Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-10-12
AMUsEMENTs.
W. c. ooUP's GREAT CIRCUS.

hlgn ana low degree, aud it matters
not what people say, or how they may
be criticized, ladies Of fashion. with
all the children they can collect, will
go to see the wonderful feats ofagility
performed byacrobats, the aerial fights
OF the queen of the air, the bright
eyed beauty in her gauzy dress who
disports her beautiful figure so grace
fully on horseback. the clown in his
comicalties and fantastic garb, the
marvellous feats in mid air on balanc-
ing poles, hat thrills the spectators
brain and causes the heart to throb
fearing that the performer who repeats
just such feats, day in and day out,
will fall and break his or her neck.
The spotted trick horses that dance
and march, see-saw on a plank, or sit
on a chair, and do other strange feats,
for a horse, all because he has been
taught to do it after years OF patient
instruction; the antics of the trained
dogs; the flying movements of the wild
Indians on horseback; the speeches of
the Maitre de cirque;" the flying
trapeze, with a beautiful girl swinging
in mid air, often by the tips of her
toes; the lively music, the cages of
wild beasts, fowls of the air, and deni-
zens Of the deep; the gorgeous band
wagons, and a thousand other things
not just now thought of. go to make up
a travelling exhibition. All of these
are charming to thousands ofspectaters
and no amount of education or culture
will keep people from going at inter-
walls to see them. 1t has been many
months since a travelling exhibition
paid US a visit, and when the great
show of w. G. Coup was announced
as approaching thousands began to
read, inquire and prepare to see it.
The illuminated posters on the walls
were scanned by all the little folks in
town and from the country, the pro-
grammes in the papers we're read
closely by the matron and the maid at
home, and the beauty, the fashion, the
poor and rich all manifested interest
ia the coming exhibition. Ooup's
show came, only for one day, giving
two exhibitions, one in the afternoon
the other In the evening, and it met
a great success. Lowering clouds
overcast the sky during the
afternoon, and just before the
doors opened light drops Of rain be.
gan to descend. This did not keep
people from going to the circus, how
ever. Every street and avenue lead
ing TO the BLUFF was thronged with
moving humanity, all trudging one
way. Extra street cars were run ovel
all the routes carrying people from
both ends of the city, and as they
nearcd Monroe or Union street, the
driver would halt and sing out circus
street." and some time before the
performance began the mammoth
tents were crowded with people repre-
senting every calling and phase of so
ciety. Those who went passed a briei
fifteen minutes among the ANNA
cages, then went into the greatpavilior
where the arenic exhibition was to BE-
given. Scarcely had the performance
began ere heavyrain drops began tC
fall and a heavy shower followed
The tents were of new cloth
sail duck they call it, and it served
to prevent the immense audience from
receiving a duck ing. Yetthere were
places where the water dripped
through and confusion followed, which
enlisted the most serious efforts Of th,
management to quiet and dispel. II
spite of all they could do, people
would hold up their umbrellas, would
stand in front Of their neighbors, anc
would do many rude things. Ladies
in numerous instances stretched theil
uecks until they were tireC
out, trying to look over or between
those who persisted in standing. il
their front. The audience in tn,
main proved patient and though quit,
noisy, yet all left the exhibition, wheI
the show ended, apparently satisfied
and hundreds declared COup's col
lection of animals aud his list o
arenic artists everything thaC haC
been claimed for it, ''the best show OIL
earth" Owing to the inability Of tn
} writer to see through a crowd Of PEG
pie on the front, from one Of the lowe
seats, only glimpses Of the perform
ance was witnessed, butthe little seel
! proved delightful in every sense
Among the most attractive features
however, was the graceful, lovely ant
almost ETHEREAL Miss Emma Stokes il
her delightful act on the bare back O
a spirited aud beautiful charger. Thi
fair lady appear to hayeinherited fror
&. her father, Spencer Q. Stokes, one q
the tallest aud most gracefully forme
, men Of his day in the circus business
a figure perfect in mold and willoyy i
D stature. AT the same time it was evi
dent that a fathers skillful and pa
tent hand had instructed the fi
lady in the poses, leaps aud gracefl
] as well as perfect movements whic
drew forth loud and merite
expressions Of admiration. TIL
younger sister, Miss Katie Stoke
also looked a queen in her beautifl
menage act, and two such lovely an