Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-06-30

but were by no means under perfect
control Al the same time. light
gray horse was exhibited in the other
ring and really did very well. The
trained giraffe, performing lions, tigers
and other animals were conspicuous
for their absence, and the entire ring
performance was decidedly "thin.'
with the exception of the performing
elephants and the bicycle exhibition
The elephants went through their part
as well as they did when Forepaugh
was here before, and were the only
features that equalled those given by
him in former years. The bicycle ex-
hibition had the merit of novelty, and
was very pleasing, although by no
means equal to the expectations of the
public, who had been led to believe
that it was something of a startling
nature. The riding would have been
a leading feature twenty-five years ago,
but people have seen too many bare
back equestrians of late years to care
anything for the antics of a rider
who canters leisurely around the ring
on horse wearing pad as big as a
celler door. Among the leapers and
tumblers, John Wirland and John
Robinson, the trick clown, are the
only two who can lay claim to being
star artists, and neither of them eau
equal John Bachelor, George Bliss
and other well-known leapers and
double somersault performers who
have visited this vicinity with Barnum
and other shows.
The Herbert Brothers do some very
neat tumbling, with promptness and
precision, but as they did not attempt
anything of very difficult nature, it
is impossible to tell how they would
acquit themselves if called upon for
some of the harder acts of the pro-
fessioDs. The three Karl Brothers,
who performed at Turner Hall last
winter, gave much more difficult and
better exhibition than that given in
Forepaugh's ring, Saturday, by the
Herberts. Two rings and a large
number of young performers served
to dazzle the public somewhat when
the tumbling was progressing, but
they looked in vain for anything that
would surprise them.
In one respect Forepaugh's show is
an improvement on his former efforts;
he has made war on the rufianlY
crowd that used to give his show a
hard name, and driven them and the
candy and lemonade iends into the
back ground. 1t is an easy matter
now to get in and out of the show
without being abused by some ruHianly
canvasman, and the whole foreground
of the seats is no longer taken up by
yelling youths trying to dispose lemon
ade or peanuts. Mr.. Forepaugh has
done a good thing in getting rid of
these nuisances, and now if he would
content himself with one ring instead
of two, less number of performers,
| but better ones, and not advertise big
things that pan out small, he would
please the public better.
In conclusion, it may be said, that
Loyal, the human cannon ball, and his
socalled wonderful feat, are not so
marvellous or dangerous as a person
might suppose if they gazed at the
pictures on the wall or in the windows.
It is sort Of thing that does we'll
enough to advertise, but in the lang
uage of the vulgar sit want wash. ,"
The tight rope and other performan-
ces are fair, but as before stated, they
do not equal those given by the Bar
mum show last year; or even in the
Inter Ocean, John 0'Brien's show.
The $4,000 beauty would be expen-
sive at a much less price, and if Fore
paugh thinks her the handsomest
woman in the world, we should not
like to take his judgment in bnying
horse.
There is one thing about the whole
show that will commend it to persons
of an economical turn OF mind; the
best part Of it is outside, and free to
all.
A GOOD BOY WANTED.
A good steady boy can find employ