Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-04-16
p. T. Barnum's Latest WODders--A
Colossal Exhibition.

world. The statistics which Harper Brothers
give Us from authentic sources are nearly
overwhelming. They maka IN ordiIa-- head
dizzy. Mr.. Barnum has always h0asted that
he gave his patrons double their moneys
worth, and his claims are generally acknowl-
edged; but this time he seems to have far out
stripped himself Last year he obtained from
the Connecticut Legislature q charter for
"The p. T. Barnum's Universal Exposition
Company with q capital OF million OF dol.
lars; Mr. Barnum, who is President Of the
company, ard Mr.. Coup, his Manager, have
spent many months in Europe perfecting their
plans. The object Of this great company, as
they announce, is TO elevate amusements, di-
vest them OF all Objectionable features, and
thus render them worthy the patronage Of
the most moral and refined classes They say
that eventually they will have a score or more
Of exhibitions (traveling and permanently
in America and Europe, and they intend that
their chartered title shall be a guarantee OF
the merits Of whatever they bring before the
public. The present season they have but
two exhibitions. One is Mr.. Barnum's we'll
known Museum, Menagerie, Circus and
Travelling Worlds Fair;p the other is simply
called "The Great Roman Hippodrome." Mr..
Barnum seems to have devoted years to per-
fccting this great enterprise, and nearly one
year OF his personal attention was paid to II
In Europe. At an expense Of several hun.
dred thousand dollars he erected a great hip.
podrome building in the heart of New York
city, and under an outlay Of over $4,000 each
day he has run his establishment in New
York for nearly year. This Exposition
Company are engaged to ship the entire Hip
podrome to Europe next autumn; mean
while they have undertaken the difficult task
OF transporting IL entire to the principal cities
in America. Ha,per'S Weekly says:
"The Great Roman Hippodrome will re-.
semble moving camp. There are 200 men,
women and children In Mr.. Barnum's sorvico,
and the stock includes $50 horses and ponies,
besides elephants, camels, English stag and
stag-hounds, trained ostriches, lions, bears,
tigers and other animals. For the exhibition
of the menagerie and the various shows, dis
plays and performances connected with the
enterprises, two enormous tents, each 500
feet in length and 800 in width, have been
provided, one of which will be kept in
advance in order that no time may be lost
by delaying in making ready. The question
OF transportation by rail--a very serious one
was solved by the construction of l50 cars
twice the usual length, built expressly for
this purpose. Among them are a number of
'horse-palace' cars, constructed with com.
mOdiOus stalls, in which the horses can lie
down and rest while on the journey and arrive
at the place OF exhibition quite fresh for the per.
fOrmance. Besides moving the tents, animals
and all other material in these Hppodrome
cars, berths will be provided in those devoted
to the personnel Of the company for nearly all
JIG CulplOJGS. Dtolucb lue great eXllDltlOn
tents, and stable tents for the horses and
other animals. There is also attached to the
company a large corps OF blaclsmiths and
carpenters and builders, some OF whom pre-
cede the show several days, to make ready for
the exhibition by preparing the ground, erect
ing seats, etc. The dressing room tents alone
will cover more ground than an ordinary
circus.
40 move such an enormous establishment
without hitch or delay requires the employ
ment of clear headed, practical men at the
head of each department. Everything is so
arranged as to move with the smoothness and
precision of clock.work. At the appointed
hour the canvas will 90 up, the street process
sion will move, the performance will com
mence. When all is over, and the great tent
cmptied, everything will be packed up by those
detailed for the work, and the caravan, with
out the loss of q minute, will be on the move
toward the next place of exhibition.
"The programme Of performance will be
varied anG attractive. Donaldson will make
daily balloon ascensions with a car large
enough to contain company of five or six
persons, at cost Of about $500 day for this
feature alone. Then there will be the Ro-
man races in chariots driven by 'Amazons;' ,
the liberty races in which forty wild horses
are turned loose in the arena, in exact imita-
ton Of the famous carnival races of Rome
and Naples; standing races in which the
riders stand on bare back horses; hurdle races
for ladies; fat races by English, French and
American jockeys; besides camel, elephant
and ostrich and monkey races. Another
feature will be the exhibition Of Indian life
on the plains, in which the actors will be
scores OF Indians, with their squaws and pap
poOses. They will put up genuine Indian
encampment, hunt real butialoes, give war
DANCES. pony races. foot races against horses
exhibitions OF daring horsemanship, iasso.
throwing. band of Mexican riders, mount
ed on famous mustangs, will make pretend
ed attack on the Indian camp and give
mimic but faithful representation Of the
wild scenes enacted on the Western frontier
The English stag hunt will be an exact pict-
ure OF the sport itself, with company OF 80
men and women in full hunting costume, and
large pack Of English stag-hounds. There
will also be many other interesting and at
tactive features, the mere mention Of which
would make a small volume.
Mr.. Barnum certainly deserves great credit
for an enterprise which is calculated to afford
vast amount of innocent, popular amuse-
ment; and although this gigantic venture
involves an enormous outlay Of money it will
present too many attractions not TO be gen
orally sustained"
Amazing as this exhibition seems from the
description given by HaJPer'S, we can say,
from actual observation, that one feature is
to be introduced into the travelling Roman
Hippodrome more interesting and instructive
than any other. 1t is the great procession
huONH dS lHC COuBIG5S Ol hOUhItlls. Inc
Hdrper's omitted mentioning this because
probably, they supposed Mr.. Barnum would
not dare incur the expense Of Transporting
such an enormous affair through the coun-
try. But he will do so, and here is brief de-
scription Of this dazzling and bewildering
exhibition, as given by New York contem-
porary:
or all the gorgeous pageants the world
ever saw the Congress of Nations is the
greatest, ana now TIE suipassIng genius OF
even Barnum could produce it is wonder.
The costumes are true to life, and many of
them are genuine, having been procured di-
rect from the nationalities which they repre-.
sent The individuals employed to personate
the historical characters have the most faith
full resemblance to the originals in face and
physique. Each nation finds its special por.
trature in some kind Of triumphai car, brill.
iantly bedecked with appropriate flags, en-
blems, colors and intricate devices, and all
sorts Of characteristics in the way Of pecul-
lar uniforms, animals, soldiery, attendants
and music. Scores ofglistening gilded chart
OTIS illumine the arena with a halo OF luster,
as 1t were, and the display OF royal splendor
is far more imposing and impressive than
words can describe, thrilling the auditor with
unspeakable amazement and admiration.
" AS the name OF the grand Congress implies,
1t Is stupendous gathering of the Monarchs
OF the universe, bringing in vivid view the
living Kings, Queens, Rulers and Potentates
VI b4iC paob bluC III an
affecting finale so touching that it must
awaken the emotions Of stole. Her Majesty,
the Queen of England, heads the glittering
column, surrounded by her royal court and
followed by long ancestral line, the notabil-
ity and richly.uniformed "life qnordsnen"
TiIel rrduec, in the person OF Napoleon the
First and his famous Field Marshals; Ireland,
Rome, Russia, Germany, Italy, Turkey, India,
Japan, China, and so on, until all the Mon
archs and Courts Of the entire world pass in
review, winding up like jewel-besprinkled
coil around the continuous circle. To look
upon this beautiful historical procession in
all its grandness and greatness is equivalent
to sitting in full view Of the courts Of all the
earth, so truthfully realistic are the bewilder-
ing pictures revealed in rapid succession.
Such a dazzling half mile of solid gold,
jewels, silver, precious stones and tin:
sci could only be produced after yeass Of
preparation and the expenditure OF half a
dozen competencies. ANY attempt at imita.
tion 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 triumph"
This entire exhibition is advertised to ex.
s..N Na.u I'll. - ~ "