The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-08-10
THE MAR0MAS.
The Mexican Circus, West Of o., San
Pedro, Saturday Evening.

As we approached the locality, In
which the Mexican show holds forth.
our ears were greeted by brass band,
the instruments OF which were being
Justify blown by five or six Mexicans.
Although the playing was harsh and
discordant, 1t fully answered its pur-
pose TO attract n crowd-a molly crowd,
too. II was. hat had assembled around
the muscians-negroes OF both sexes,
some with compilations as black as
Erebus. and others In varying grada-
tions of tone until dirty white was
reached. In addition to these the Mexi-
can population had turned out in strong
force and awaited anxiOusly for the time
Of commencement. The admission fee
was ID cents, which was collected by n
handsome Mexican named Chasco, who
is the main support of the troupe.
Upon entering an enclosure, formed by
canvas and poles. ones eyes are dazzled
by large light, made by burning waste
from the engine shops in pan. On
becoming used to the iitiul glare, we
guLed around with interest. At the
further end of the enclosure was erected
"A rude stage. the proscenium Of which
seemed To be the sport Of every slight
breeze. Placed in front of these were
chairs, occupied by Mexioans OF the bet
ter class. These chairs IRE not provided
by the show folk, each auditor brings
their own. ApropOs of this fact, at
Piedras Negras. n show was to be given
on certain evening, to which an Ameri-
can gentleman determined to 90. On
arriving Mt the place OF entertainment, all
the gentleman saw were, n great many
chairs, and only three persons present.
The doorkeeper seeing the gentleman's
look of surprise at this beggarly array OF
empty benches informed him large
audience might be expected that even
ing, for every one who had sent their
chairs would be sure to come. However
in the San Antonio Mexican circus par
tial accommodation ID provided, rude
benches being placed around. These
benches were crowded with auditors
old and young, colored and Mexicans.
1t was evident this was favorite rem
devious on Sunday for dusky damsels to
meet their sooty lovers One couple.
consisting Of young lady OF burnt
umber complexion and white man
created considerable amusement, the
lady reversing the tables by treating her
lover to beer and cigarettes nd lib. Be-
ing laughed at by several of her own
color she got excited and told them they
were dirty niggers, and II they did not
cense their "burlastingn IL would
be the worse for them. While
we were studying the face of
one or two of the charming Mex
lean senoritas, n man lighted up another
pan with cotton waste, the band entered
and played melody In Ego as you
please" style. the curtain rose and the
$40 or more that had gathered together
ia faI ,ir uff IN, La al. hn
play was sustained by five of the com
pany and presented an old time phase
of the "old, old story" and the atten-
| tion of the characters appeared to be
! devoted between the huge box contain
! ing the prompter and the security OF
their position. the breeze now and
again filling the canvas scene and side
slips. threatening to bury all of them in
its folds. Despite these slight obstacles
the play proceeded to the satisfaction of
the audience, and as the curtain fell on
| the marriage Of the two lovers on whom
fate had looked with fro
ward eye in the early portion OF
the drama. storm of applause
| broke out. There was then an interval,
which the band relieved from being
montonous. The acrobatic portion OF
4 the entertainment took place, opening
with an emaoiated clown, whose efforts
| AT humor were painful. A young Mex
lean shortly appeared OH the scene and
did some really good feats by the aid of
The trapeZe. Another of the company
WAS then introduced who was noted for
| his strong hair, he allowing heavy rocks
to be suspended therefrOm by thick
string. Again the band struck up and
Grimaldi's weak imitatOr gave n sermon
to the audience. the gist of which was
| that woman was at the bottom of II
all. There was no denying this, and so
the applause was tremendous. The
Young lady who, when last seen in the
| play, was married to the man of her
choice again appeared, her charms ex-
| posed In tights. She mounted on a high
| trupeZe with the lover of the play and
went through some fcats in n clumsy
way that made one shudder lest she
should fall at any moment This unique
entertainment concluded by miniature
Indian fight, the Indians being attlred
in blood red, and selling upon three or
four OF the company costumed MS immi
| grants, shot them all IN the stomach
with arrows. I hasco and his other In
dians then performe Jump Jim crow"
war dance round them until every one
| WINS tired ont and then the crowd uis-