The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-10-13
Barnum's Greatest Show--Opening of the
Combined Exhibitions.

| Expectation is on tiptoe since the an
nouncement that this great entertainment
is to visit Dallas on the Odd The New Yorl
Truth, of March 29tlrfhas this strong in
dorsement:
| Every part of Madison Square Garden
was crowded by fashionable audience
| which had assembled to witness the open
| ing performance of Barnum's greatest show
| The famous Snowman has kept his prom
| Use this time, and presents an array of tai
| ent and curiosities such as has never before
| been seen. Vast as the crowd was inside
| the immense building large number were
unable to gain admittance.
The number of performers engaged is SO
large that it would be impossible for them
all to perform in one ring and conclude the
performance at reasonable hour. Conse-
quently there are three rings, but the pro-
gramme is so arranged that attractions in
the same line of business occupy the differ
ent rings at the same time.
Every member of the large troupe is the
best in his particular line, and the antics OF
the trained animals are marvellous. Be
sides the usual circus attractions the pro-
grnmme embraces number of novel fea-
lures that are entirely new.
One of the new attractions is Slgnor Don
Gerourino Bell, a Brazilian bareback rider,
whose feats are ofmarvels daring horseman-
ship. This man performs number of
somersaults upon horses back while go
ing through burning hoops. Madame
Dockrill, the great equestrienne, appeared
in number of new acts, each OF Which was
roundly applauded.
Frank Melville, the noted bareback rider,
was better than ever. Madame Cordona
proved herself q most accomplished and
daring equestrienne by riding q bareback
horse through burning zones.
The Boissett brothers and the French
Troupe Davene, the two leading families Of
gymnasts, performed numerous difficulty
and novel feats. A number of other gym
nasts also appeared in acts Of contortion
and tumbling.
The Trakene stations, which have attrct-
ed 50 much attention heretofore, the train
ed oxen and the trained stays all performed
new tricks besides those which astonished
us year ago. The elephants, however, are
by far the most sagacious of the trained ami
mails. While the large ones did many won
derful things in one ring, the rising genera
ton of the elephantine world amused the
immense audience by performing ,droll
tricks in another. One of them played
clown. and another turned a hand-organ,
while the others marched about the ring in
true military style, performing many diff
cult tricks.
The programme was too long to detail all
the features. The principal attractions
which have not already been mentioned
were the troupe Of japanese gymnasts.
Prince Awatka KatsnOshin, the japanese
juggler; Edward Baldwin, in club swing
ing act Karaly and Augusta 0rdray, the
Hungarian iugglers Miss JOttie Baldwin,
on the trapeze. and the Misses Emma Lake
and Matte Benedict, who appeared in a
menage act.
The whole was concluded by an astOnish-
ing exhibition Of high leaping by forty-fOur
acrObats.
Every one Of the 200 reserved seats was
sold BY $40, and the doors 70 the fifty-cent
part Of the house. which accommodates
about 5000, were closed at 7.35.
Without exception the performance given
last night was the best ever witnessed in
New York. and could not be excelled in any
particular, IS il was as near perfection as a
circus performance can be.
Ths-number Of animals on exhibition Wa
increased Yesterday BY lady lion, who
contributed three playful little cubs. Moth
er and children are doing wei.
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