Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-06-20
Tho Clrcus---Then and Now.

Not many years ago, if a man or boy
was supple, loose in the joints and quick
to act, and could turn a somersault or
leap five rail fence, the superstitious
people regarded him as being in league
with Satan; but with the passing away
of each year ignorance gave way to rea.
son, and when it was made known that q
circus was coming, and would exhibit in
this or that town. the people-old men of
four score years, old women decrepit and
weak, young men and women and bows
and girls-would become nearly dement,
ed at the prospect of seeing 'them air
men an gals in their ring f1ipflop, and
squat down jest in time to git out of ther
way of Their hoops, and such flipsy-sipsv
things" The travelling show Of that De-
Rod was made up principally of a few
stage performers of both sexes, and there
was no riding worth speaking of, nor
W., we're there any startling feats performed.
The clown would manage, by stale Jokes
and a sprlnkling Of vulgar wit, to keep
the small audience in sort Of good hui
NOR; nothing seen upon the big bills out
sioe was seen in the ring inside, and thus
It followed that 50 much deception dis
gusted the people, and it got to be 30
that travelling show could not make ex.
penses, and every season witnessed some
unfortunate show put under the cham
mer."
But the people ware to be undeceived.
Van Amburgh & Cos Great Golden Me.
uagerle, Frost's Roman Circus and Royal
Coliseum started out to make tour of
the States and to slow the people that
one travelling show at least gave them the
worth OF, their money; bulletin boards
one hundred feet long and more, and ten
or fifteen feet high, with huge, many col.
ored and pictured posters, act forth In
stern facts that what was seen there in
paints and inks would BE SEEN in the
two tents on the day of exhibition. These
assurances were SO plain, SO honest in
their intent that when the show came
every seat was occupied, and the ground
around the ring covered with pleased
and amused people. The two tents were
necessarily made larger every season ;
more seats were added; more men and
horses were employed to convey this
monster show across the continent. Pro.
prietors OF other shows were amazed ;
they could not understand why Manager
Frost with the Van Amburgh company
drew such crowds; they had placed
ia lseho0ds upon their posters-but the
"Secret of Success "-where was it, The
Van Amburgh Go. found it in the truth.
full sentences contained on their bulletin
boards, and the people found that what
was advertised was exhibited or per-
formed. In this manner, by being hon.
est with the people, Van Amburgh 4
Cos Menagrie and Circus came to be the
only recognized show in America. The
people of different States and towns
made 1t an annual holiday when the Van
Amburgh show came, and to-day this
show is the largest In the world. Proof
of this assertion is found in the two tents.
We headed this article 1.-THE Circus. .
and now will confi1e our words to the
ring. While they do not claim to have
engaged all the ''best Performer in the
world" they do claim that the enormous
salaries paid 10 s0me of them will entit.e
them to having the best. The acrobsts,
gymnasts, athletes, tumblers, jugglers,
bareback riders, trapeze performers, mi.
mics, and others who delight and amuse
ehe vast audience, are not puny looking
beings with 1unken chests, but they are
fresh, robust and full Of strength, and
able to perform every act advefti0od.
The inimitsble clown II here arrayed In
oil his glory, and nothing obscene or
vulgar passes his lips. He has IN ihex.
haustible fund Of incident and auecdote,
all original, and he will give il to you BY
the pailful. The ring horses are not tir-
ed, WORKOUT creatures made 20 from over.
work, but they are fresh from their stables,
lively and know inst THAT II rennirad 0f