Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-06-12

vyna4 New EDGiaAass kevoFste 1eWspapes
oays 1e8aFdtng the Great TeFePa1gA
The Boston Journal furnishes the follow
ing detailed account of the attractions of the
Great Forepaugh Show. which is coming
here June %. Il closed season of ten days
in Boston. Thursday. June Z.
OPENING OF FoREPAUsH's CIRCUS, MENACE
RE AND HIPPoDRoNE.
The great Forepaugh show of menagerie,
circus and hippodrome opened ten days
season in this city at the Coliseum Grounds
yesterday, and gave afternoon and evening
performances. The evening audience was
large. and that of the afternoon tremendous.
The show opened under excellent auspices
and as it is the only large menagerie and cir
Gus combination that is coming to Boston
this season it is sure to be generously patron
lied. Whether Mr.. Forepaugh's show will
draw as well as Barnum's, which exhibited to
immense houses here last season, remains to
be seen. The name of Barnum Is familiar
and potent one to conjure with. and in circus
life, if not elsewhere, there is much in a
name. Forepaugh's show clearly surpasses
Barnums, however. The exhibition of
wild animals in the present case is very
large, important and comprehensive.
The variety is great, and all the specimens
are unusually vigorous, healthy and truly
representative of their various species when
seen at their best. There is no Jumbo"
among the elephants, to be sure. but the larg
est of the herd of % which Mr.. Forepaugh
owns is evidently nearly if not quite, as heavy
and bulky, and only lacks ''Jumbo's' long
legs to make him the equal in all respects of
that popular favorite. Among the other ami
mails that are especially worthy of mention
l.. III 4
full giraffe. several large and healthy lions,
tigers. common and black psnthers. num-
Der of camels, large rhinoceros and hippo
potamus, several cages of hyenas, black and
gr.ZZlv bears, an emeu, cassowary and other
rare birds. large and variei collection of
parrots, cockatoos and other brilliant plum
aged varieties, several beautiful Zebras and
other strange beasts without number Add to
these herd of the smallest ponies ever seen
in this city-beautiful little animals and
perpetual delight to the children who visit
the show-and it will be seen that this part of
the attractions is in itself sufficient to repay
visit
The performance in the main tent. which
will accommodate an audience of % 900 per-
sons, calls into action a large force of prin-
cipals and au xiliaries. All the appointments are
unusually complete. The animals are spirited,
clean and well kept, the costumes of the per-
formers are all new and made in excellent
taste in the matter of shape and color, and
not the least attraction and an unusual fea-
ture of circus performance. The brass band
which furnishes the music is excellently
made up, and adds greatly by its fine playing
to the interest of the entertainments. As
more people probably are interested in the
feats of trained animals than in any other
single feature of a circus performance, it
h. l. ftI,, -
horses, elephants and ponies. Two herds of
elephants, one composed of the largest the
other of the smallest, animals in the menag
erie, go through number of evolutions,
military drill, etc, with great precision and
intelligence; play at see-saw, form pyramids,
roll barrels and perform many other feats,
and a school of beautiful black or white
horses, and the ponies above mentioned
as among the menagerie attractions, per-
form all the tricks with which former years
have made us familiar. Miss Lille Deacons
very handsome and spirited saddle horse,
which she rides with quite indispensable ad-
dress and grace, must also be mentioned as
constituting one of the chief attractions in
this department. The bareback riding by
Hugh and James Lloyd, Jeronimo Bell,
Senoritas Adelaide Cordona and Lizzie
Auguzzi and Misses Lottie Aymar and Clara
Cooke is of high order of merit, very dash
ing and confident and introducing some new
and startling feats fequestrianism. One of
the most remarkable performances is that of
the Japanese rope-walker, who, with no
other balance than that afforded him by
large umbrella, walks backward up a tight
rope to the top of the tent, md then slides
rapidly down, still standing erect as if such
feat was the merest commonplace AS to
him it doubtless is Very thrilling feats are
also performed on the trapeze by the Silbons,
who take long and perilous flights
through the air, and conclude their per-
Torrance by one of them leaping from
the top of the tent and catching
by the hands of another as he swings rapidly
to and fro at least thirty fee; below him
This feat is one of the most exciting and
skillful that has ever been seen here. Leo
nati's ride up narrow and spiral path to the
tent on bicycle, and, still more perilous,
his descent by the same means. is also very
exciting. and the element of peril which en-
tiers into it is evident from the performers
own care and circumspection. Another great
attraction is George Jagendorfer, whose teats
of strength easily eclipse any that ever before
been seen here. and in addition to him ap
pear performers on slack wires, rolling
spheres, ETC., etc. Altogether the ring and
special performances cannot easilv be sur
passed. The entertainments conclude with
Roman standing and chariot races. fiat and
hurdle races for men and women riders, ele-
plant and camel races, etc, all of which are
holly contested and very exciting. The
horses engaged in these matches are English
thorough-breds. and they are mounted by
most experienced riders.
THE Country Week"