The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-17
The Arrival Of the Circus.

POURING TO WITNESS THE sTREET-PARADE-
WHAT is TO be SEEN UNDER THE CANVAS
NOTES ON TWO PERFORMANCES.
Foreraugh's circus arrived in this city
early Sunday morning. Before people gen
ernIiy were out OF bed the tents had been
raised, the wagons parked, the horses sta
bled under canvas, and the old field which
usually offers to the children OF Leigh
school but melancholy prospective, had
lost its quiet and dulness and begun to
hum with the busy life of the caravan. On
Sunday somehow it happened that there
was q great revolution in the public mind.
The tide Of time with sudden jerk turned
back twenty-five years, and ShocEoe Hill
Cemetery became the fayorite resort once
more. Hollywood was as il it had never
been, and great multitudes with sober car
riage and Sabbath decorum marched out
Second street to the old burial-place.
If any one should hint that that route
to that place was taken because it ran by
the c1rcus-tents, where the wagons, fresh
with gliding, gorgeous with paintings, and
grand with sculptured corners, were to be
seen, it is possible that thereby injustice
might be done. 1t is more probable that
by some strange yet neXplicable coinci-
dence the resolution was formed in thou
sands of different minds about the same
time to 90 to Shockoe Cemetery and re-
visit tombs Of long-buried ancestors. How
ever that may be, many stopped at the cir
cus-lot Sunday.
The children passing by were all in u
fever Of delight and expectation. The
grown folks had to stop with them. Down
on their knees in their Sunday clothes they
chopped" to steal peep under the cam
vas where some bold hand had raised it
two or three inches. Delightful were those
stolen views. Neycr-not even under daZ-
Zling gas-light, when the costumes Of the
men and women, the trappings OF the horses,
the glowing cOlors of the banners, the NOV
ing strains of the band, are to be seen OF
heard under most favorable circumstances
will there be such keen, exquisite Joy as
comes from q glimpse Of an elephants leg,
or Of horses hooi, or Of mans boot, in
that charmed circle OF canvas, when sight
of it is denied except in this fugitive way.
Stolen fruit and stolen kisses are the sweetest
is bad but popular saying that has received
some confirmation from the larcenous prac-
tices at circuses.
THE PARADE.
Yesterday morning, according to an
nouncement, there was Il grand strcct-pa-
rade OF the band, circus-men, wagons, DC.
Heavens what time the mothers had get
ting the children to school. Many good,
obedient, study-loving boys and girls, who
had, day by day through the session, gone
forth to school with smiling faces, yesterday
revoltcd against maternal authority, and
declared that they must see the parade,
and that the school might go to
the - other side Of Jordan. In more
than one instance it became necessary
to invoke the paternal arm for spank
ing exercise; and in some cases, where
peach-tree blooms had escaped the coquct-
Dish turns OF the weather Grom sunshine to
frost, from balminess to chilliness), shapely
limbs, radiant with the farOrs offspring, were
wrung from the stem and made to wiring
obedience from the young ones.
But Notwithstanding thousands were thus
driven to school at the point OF the bayonet,
so to speak, the streets were crowded. The
band attracted the people to the line OF
march, and once there they did not cease
looking and talking until the procession
had passed out OF sight. Two thirds
Of the people OF Richmond saw the street
parade. The verdict Of all was highly IA
vorable; it was indeed very good.
THE MENAGERIE-sENTIMEST
The canvas-doors were opened to the
impatient public yesterday afternoon, and
several thousand passed in to see the ami
mails and the feats OF the ring. The smell
OF fresh sawdust to Juvenile olfactores is
more fragrant than the odor of violets in
spring, or the perfume OF heneysucklcs
where the vine embowers young lovers
in their first dreams OF happiness.
The menagerie is an excellent one. The
writer, unbiased by favors, past, present, OF
to come, gives it as his Judgment that no
better one was ever brought to Richmond.
Further, having seen those OF Barnum's
New York hippodrome and Central Park
gardens within Il week past, he is free to
say that this Is much better and larger than
either. Now. as most people "only go to
see the animals, you know" there is. every
reason to believe that Forepaugh will have
no lack OF patronage.
This menagerie and circus has only been
on the road since the first OF April, conse-
quently the animals are in good condition,
the cages are clean and neat, and there is
an appearance Of comfort and elegance about
the whole department that will disappear
with more travel, and, therefore, can be
now seen with very superior advantages.
The following are enumerated for the
purpose Of showing how large the exhibit
ton is: Six elephants, three Of great size
and one but baby (about rs tall as year
ling bulD; four large lions and lionesses.
rhinoceros (splendid specimen), hippopota-
mus, two Bengal tigers, eland, horse-ante-
lope, sea-cow, sacred bull, musk-deer. zebra,
axis deer, Chinese bear, white wolf, Califor-
mia lions, leopard, iasuar, striped hyena,
South American panther, black tiger, che
tab, sea-hog, tracker, musk-hog, African
wild-boar, cow-anteIope, sable antelope,
Palestine sheep, deer OF various kinds,
goats OF several varieties, ibeX, three camels,
birds, monkeys, &C., &c.
THE RING.
The performance within the ring is good;
not the best possible, but above the aver
age. The French Bataoute act, by James
Camabell; the brother act, by "the Les
lies y; the dog and goat, who ride horse
back; the gymnastic feats, by Messrs. Fore
paugh, Clifton. Fox, Dunbar, and Ashton;
tight-rope, by Eddie Rivers; Romeo Sebas-
tian's riding; the feats OF William Dutton.
and the herd Of performing elephants, are
all creditabe. The pyramid Of elephants
is the best. The trapeze performances,
acrobatic feats, and riding, will do very
well. There are good many new features
worthy Of consideration, but space cannot
here be found.
The peddcrs Of photographs, lemonade,
show-tickets, &C., who visit the audience
during the performance, are rather more
determined to get money than to give plea
sure. II q little of their energy could be
abated it would be public blessing.
Reserved seats can be had for an extra
payment of money.