The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-16
THE ITINERANT SHOWS.
What They Are, Where They Are and
Eow They Are Managed.
Some Particulars Pertaining to the ''Ter =,
Ing Season."

,tiperant circuses and menager es erect their man.
moth 'show tents" In out T.rhe-way villages. large
towns and small cities. aas arrived and in fact it
might with strict rropriety be said to have been al.
ready inaugurated. Many OF these ..shows,n as
they are technically termed, have already com.
menced operations, while not few are even now
preparing to take the field. The present '.tenting
season" bids fair in many respects to be q prosper
Gus one, and our 'showmen" are making
their calculations and preparations accordingly.
Many Of the companies have received valua.
bic acquisitions OF horses and performers
and Ia some few instances novel and really attrac-
tive features have been added to their programmes
which, by the way are seldom II ever changed dur.
ing the entire season. In fact the only change ever
made in the bills OF travelling circus consist in
the addition OF some new bareback rider, supple
gymnast and occasionally brace Of daring
trapezste, who nightly risk life and limb in order 10
exc out miserable existence-an existence which
in measure, depends for Its continuance upon the
approval OF astonished and gaping rustics. No mat
ter how thoroughly artistic and graceful in his per-
Torrance a member OF the troupe may be, let him
once fail to tickle the risibties Of his rustic audi
tors-which Is sometimes a very difficult thing to
do-and he fails to please his manager and then hts
bread Is in danger.
We have in this country about thirty regular
licensed crcuses and menageries all OF which,
during the 'tenting season." reap good harvest of
greenbacks, commit small depredations and other
wise enjoy themselves. The season lasts from six to
seven months. according to the weather, and during
that time these meander about the country
nrst in one State and then In another and some
times in state Of peace and prosperity and some
times in state Of suffering and privation. Often
one OF these sh0ws" will trave from point to point
by railroad, sometimes by boat but more frequently
In their own caravans. This latter mode though
entailing much hardship upon both men and
ANIMALS, is decidedly the most popular with
the members Of the troupe, and as a
general thing the most remuneralive to the propre
tors This is termed "roughing It," and many men
OF affiuence and ease have often joined q circus
company for the purpose Of ENJOYING this mode OF
across country travel and building up shattered
CONSTITUTIONS but II must not be imagined that this
sort OF life is always couleT de rose.
Houp-layille, and are billed to delight the inhab
tants Of Spangleville thirty miles distant the night
people have departed 10 their homes the entire
company, Invested OF the glittering paraphernala
from which thev are sw a pea hSSrs Oh sleep
command, when they Immediately strike their tent,
place It, with their other gorgeous nxins," in q
huge wagon mount their horses and silently take
mp their line OF march at one or two O'Clock in the
morning for the scene Of their next exploits They
generally so manage II as TO reach their intended
camping ground at an hour when the whole village
or town Is astr This place they take possession OF
IN most audacious and magnificent manner. Tney
enter the town with bands playing and flags flying
and from that moment until sunset it is quite
An agent has gone on before and made
al the necessary arrangements as regards a
the horses and company and stirring up the inhabi
tants TO fever heat OF excitement by the announce
ment on flaming posters that 'the great show is
coming" SO there is no trouble to be experienced
IN that quarter. When they arrive at q town they
generally find the inhabitants ready for them and
they in turn are generally ready for the inhabitants
When 1t IL taken into consideration that the ma
jority Of the places visited by these itneren
m ampf tIaa.
throughout the entire year II cannot be wondered
NJ ,o tnst whenever stray circus or menacerie
body for miles around Is delighted and
feels in duty bound to patronize the show Thus
II n that our "showmen" manage TO make enough
money during the 'tenting season." notwi hstandng
the great expense inseparable from their business
q nice margin o! q profit.
The following is short description OF some of the
principal 'shows" OF this kind that Will delight our
country cousins during the ensuing SUMNER
THE NEW YORK CIRCUS.
This establishment closes its present season in This
CITY on saturday, the oath inst. II goes hence TO
Washington where II will delight political aero
bats WITH many new dodges IN ground and lory
phia ald through the Eastern States. The New York
T,reqs' under n the Enc management OF Mr L. B.
OF its kind that fourishes prosperousy from years
end to years end It's headquariers Is located at
which II always returns in the fa ana where il re-
mains the entire winter. Manager Lent has good
company, aud can congratulate himself upon pos
eets ng one OF the most popular aud successful cir
cuses IN the country.
sTIcKNEY's EMPIRE CITY CIRCUS.
This IL one OF the most complete OF It's kni. II in
auguraed the season In Brooklyn on Monday evening
last and has thus far met with deserved success
The troupe comprises many excellent acrobats ana
daring eguestrans besides trained horses and
Monday evening next the COMPANY OF ihs c,rcns
Will delight the Williensburgers from whence they
tramp to Jamaica and Hampstead after which they
desert Long Island for other ''nelds and pastures
new.n
"TnE GREAT EUROPEAN cIRcusn
All Inn parz M.
nesday evening last, and Will remain In that city for
the edhcaton OF the Jersey JaSes aud Jemirna's
until saturday evening next when II will take ND
Its line OF march for this city, where II opeps on
Monday evening. The troupe numbers 100 persons
anu 100 horses besides den OF lions and drove OF
dromedarles. 1t Will make It's presence known by a
grand street procession on Monday morning when
nj tne troupe wlll appear rgged out in the gtterng
regaa OF the ring. After snort season In the me-
uopolis, "The Great European Crcusn win perambu-
.a,e tnrough the Eastern states, where Its coming
ahxiousiy looked for by our Yankee cousins.
JAMES RoBiNsoS's CHAMPION CIRCUS,
Como'ned Win Gardener Kenyon's Menagerie,
made its nrst stand tins season on the sth inst. at
camden, n. J. IL exhibits tomorrow In Easton
"a. and on FRIDAY, the 29d Inst, 1t win pitch It's
viii operate through Central New York. The troupe
isastroDg one, including Mr.. James Robinson one
OIL the best bareback riders IN the country, and Miss
Eliza Kenyon, beautiful ana dashing e2uestrienne.
The menagerie attached TO this circus embraces one
OF the largest and best collections OF living animals
VAN AMBuRoH co g GREAT GOLDEN MHSAaEarR
ling Hudson on thursday nexs the ~ aad e nss Il
VIII exhibit In the village Of Fshki This is one OF
the largest, most varied and Comprehensive collec.
lions OF curious beasts and birds In the United
States.
STONE MuRRAY's crpCrs
made It's first stand this season al Bridgeport Conn.,
on the 18th inst, where II remained for two DAYS
To-day II pitches Its tent In Waterbury, where the
people have been anxiously expecting IL for some
time. II boasts Of Its trained horses dogs, clowns
and acrobas, and is rich I'm the possession OF Mas
Emile Henrietta Cooke, one OF the most dashing
and graceful equestr,ennes IN the business
'FAREPAuGH's GRAND EQUESTRIAN AND GEOLOGICAL
AG0RE0ATfOSr
will open on Tuesday next In Lexington, Kentucky.
This one OF the largest "showsr Of the kind In the
country, and always creates sensation wherever II
goes. IL embraces twenty-five dens OF living ami
mails, besides a circus department which will COM
pare favorably with almost any Ia the country.
Besides It's gymnasts and clowns 10 boasts OF the