Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-19

siders to be present. AS "10-cent show
for children, adults %" 1t has been known
to bring in quite respectable sum into
the treasury. "Indoor circus" it was
styled, and to prepare for it large play
room was cleared Of furniture, cleaned,
and the floor in the centre sprinkled with
thick sawdust. Rows Of chairs and
benches formed the seats, and pen made
OF two tables served as the entrance
through which the horses were led from
the adjoining room, Property horses were
next secured IRON c0stumer one 1s sure
to procure them, or any beast, mythical
or actual, desired, from one of these Ger
man costumers, who provide for the great
German public balls in New YORK;. The
heads are made of cheap papier mache,
and the framework OF the bodies is COW
cred with housings and trappings Of cam
brio and giltpaper that sweep the ground.
A hole in the middle OF the frame is meant
lor the passage of the riders head and
arms and body to his waist. When the
rider is equipped. in either circus dress
or in knlghtly armor, the illusion is very
good.
Into ring formed by a long strip of
unbleacbeu muslin, fastened from chair
to chair in circular form, two horses
and their riders were first led by grooms
gotten u y after the approved Barnum
fashion, with tights and body coats. Rub
Der boots had to do for these boys Instead
OF the patent leather ones they desired.
They found out atterward they might
have hired morocco boot legs of great
magniticence, which may be pulled on
over any Kind OF shoes. One OF the smaller
grooms, in red hunting coat, borrowed
from his cousin, and high nat, borrowed
from his father, looked as if he were on
lire, about to be eXtinguished. Another
lad, dressed as "Mademoiselle Franch-
cite, the equestrian wonder of the
world" in short petticoats made by the
housemaid from mosquito netting, and a
wig and chlgnon of tow, tied with many
cOlored ribbons, jumped, horse and all,
through several paper hoops. The clown
was greeted by the youthful members OF
the audience with screams Of laughter.
Pinned with jokes from a volume OF
witty Sayings" which he had diligently
studied, airing, second hand, the horse
play acquired at Barnum's, his success
was blazing. To emulate the others, he
ran out of the ring and came back first
mounted on stick horse with wooden
head. Next, he rode In on a saw horse,
with saucepan for helmet, spear
made of broomstick, and shield was
represented by the tin cover of the boiler.
He took liberties, he turned somersaults,
he made personal remarks about men,
bers of the audience, and was, in fact, the
hero OF the day. am afraid L cannot do
justice to the number and variety of side
shows introduced into that circus. They
spun out the entertainment to an indeh-
mite length, like Chinese play or Wag-
ner opera. 1t began about 10 O'Clock one
rainy day and was continued till dark.
with brief inJermission for refreshment
Before leaving menagere was added.
A giraffe, formed of big boy and little
one for the hind legs; an elephant, con-
structed from one of those drab water
proof clocks now sold In all theshops; sew
eral lengths of garden hose for the SER
penis meant to Irvine around the "Hindoo
charmer's" neck, were only few of the
attractions of this "Wonderful and only
Indoor Circus Entertainment" given by
lads in their Christmas holiday.