The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-10-05
THE CIRCUS.
W. w. Coles "Great Electric Light
Show In Toronto.
FAITH KEPT WITH THE PUBLIC.
Over 5000 People Under Canvas-Hun-
dreds Turned Away at the Eve
ming Performance.
fFrom the Toronto Mail. !

-~~e-~>'l
W. w. Coles circus, whose approaching adj
vent had been heralded some weeks ago, en-
tered the city early yesterday morning, and
made its presence known later in the day by
the usual street parade.
The streets were crowded a long the route OF
the procession.
At one o'clock the entrance to the tents was
thrown open to the public, and Immediately
afterwards crowds began to swan in, and by
the hour announced for the beginning OF the
performance the interior was well filled. The
managerie can lay pretensions for complete
ness, as it is, perhaps, the best which has been
brought into the city for long time past. The
lions and tigers were evidently in somnolent
mood, probably induced by the heat. They
betrayed most majestic indifference to the
curiosity Of which they were the objects, ard
only exhibited little Of their innate ferocity
when their semi-doze was disturbed by the
whip of the keeper. On the contrary, the
monkeys were ever on the alert, and looked as
if they never could close an eye, even to wink.
There could not be more serious looking ami
mails than the hyenas, from whom even the
antics of the monkeys could not provoke
smile, much less laugh. Among the animals
on exhibition were kangaroos elephants, CAM
els, panthers, sacred bulls, leopards, rhinoce-
nus, etc., etc. The white buffalo attracted
great deal attention, and small crowd was
ever before its cage. Then there were birds
and reptiles of all interesting species. Plenty
of time was given for thorough inspection Of
the managerie, for the circus did not COM
mence until a few minutes after two o'clock.
The performance is undoubtedly above the
mended for
KEEPING FAITH WITH THE PUBLIC,
a fact which in itself was a novelty. 1t is sell
dom that the promises in advertisements are
fulfilled. The performing elephants formed
one Of the best features of the entertainment,
and the perfection to which these animals have
been trained was matter for general surprise,
and provoked general applause. The same may
be said of the troupe of trained stations A feat
which created great astonishment, and which
was rewarded by repeated outbursts OF APP
plause, was the aerial bicycle feat by Messrs.
Murtz and Dunbar and Mdle. d Attalie The
horizontal bar exercise was certainly the best
seen in Toronto for many years past. Mr.. w.
O'Dale Stephens, the equilibrist, attracted the
closest attention, and ELECTED the most cordial
applause. Mdles Helen Jeal and Adelaide
D'Attalie may be numbered among the best
equestriennes who have ever visited this city
In fact the riding was of a superior character
throughout. Neither have the acrobatic exer-
cises been excelled, and it seems as if the best
acrobats only had been engaged. The other
principal features In the performance were the
jump of Miss Linda Jeal and her horse
through hoops of fire, the riding and driving
of five horses by Miss Helen Jeal, and the dar-
ing feats performed by Conklin in the den OF
lions Altogether the circus and managerie
are well worthy of the large patronage which
is sure to be extended to them. In the eve
ming the space underneath the canvas was
againeflled, and before the performance COM
menced hundreds were turned away, unable
to gain admituance.
This monster amusement enterprise will ex-
hibit in Portland on Saturday, Oct. 9Th. Ar
rangements have been made for special excur-
sions on all railroads at half-fare.