Connecticut western news., 1877-04-13
The CirCuSe
THEN AND NOW.

THEN AND NOW.
 Not many years ago. If man was suppl. loose Tn the jolnts and quick to act, ard could turn 8 summers sault or leap a five rail fence. the superstitIous people regard ed hlm as being in league with Satan; but with the pasSlpg away Ot each year lgnor- ance gave way to reason. aud Whenlt was made known that circus was coming, aud would exhibit iu thus or that town, the peo- ple-oId men ot four-score years. old won,- en decreDit and weak, young men and women and boys and Rlr's-wOuld become nearly demeuJed at the prospect of see1uR them are men an gals Tn ther ring flip fOb an squat down jISt i'll time ter git out of Gher way of ther hoops, aGd slch hpsy sIpsy things" The traveilng show of that period was made up principally of few stage periormers of botL sexes, and there was no riding worth speaking of. nor were there any startling teats perfoI med. The clown would manage by sta le jokes and a sDrlnkhng of vulgar wit, to keep the small audience III sort of good humor nothing seen upon the big bllls outside was seen Tn the ing inside. and thus 1t followed that so much deception dlseusted the people, and it got to De so that travelng show could not make expenses. aud every season witnessed some unfortunate show put un- der the hammer"
 But the peop,e were to be undeceived. VanAmburgh & Co.'s Great Golden Me naeerlp. FrOst's Roman Circus and Royal Coliseum started out to maKe tour of the States. aud te show the people tuat one travelIng show at least gave them tue worth of their money; bulletin boards au hundred feet long and more, and ten or fifteen feet hlgh. with huge many -colored and picl III ed posters. set forth the stem fact that what was seen there Tn paint ts and Ink would be seen in the two teuts on the V of eXhiblt1on. These assurances were so plain, so honest Tn their intent that when the show came every scat was occupied, and the ground about tue rug covered with pleased aud amused people The two tents were necessarily made larG- CT every season; more seats were added more men and horses were employed to c"nvey thls monster show across the conti nent. Proprietors of other shows were amazed; they could not imagine why Man aeer Frost with the VanAmburgh Compa- y drew such crowds; they had placed falseh0ods upon thelr posters-but tbe'Se cret of Success'-wheIe was it The Van. Amburgh Company found 1t m the tr1th- ful sentences contained on their bulletin boards. and the people found that what ssas advertised was exhibited or perform ed. In this manner, by beng honest with the people. VanAmburgh & Conpany's Me- naRerie and Circus came to be the only recognized show III Amerlca. The people ot different States and towns made It an show came, and to-day thls show is the largest and best in the world. Proof of this assertion is found m the two tents.
 We headed thls article The Circus" and now will confine our words to the ring. While shev do not claim to have en- gagged ALL the best performers III the world" thev do claim that the enormous salaries pad will entitle them to havlng THE BEST. The acrobats, gvmnasts, ath. letees tumblers, iug-lers, bare back riders, trappeZr per former-, mlmics, and others who delight and amuse the vast audiences, are not puny looking beings with suuken chests. but they are fresh, robust. aud fall of strength. aud able to perform every get advertised. The 1nlmitable clown IS here arrayed in all his glory. and ncthing ob- scene or vulgar passes his lips. He has an nexhaustlble fund of incident aud anec- dote, all original, al d e will give the to ysu by the pal full. 1lhe rng' horses are not tired. workout creatures, made so from oVerwork, but they are fresh from ther stabIes, lively and know just what is re qnired of them. We cannot here tell you all nor half, you can see l.. the arena. What they advertise upon their bulletin boards will certainly be seen n the show What they six of you IS to 'udy well what each poster says, and you will be all the wiser when you see all you have read about. They have gentIemanly attaches connected with every department, to name to visitors the animals or other things iu the tents, To make final, VanAmburgh & Co. are the exhlhltols.--the world are fhe judges. Win exhibit at Falls Village, Friday, April 20.