Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-06-17
amuxbis aalsekp Gbrunite ddlsnnesOap guns r. 1871
Going to the Menagerie.

Going to the Menagerie.
"The acrobsts, as bithe as cate,
So finely made, do stand arrsyed,
| From top TO toes in foshy clothes
They beat drum and at the sound
| The people come from all around;
From neighb ring square,
From here and there;
And windows by do open fly" Sc.
1t was the drum that did it. | do
believe there is popularity in circus
drums. They bum bum ~ 20 differ
emily from the "rataplan of the mill
itary band. They remind one ofcrowds,
and stalls for lemonade and refresh
ments, tight rope performances and
damp fair grounds in the old time sense;
when forlorn actresses, on pine board
stages, took pathetic attitudes by the
light of flambeauX, to unsympathetic
and migratory audiences, while the
rain did its best to put out their lights
and enthusiasm.
We were in the car, aud the drum
that am telling about was leading the
cavalcade in advance of US. In vain
we wished the driver would hasten
and bring us nearer that we might see
how those Timber people looked " off
the stage" We then and there decided
to go to the show, TO see the curiosities
of nature and of wax work. We mad
never been to a real circus; and did
not believe in performances where
heels take the place of brains. But
Natural History, said | to Philip, is a
useful and innocent study, and this
collection of animals that has cost so
much capital and enterprise, affords
US an excellent opportunity.
Yes, said he --
" But observe, It's forbidden to poke
At the bear with your pink parasol.'
" You shall see the huge elephant play,
| You shall gaze on the stately raccoon,
| And then, dear, together we stray
To the cage of the blue-faced bsbboon."
You wished Il remember it well,
And loved you the more for the wish
To witness the beautiful pelican sWal.
low the live little fish
We went. While we were gazing
at the Cannibals, and wondering what
they would do with US If we got to
their country, the grand entree was
announced and instantly most of the
people rushed towards the temptation
tent. We had not yet seen any of the
animals, but l remarked TO Philip that
we might just go in and see the en-
tree, and come back to the cages.
d" l thought you wished TO see the
managerie?'
80 do, but there's time enough af-
terward."
mo there isn't. You can't get out
of the crowd. Those seats are not like
orchestra chairs
"Well, at any rate, let US see this, we
will stay near the door, and come
away before they begin those rude
tricks.n
"You needn't he in such haste !;
there's time enough to see the animals
before that begins.n
No, we shall not get'a good seat I;
come on :" and ! dragged him through
the intervening tents, looking neither
to the right nor the left, but the giraffe
was so tall we could not help seeing it..
Got nice seat convenient to the en-
trance, and soon found that there
would have been plenty of time TO
visit the rational department. A per-
sistent youth kept coming round and
! up, and across, and over, with fans for
sale. Have fan? Fans? It's GO
: ing to be tremendous warm
At last the procession entered. The
dancing of the horses was really pretty.
J The great big elephant was nimble
for once, the dwarf squeaBed his little
answers, and the Ashantees TOR what.
} ever they are) went through their out
! landish movements, the camels were
obediently interesting, and the dear
little ponies were too cunning for any
: thing. / need not repeat the
; tale of their manouvres. You have
= all been charmed into something
like affection for these creatures.
) The performances of the ring began
, SO innocently, that we decided 10 see
a Just this one and then leave. But
the next was more engaging, and the
next more fascinating, and before one
! was over, another was ready to begin,
and the seats around us were filled so
that by the time Signor La Perch
Equipoise, was To do his famous bare.
back race, with his little child stand
= ing on his head, and the Australian
= charger flying around the arena, my
a scruples had somehow gone, under the
a canvas to the outside of the marvel
/ Gus tent, and j was ready for anything
f but the trapeze, and the man who ben
S his body so dreadfully trying L
q pick up tumbler with his teeth. Elk
a cepting these. | could even admire the
= strength of No. |, the grace of No. 2
!. and the legs of No. 8. Yes, Miss Prin
: will say legs, and when this vers,
came to mind,
" What is tie creatures skill or force
. The sprightly man, the wsrlke horse,
:, The piercing wit, the active limb,
e Are all too mean delights for him"
l did not half believe the last line
!, and it seemed to me that every BODY
in that tent was lump of lead com
; pared with those creatures of skill an,
\ force. Yet the disagreeable fac
Il would come up, that they had /
, endure good deal. TO get I
D. this, aHd that circus actors are general
ly-not nice. They were all men per
formers on this occasion. That was
20 comfort.
Al In the sumersaults we could not dis
d tinguish human shape among tn
y glistening, spangled, serpent-lik
y mass, 80 rapidly did each man Whir
o When the last " tumblern had mad
4 his revolutions, and his bow, we wer
n firmly decided TO pay more attentio