The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-12
Magnificent Spectacle.

The most stupendous amusement enter
prise ever organized on this continent is,
without doubt, the Adam Forepaugh Com
bination of Menagerie, Museum, Circus, Hip
podrome and Caravan. As this famous es-
tablshment is advertised to exhibit here on
Thursday, April 10th, we transfer to our col
umns the following description of its appear
ance in the streets Of Philadelphia, short
time since. The article is taken from the
Daily Age, of that city:
The stateliest procession that ever graced
the city of Philadelphia, passed down our
highways this morning. No Roman triumphal
entry, no victorious pageant Of the Caesars
can be compared to it. The glittering ban
ners. the many brilliant colors, the aarlnt
ing flags and the gilded carving and figures
made our streets rich in gorgeous hues, and
won the admiration of all beholders. 1t was
indeed the paragon of parades-a scene OF
unparalleled grandeur.
"a scene where, if god should cast his sight
A god might gaze and wonder with delight.
A noble and magnificent specimen of car
rage work led this spectacle-the s'golden
car of the muses. towering high in the air,
and glittering like FURNISHED throne, with
rich and symmet rical gilded figures carved
from its massive sides, and occupied by
positive rarity on our streets-a most excel
lent cornet band. Long ere the chariot hove
in sight the air was filled with clear strains
of beautiful music (mingled with the melody
Of ioyeusly-sounding chime bells, which oc-
cupied a prominent position in the grand
procession), and drawing nearer made plain
ly evident that we were being RECALLED by
masters, not by amateurs, each of whom
wore a
HANDSOME GRAY REGALIA.
1t was an appropriate beginning to the
grand scene which ensued.
Then followed a cavalcade Of ladies and
gentlemen, elegantly costumed and mount
ed upon pure-blooded Arabian steeds.
Anon came
SIX ELEPHANTS, 49,
all harnessed to chariot elegantly designed
and appropriately constructed. Then came
long line OF palace cages, surmounted by
beautiful, spangled
BANNERS AND FLAGS.
with drivers in uniform and horses plumed.
Such horses, tool Magnificent animals, full
Of energy, with ears pricked up, paving the
streets and eager for a run. No similar dis
play of fine horses have we ever seen before.
Our attention but lingering for moment
on these noble animals, was drawn by anotll-
er band, to huge open den, in which like
Daniel Of old, sat man among lions-nay
magnificent yet the most ferocious of all car
niyorous animals. With bated breath we
gazed upon the thrilling scene-thrilling in
a double sense, for we knew how narrow had
been the tanners escape from death, beneath
the fury of these beasts, two years ago. Yet
there he sat, the very man, calm and peace
full, with smile Of scorn and derision-the |
line could scarcely be drawn-upon his no.
BILE face. And there. colched at his feet,
lay the very tigers whose terrible attack has
long since been heralded over the land
there they lay, quiet as kittens, scrutinizing
the multitudinous faces peering at them
from
THE CROWDED WALK.
UNDECIDED and unnoticed. Next came a
splendid pony team, eight in number, driv-
en- by decidedly modern Jehu, lad OF a
dozen years, drawing beautiful cage, upon |
the top of which the 7full-sized figure Of an
acrobat was performing his almost miracu-
lous gyrations, evidently moved by invisible
mechanical means, and causing roars of |
laughter to follow his gyratory course.
And so the stately procession moved along |
in quiet grandeur. ever and anon winning
renewed praise, as some new object of inter- |
est or beauty filed the eye, or some hand |
some painting was presented to view, for |
more elegant designs or finer pictures have |
never yet adorned the sides of carriages than |
those Of Ruth and Boaz,'' 1.-THE River of
Life" "Ambition;'' Fancy Let Loose,n
Victory" Fortunes Race "Hope,'' and
'sTHE DELUGE,'
which, among the thousand others, we par
ticular]y observed, and all
Beautiful in various dYas,
Richer than tho ming dawn.
1t was realization of the gaudy scenes of
the friends of our early days-the Canadian
Nights land for nearly an hour we stood
gazing at the many novel and beautiful sights
which presented themselves in swift success
sion as the majestic march Of the grand pro
cessioa wennaed It's way along tile Street, Be-
it was the most interesting
and beautiful sight our city has beheld in
many years, and gave ali adequate idea of
The enormous amusement enterprise which
Mr.. Forepaugh has founded. Bear in mind
this great show exhibits at Staunton, Thurs
day, April 10Th.