SIegfis;. and other similar per-
Iormances, the whole of which are of first
rate character. and only require to be seen to
De appreciated Notwithstanding the heavy
tall OF rain which at times poured down in tor
rents, the canvass overhead kept it out IA
mously, and although there were places at diff
.ersnt parts where the water leaked through,
It was easy from the capaciOus size of the tent
10 avoid 1t. The Lightning that cleaned
OTe-head, and which was distinctly seen
through the canvass added to the romantic
character of the spectacle, especially as from
he proximity of the lightning rods on the City
Hall, and of a neigh boring church, there was
40 danger OF any accident occurring to the Hip
podrOme itself 1t was feared that the cour sc
would not be solid enough, particularly for the
Ear of Flowers, but all went off very well
We observed among the spectat' rs several Sem
stors, members of Congress, Governors, and
eI-Goyernors of States and Territories, and it
'nly required the presence Of a larger number
II LADIES' 10 have been most splendid spec
aele.
REV. A. DUNCANsoN.-Yesteri ay afternoon,
he above named gentleman delivered as had
been announced, q sermon on Progress" al
he Congregational Church. on 5th street,
icing the only one Of that denomination now
n this city. Previous to the delivery of his
DISCOURSE. he gave out the hymns to be sung
and Christian Harmony" and, after an im-
oressive prayer, recitsd the text, which was
rom Acts VII >, v. 81 I've stiff necked and un-
in heart and ears, We do always
-esis. the Holy Ghost; as your fathers did, 80
10 ye."
He prefaced his discourse by notifying his
iudieDce that the subject matter Of it would !
be entirsly devoted to a consideration of ;he |
after part of the text; after which he CON- |
nenced his sermon, of which the following is |
a brief synopsis
He divided his subject Into three divisions |
Firstly, progress in religion was philosophi
RATIONAL and necessary secondly. the causes |
Why there was so little progress in religion; |
and, thirdly, the effects produced upon the
Church, and upon the world, by conservatism
IN religion. He proceeded to enforce the ne
,essity OF progress by illustrations derived
rom various sources. He proved that there
had been progress in religion from the time
Of the Patriarchs TO that of the Mosaic dispeI-
:ation, and from this latter to the time of the |
Christian religion. The progress of the human
race in science and knowledge of the laws of
the universe was pointed Out-nature itself
being in perpetual motion, as instaneed in the
and retrogressions Of the sea
upon the land He then complained of and
denounced the ''uis i,tertf9'' of religion at
PRESENT, condemning the dUgmatic theology of
the clergy, who exacted implicit belief in their
opinions He alluded to the progress made in
politics. and said that the IDEAS which govern
Ell our forefathers would not be received by
Dung America or the New World.