The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-03-23
A Colossal Enterprise.

| len years ago tnere was btiii s'ahuihS
on the corner of Broadway and Ann
street. where the stately Herald building |
now overlooks the busiest tboroughiare |
lin the New World, a large, rambling
structure, OF rather shabby external ap- |
Ipearance, which was known to all the
world of Amerca as a yeritable Palace |
of Wonders.
Pictures of the strange animals from
every part of the globe, which were to be
J and stimulated the curiosity OF the
!; Ipassers by; the flags of all nations
waved from the parapets, and above
, them proudly floated the Stars ana
Stripes, From sunrise till late at night
throngs of people, of all ages, passed IN
, at it's ample doors and wandered through
} halls, lingering at every step to wonoer
and admire.
A larger or more wonderful collection
of curiosities was never gathered under
a single roof; and though many OF them
were of little intrinsic value, a very
, large proportion would have been OF
great worth to any museum. There was
: something to catch every variety OF
taste.
were monstrosities like the "wooily
horse," the ''What is itW and the "Mer-
, maid;" for those who took delight in
natural history there was the sea-llon,
the learned seal, the Happy Family, the
, stuffed walrus, and many another inter-
! esting specimen of the animal Kingdom
{ from the Rocky Mountains, the burning
wilds of Africa, the icy regions OF the
u arctic zone, or from the uttermost Isles
+ of the ocean.
4 In short, the whole world was laid un-
u der tribute to furnish entertainment to
= the patrons of the American Museum.
y The sea gave it's strangest forms of hsh
Z. and shell, the forest and the desert their
f. savage denizens, the air its varied
y shapes of feathered beauty.
u Relics of Indian times, of our Colonial
n days, and of our great War OF lndepena-
" ence, attracted those who were interest
q ed in American antiquities; suits OF bat
y tered armor, dinted shields, battle-axes
l. of uncouth and frightiul shape, spears,
10 swords, daggers, and other ancient Weap-
:, ons. carried the visitor back to the days
d when men fought hand to hand, instead
of picking each other of, like game, with
&c rifles, or sweeping whole regiments down
- with the deadly mitrall1euse.
Then there was the lecture-room, or
re theater, where Sothern, Barney Will
vt liams and other well-known actors won
ii their first laurels, before audiences that
a could not often afford to treat themselves
TO an evenings amusement. the more
is extensive theaters. The transient at
Us fractions of the Museum were constant
al ly varied.
to mime, Instrumental music, ventrilo-
is ouism, Punch and Judy, fancy glass
1T blowing, jugglery, etc., and when this
L. marvellous building, with all its contents,
al was destroyed by fire, on the 18th OF July,
IN 1865, the community sustained loss
is that neither time nor money could re-
in trieve. Mr.. Barnum, it is true, soon es-
m tablished new museum higher up on
r, Broadway, where he gathered an admir-
re able collection of curlosiues, put IL ala
a not compare with the old. "Ihe second
Of Temple was not like the first"
L, These "reminiscences of the old Ameri-
III can Museum, which is still held in affec-
n tionaIe remembrance by large portion
of the community, are naturally sug-
gested by the announcement OF Mr.. Bar.
NUNS latest and most gigantic enter
t. prise, the "Great Roman Hippodrome,"
l. with which he proposes to travel through
v the States during the coming season.
It His preparations are on scale OF mag
IN nilicence unrivaled in the history of trav-
il IL CA Al / his shows have been merged in a
G. chartered corporation, known as zine +
ID L. Barnum Universal Exposition Com
of pany," with a capital of million OF dol.
lars. Mr., Barnum, who is President OF
e have spent months in Europe, visiting
n eyery important exhibition, and bringing
+. away many choice features and valuable
b sugge stions, and the result is combna-
,e ton of attractions such as has never
a. been seen in one exhibition since the
world began.
e, The Great Roman Hippodrome will re.
s. semble moving camp. There are 1,20(
,e men, women and children in Mr.. Bar
ir pem's service, and the stock includes
H. 75O horses and ponies, besides elephants
II. camels, English stays and sta9-nounds
is trained ostriches, lions, bears, tigers
C. and other animals.
e. For the exhibition of the menagerit
and the various shows, displays, ant
ed performances connected with the enter
nrise, two enormous tents, each 500 tee
IN length and 800 in width, have beel
proyided, one of which will be kept il
advance, in order that no time may b'
ee lost by delay i'll making ready.
on The question of transportation by raj
es- "A very serious one-Was solved by th
;, construction of $50 cars, twice the usua
~, length, built expressly for this purpose
It Among them are NUMBER OF "h0rse-pal
as aceo cars, constructed with commodiou
stalls, in which the horses can lie dow
M and rest while on the journey land arriy
he at the place of exhibition quite fresh 10
the performance.
as Besides moving the tents, animals, au'
tn all other material in these Hippodrom
It'll cars, berths will be provided in those dc
re- voted to the personnel of the company TO
nearly all the employees. Besides tn
le- great exhibition tents, there are cookin
m and dining tents, and stable tents ior tn
an horses and other animals.
There is also attached to the compan
ap- a large corps OF blacksmiths and carper
tiers ana builders, some OF whom preced
de- the show several days, to make read
ID for the exhibition by preparing tn
am ground, erecting seats, etc. The dress
I'd ing-room tents alone will cover NOR
ground than an ordinary circus.
m To move such an enormous establish
ne, ment without hitch or delay requires tn
ge employment Of clear-headed, practici
men at the head Of each department
es, Every thing is SO arranged as to NOV
L. with the smoothness and precision
clock-work.
er, At the appointed hour the canvas wi
ild 20 up, the street procession Will NOV
the performances will commence. Vine
on, all is over, and the great tent emptie
every thing will be packed up by thos
a. q. a. nrly ND bn 90 va