Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-09-06
AN ARABIAN NIGHT.
The Bewildering Beauties Of the Or.
lent Brought to Our Very
Hearthstone.

CoteS tOfoSsal SuOWS began D series
of exhibitions in the large lot bounded by
Nineteenth, Twentieth, Pine and Chest
nut streets yesterday afternoon, and two
performances will be given daily for the
rest of the week. The immense canvas
Of the circus covers the entire lot, max
ins the external appearance correspond
with the variety and extent of the Won
ders to be seen within. The opening en-
tertainment was well %patronized, and the
long and varied programme was clearly
enjoyed. At night, the tents and grounds
were brightly lighted, and a large audi
ence cheered the leading features Of the
performance and appeared pleased with
the entire entertainment, many express
ing surprise at the novelty and complete
animals from all parts of the world were
shown in bright, new cages, and the ele-
plants, camels and larger geological
specimens were more numerous and in
better condition than those seen here
with any circus for years. Samson, the
elephant, riyaling in size and weight the
extinct races of mastodOns n mega
therium, had many admirers ard appear
ed in one of the ring performances. Be-
side him the other and ordinary sized ele-
plants appeared as dwarfs, but he is
obedient and perfectly trained, and never
gives his keepers trouble. 1t is an ad-
mitted fact among showmen that Cole
has better trained elephants than any 9TH
er show in existence. Two of them are
adopts at standing upon barrels with all
four feet and rolling them across the ring,
which is a feat that has never been ac-
complished by any others.
The exhibition pavilion is;250 feet wide
and 400 feet long, and has two sawdust
rings, with a raised platform between
them, making three places where per-
formances a be given simultaneously.
The entertainment lasts two and one
half hours, and is bewildering in its
beauty and merit, and surpasses any 9TH
er ever given here for its novelty and
the boldness and brillisncy Of Its features.
Mr.. Cole has kept faith with the public,
having advertised nothing ON the walls or
In the newspapers that is not to be seen
under the anvas Exaggerstion has not
been INDUCED in regarding q single act
or performer, and the praise given them
has been fully deserved. The secret of
Mr. Coles success in erowding SO many
new and fresh features into his show is
found in the fact that he has secured
none but flrst-class attractions, and by
performing in two or three rings stimuli
t~aneously, the public are given that much
more for their money. The multiplicity
Of the .satures can be inferred from the
fact that thirty-fve acts are put into the
exhibition rings during each performance.
Any ten of these would make o first-class
show, and two or three of the attrac-
tons, such as the Arabs, James Robin
sons riding and Frank Gardner leaping,
have more skill and genuine merit than
can be found in the average circus. The
twelve Bedouin Arabs do one of the most
picturesque and wonderful acts ever seen
in any show. They tumble in the air
firing muskets, throwing knives and Jug
Cling bayonets, and form into massive
pyramids four high. They were enthusi-
sstically received yesterday, making q
hit Of which themselves and their man
ager may well be proud. Robinson is
still the champion bareback rider of the
world, doing feats on horseback that 9TH
ers fail In on the ground, and giving the
thrilling finish to his act that brought
fame TO him twenty years ago. Gardner
Is q aplendid rider and the greatest of al
frst-class leapers, one of his feats being
the throwing of a double somersault ovel
five elephants and six camels. Mrs. Mil.
dred Gardner appears in a beautiful rid.
ing act, and with her dog, creates a grea'
deal of merriment. In the eriel bicycle
act, given with trapeze features, Mr.
Mertz rides his wo-wheeled steed on &
rope stretched In mid-air, while standing
on his head in the saddle, making q very
thrilling and dangerous performance
The corps of roller skaters, the riding
goats, dogs, monkeys, the trained stall
ions, the clowns Pete Conklin and Ernes'
Cook, the horizontal bar team, the bi.
cycle experts, the ceiling walking, the
posturing acts of the Martell Brothers
are some of the features that combine t.
make this circus the most perfect tina
St. Lousians have been treated to in
long time. The well directed enterprise
of w. w. Cole is seen in the unrivalet
excellence Of his entertainment, and {
cleaner, more respectable and satisfac'
tory circus performance will not be seeI
In this city until Coles Colossal show.
are here again.