Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-16
The London Circus.

| greatest show on earth $50 are they
| ain fulfilled its contract with the public
| bv giving its two performances yes
terdav to as large audiences as ever
| Gathered beneath a tent IN tins city.
! The tent was full, and when its unusual
size is taken into consideration, that
means great many people. But first
came the street parade IN the morning.
Crowds began To assemble on our
thoroughiares shortly after nine O'Clock
and the scene soon resembled London
ON a market day" The great pageant
made its appearance about eleven o'clock
and was about the ordinary exhibition
i'm that line. The morning, however,
was rather uniavOrable for preparation
and it might otherwise have been more
imposing.
Soon after twelve the exodus to the
Island began and for an hour and half
the city poured her hundreds in the
direction of the city of canvas spread on
the fair grounds. The street cars and
bridge company reapcd their usual
bOnanZas and many economical persons
crossed the river in skiitS. The ring
tent had an exceedingly large seating
capacity and nearly every seat was
occupied. The mCnagerie did not at
tract much attention, but probably got
what it was worth.
THE PERFORMANCE
Was very commendable and had some
features worthy OF special mention.
The leaping and tumbling both low and
lofty, was about as usual, with one eX-
- = Rnt.hnlIr ,A IL
probably uneXcelled in long leaping.
The trained elephants excited cOnsid-
cradle admiration and their perform
anccs were certainly evidences OF much
skill and labor At the word of COM
mand, they executed a number OF mill
tarv manoeuvres, such as marching,
wheeling. dc. Miss Addie AuStin's
bareback riding was excellent. SenOrlta
Adelaide COrdUna, in executing her
"tcrriiic, picturesque, and electric grand
iour-horse act" got a fall and was in
danger of being trampled, but recov--
cred herself ut once and nimbly leaped
again TO her position. The feat she at
tcmptS is one difficult for woman, and
for her pluck and skill she was roundly
upplauded. The Lswrcnce sisters
trapcze act and the japanese juggling
were both especially commendable.
Frank Melville is a graceful and daring
bareback rider, and the other perform.
ers all gave satisfactory evidences OF
their strength, skill and address. The
concert was the usual circus attempt,
with the introduction of apantOmine.
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.
So much had been said OF the electric
light used by this circus, that it became
centre OfattraCtiOn. Near the entrance,
on the outside, was an uncovered light,
which brilliantly Illuminated the scene,
and various globes are scattered about
through the circus and menagerie. Near
the entrance to the circus tent stood
what is known as the Brush Electrical
Machine from which the magnetic
electricity is produced. An engine OF
two or three horse power turns spildle
which causes a set of soft iron bars to
revolve between two series of powerful
magnets, set with the poles facing each
other. The current OF electricity thus
induced is conducted to the various
globes. Thepositive and negative wires
terminate in carbon points. When
these points are brought within three
inches of each other, the circuit is
closed and the distance between them
is spanned by an arc of flame that gilt
tiers with all the phosphoresent ettul-
gence of the star Affair The electric
is the most brilliant artificial light
known, and produces also the most in
tense heat, in which platinum melts
4 =. . -.
glare the glass globes are ground opaque,
and during the illumination CLEAN like
miniature suns, giving oil a white light
that is peculiarly brilliant and pleasing.
The effect i'm a circus ring is novel and
attractive The cost Of operating the
electric light is insignifcantan and all dan
ger is averted. This one is said to have
the illuminating power Of one produced
from galvanic battery OF five hundred
cells.