Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-01
Most Remarkable Performance-Ths
n m Csrema.

When the hour for the performance arrived,
the audience fastened their eyes upon the
opening through which the Ring-master. ac-
cOmpanied 10y Mr.. Merryman. is wont to make
his entrance previous to the Grand Eniree
with which all well-regulated circuses COM
mence. Imagine their surprise when, instead
of the Master and Clown, there appeared be-
fore them middle aged gentleman, dressed
in full suit of black broadcloth, slightly
bald on the top of his head, and wearing gold
spectacles.
This preacher-like person advanced to the
centre of the circle, and exclaimed in a loud
but respectful voice:
Ladies and gentlemen. Pm man by the
name of Robert Ridgely, formerly of place
called Richmond X Roads. This here circus
stopped at Richmond Y Roads, and the bad
whisky there made the circus men, women, and
children sick excepting myself. They held up
pretty well until they got here, when they all
broke down, and I'm obliged to play the whole
circus myself, and I'm gong TO do it,"
Without another word, Mr.. Ridgely made a
bow and disappeared. In less than two minutes
he returned leading the Grand Entree, consist
ing of eight horses and one rider. So admira-
bly, trained were the hcrses, and so accustOm-
ed to the performance, that with the assis-
lance of few oaths and gestures from Mr..
Ridgely, they performed all the various and
difficult evolutions without single blum
der, exciting great surprise and pleasure in
the audience.
Scarcely had the last horse disappeared be-
hind the curtain ere Mr.. Ridgely returned in
the costume of the clown, and cracked the re-
gular role of circus jokes with an imaginary
ring-master Retiring for moment, he soon
came forth as Sailor, and went through with
the whole performance admirably well, not for
getting to stop occasionally and jump down
from his horse and take up the clown and
ring masters parts where he had left off.
Next he PLAYED the Two Horse act, and play
ed itwell. Next the Indian admirably done.
When he alighted from the horse, and, pre-
tending 10 receive a severe cut on the BIB
breast, from the imaginary ring-master.
clapped the palm of his hand TO the wounded
part, the effect was electrical-the whole house
roared.
So he went on with the four-horse act the
bare back act. the lndia-rubber man, the can
non ball man. tight-rOpe performance, the
ground and lofty tumbling, and indeed every
part belonging to the regular circus role ; all
the time keeping up a running fire of jokes
with the invisible ring-master, and eliciting a
continuously increasing amount of applause.
He also sang two comic songs both of which
were rapturously encOred. He also danced
Highland fling, and Virginia break down.
1t was taken for granted that the part of
M lie. Eugene Dnprez, the great Partisan
equestrienne, would not be attempted. But
the versatile and daring Ridgely, like the
countryman with the bill of fare, was deter
mined to eat OF rather to play through the en-
tire bill
When he came out in g low neck and short
sleeves" very brief petticoat, and flesh color
ed stOckinet, and commenced smiling ATT
kissing his hand 10 the audience, as he rode
round the ring, the excitement was beyond
anything in the history of circuses. Four
ttths of the audience went into such conyul-
sions of laughter that many of them rolled off
the benches to the ground and struggled there
III uncomfortable writings of amusement.
Mile Duprez Ridgely's legs. we are bound to
say, were very creditable legs, and displayed
themselves very freely. This was decidedly
the great hit of the evening.
Mr. Ridgeley' performances concluded with
the exhibition of his pet elephants, named re-
spectively Gizzard and Charles Jeems. Bring
ing these in under his arms, he placed them
on the ground, and then made them stand on
their heads, turn summersaults, dance jigs
and pick his pocket.
AT the end of the entertainment. Mr. Ridge
ly thanked the crowd for their patronage and
invited them to come again tomorrow even
ing, and to come early, as he was in habit of
doing when he was voting mai. He begged
them to make allowance for the fact that it
was new business to him, but declared with
emphasis that he meant to keep pitchin' in
till he got the hang of the thing. He was in
the ring and meant to keep in the ring.