The Portland daily press., 1878-08-23

| The street parade which preceded the per.
| Torrance of the Equescurriculum yesterday
| was an earnest of the character of the exhibi-
ton. 1t was chaste and refined, attractive
without being gaudy and served to awaken the
interest of the better class Of the people of the
city. As result the spectators at the per-
formances were of the best quality. The tents
were pitched ON the Western Promenade on
the usual grounds There were two of them
connected. The first contained the devil fish,
the only specimen Of this wonderful marine
animal on exhibition in the world, one of the
carriages of the Emperor Napoleon III, a
Tally-Ho coach, cage containing q lion,
lioness and leopard, the giraffe, Prof. Ritcheps
flying machine and some other objects of in
terest. Prof. Ritchel is on hand to explain his
wonderful machine. 1t is the same that made
the trip at Hartford where it proved itself
entirely under the control of the operator, he
succeeding in landing within three feet of the
starting point. 1t has created much discussion
among scientists and deserves to be studied
by the visitor. The main tent 10 which the
exhibitions are given is small compared
with Barnum's, but on this account is much
better suited to the nature of the show as many
of the perform ances could not be appreciated a
long distance off.
The balancing and scrobatic feats of the Japs,
which headed the programme, are really as
tonishng and are superior to almost all exhi-
billions of the kind heretofore seen in this city.
The Snow brothers are good in their leaping
and tumbling. A novel and interesting feat
ure is the Zouavs drill of Mr.. and Mrs. Chas.
Austin, who handle the bayonetted musket
with surprising skill and ease. The Japanese
juggling tricks were marvellous as the bills say.
Probably the most Interesting part of the per-
formance to the majority of the spectators was
the tricks of the Broncho horses. These ami
mails executed military evolutions with aston
ishing precision. they picked up handkerchiefs
and passed them along the line from one to
another, they hunted for handkerchiefs in
boxes, raising the covers with their noses, and
put them back again closing the lids, found
them when covered up in the dirt and carried
them to their master, ''teetered" and executed
many other feats which revealed surprising in
telligence and long and patient training.
The educated dogs performed all manner of
tricks. many OF them humorous, others tragic
such as the hanging of one of their number for
felony. The canine executioner seemed to ell.
joy his business and executed the job much
more neatly than the human often does. Net
tie INDICATED bis right to the horse leaping
championship of the world and Madame
Rinehart handled the lions and leopards as if
they were poodle dogs or kittens. The riding
of Miss Emma Stokes excited the envy of the
ladies.
The entertainment was entirely free from
Objectionable features. Nothing was said or
done which could give offence to the most fas-
tidious taste. Mr.. Coup has taken great pains
to eliminate everything coarse and vulgar and
he has succeeded. He keeps his promises
faithfully, giving all that is advertised. There
are no rough and impudent lemonade and pea
nut vendors travelling round over the seats
during the performance, no swindling side
shows and no concert after the performance
in which the ''greatest living artists" appear
1t is an exhibition that can be recommended
as thoroughly refined and enjoyable, and it
contains more novel features than any enter
tainment under canvass that has been given
here for years.
Two more performances will be given, one
this afternoon and another this evening.