Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-04-15

sci could only be produced after years of
preparation and the expenditure of half a
dozen completeness. Any attempt at imita-
ton on the part of ambitious and unscrupu-
lous showmen for years to come will result
IN the most inglOrious failure. None other
than the Prince of Showmen' himself
would undertake it, and none other than the
great and irrepressible Barnum could achieve
so signal triamph."
This entire exhibition is advertised to eX-
hibit in New England in May, New York, ETC.,
In June, Chicago early in July, Ohio, Illinois
and Michigan in July and August.
1t is due to our readers that we inform them
that MIR. Barnum announces that certain i'm
posters in Cincinnati have copied his bills
posters, cuts and advertisements, and with
few broken-down circus horses and wagons
will precede his exhibition in the West, and
by announcing the Great Roman Hippodrome
will attempt to make the public believe
that it is his unrivaled establishment.
He cautions the public against being
thus deceived, and reminds them that
it would be impossible with any amount
of money to organize and equip even SEM
blance of his establishment without a prepa-
ration of several years. The Cincinnati Daily
Enquirer of Feb. 81, 1875, says that this pre-
tended "Hippodrome" is simply the "wreck
of that stupendous fraud known as the Great
Eastern and Great Southern Circus and Me-
nagerie combination, which exploded at Sell
ma, Ala, the 10th of last November, num-
Der of horses having to be sold to pay the
expenses of shipping the show to this city,
where the prOprietors left number of their
employees unpaid and penniless, and vamosed.
Who the real proprietors of the business
were still remains a matter of considerable
mystery, but it is generally believed that
Andy Haight, one Gibbons and George Weber
ard others were large stockholders. The
defrauded circus men and others connected
with the concern finally obtained the
aid of the law to compel a settlement of
their just claims, and the whole matter end
ed in the show being attached at Hamilton
and in an auction sale of the circus prop
erty at Lebanon yesterday afternoon.
1.-THE best of the joke is that De Haven, Web
Der, Gibbons and others are about to reOrgan-
iZe a Hippodrome out of the wreck to start
out with next summer on another tour.
"The whole show was rather poor concern,
only few lions being in good condition, and
the menagcrie including no really rare or val
liable animals"
Our readers have only to use ordinary eau
ton to discover which is the real and which
is the bogus concern, though we see that Mr.
Barnum complains that some shows obtain
an employee named Barnum, and then adver
Use Barnum's latest enterprise" and resort
to other devices wherein they use the name
"Barnum" to deceive the public. He says
that all exhibitions with which he is connect
ed will give his initials, 'P t." and also pub
lish his portrait by way of Identification. To
be forewarned is to be forearmed. GA word
to the wise is sufficient"
AS Mr.. Barnum's great Hippodrome travels
under an expense of nearly $4,000 each day
it can exhibit only in large cities. These can
be reached by cheap excursion trains. Mr..
Barnum says he can easily lose half million of
dollars by this summers experiment, and that
in any event he shall not bring back his Hip
podrome from Europe. 1t is patronized and
approved by the clergy and religious classes,
as well as by school-teachers and all heads of
refined families who desire their children to
improve their minds under this great system
of " obiect- Teaching" Beyond all question
this is the most extensive and extraordinary
exhibition on the face of the earth, and prob
ably this generation will "neyer see its like
again.