The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-11
CHARMS OF THE CIRCUS RING
How a Music-Surfeited Public Appreci-
ates Good Old Horse Opera.
Barnum's Wonderful Show Attracts Large
Crowds at the Exhibitions in This City
Striking Features Of the Performances.

grand opera 10 morse opera, Such mas been the
progress made by the city of Indianapolis dur
ing the past ten days. These startling changes
could happen nowhere outside the largest and
most progressive cities. In all these multiplied
musical attractions the city has honored itself by
turning out in large numbers, the interest show
ing no indication of tagging. Mr.. Barnum's
reputation as an impressario is too well known
to require notice here. Carrying with him
troupe of magnitude that renders the ordinary
opera house too small to accommodate it, he has
been obliged to present his beautiful operas al
largest pavilions ever conceived for that service
On yesterday afternoon, at the matinee, he pre-
sented Horse pheus and You-rd I-see," one Of
the most successful operas of the kind ever pre-
sented in this any other country. a large
and enthusiastic audience was in attendance,
representing the elite of the city and surround
ing country. Coming so soon after the Aneri
can Opera Company, the success of this organi-
cation was very fattering indeed
Among the innovations that were received
with every evidence of favor was that the
ballet, though small, was mounted and rode in
very fine style. The principal performers in
this department of the opera Madame AIDE
iaide Cardona, Miss Viola Rivers, Miss Matte
Jackson, aud Miss F. Ashton, all of whom per-
formed marvellous feats in the way of daring and
artistic riding and with as few impediments in
the way of dresses and skirts as comported with
the average idea of what was right and proper
under the circumstances. Opera patrons vino
like the ballet can not help being pleased with
this feature of the exhibition.
In a conversation with one Of the ladies who
performed the difficult feat of riding four horses
simultaneously, the question asked why it
was that no lady had thought of riding more
than four steeds at the same time It will be re-
called that this has not been done. While there
has been great progress in other features of the
| circus, IL has remained that the usual thing is
for ladies to ride no more than four horses at
one and the time The lady in question
replied that she had no hope that the day would
ever come when more than four would be ridden
at the same time by the same lady. She did not
see how it could be done as long as the old way
of constructing women remained in force. 1t is
quite probable, therefore, that the oncoming
generations will have to be content with the
same number of horses that their progentors
WERE and will have to put up with the same
jokes uttered by the clown, which seem copy
rghted for the benefit of the profession
Be it known in this connection that the clowns
In this opera were not permitted to get off any
alleged jokes, neither were any of them per-
mitted to sing songs and sell books containing
the full score of the same. In short, every care
was taken to spare the audience the infections
so common such occasions. No jokes,
songs and no candy butchers. Surely the day
of the operate millennium is at hand. 1t is
doubtful if there be another man in the world
who would think of such an improvement over
the old way. To Phineas T. Barnum must be
ascribed the undying glory of this discovery.
The first act of the opera at the matinee was
the grand parade, such as is familiar to Indian
annlit vhn lhorh wa her ttav
were at Delhi, India, or Delphi, Ind 1t was
pageant such AS other Snowman in the world
could present to his patrons. 1t was one that
the Maharajah of Booramphoor would have given
barrels of money and jewels to see, to say moth
Ing of owning.
1t were impossible, in the space Of a newspaper
notice. to properly recount all the attractions
that were on hand 1t will go without saying
however, that Mile. Zarah can como and get her
pick Of the youth of Indianapolis, including all
under the age of ifty-seven whenever she is 80
disposed, and no questions asked. Photographs
exchanged if desired. Her dizzy fight from the
apex of the canvas to the ground, holding by her
teeth. and her feats on the swinging trapeze were
just what the average Indianapolis man would
like to see in a companion. We are not so sure
Of her popularity through her ability to swing
the Indian clubs.
The bareback riding of Orrin Hollis proved one
thing and that was, that there is successor to
the famous James Robinson, he performing all
the feats that gave Robinson a worldwide fame.
He is undoubtedly the best rider in the world to-
day.
The Julians-brother and sister, or husband
and wife, the Journal man doesn't know which
were among the best contortionsts that ever
visited this city. Their every act was done with
grace and ease that made it a pleasure to see
them. It had the appearance of being ENJOYABLE
to them. Then there we're the Stirks. bicyclsts,
who good as the best But one of their
number, little Florie, was not with tnem 1t
will be remembered that she died shortly after
roff ho Tho ctnf%h o
family, now scarcely four years of age, gives
promise of outdoing her elders
The contortion acts of "Tatala" on the aerial
rings were simply wonderful, and it is doubtful
if they will ever be surpassed But it were i'm
possible to describe, even mention, all the re-
markable feats that were exhibited for the de
lectation of the thousands of patrons of this
king of amusement-makers. One surprise fol-
lowed another so closely that it was next to inn
possible to keep account of them all in the two
rings and on the elevated stage. There were
wire walkers, riders. balancers. tumblers, leap
ers. gymnasts, trained elephants, monkeys,
goats, pigs, and animals of all kinds in harness,
and taught to draw vehicles as safely as any old
Dobbin could.
At the close of the opera proper there come
the hippodrome races, which have helped to
| make the name of Barnum even more famous
| than it would otherwise be- These are as full
of life as though thousands of dollars de pended
on the result and are really the most exciting
| feature of the show.
| One thing. and only one, does the writer feel
like criticising, and that is the cruelty of COM
| polling the monkey to ride the pig that is not as
| yet properly trained Several times. when the
| pig became unmanageable it trampled on the
monkey most cruelty, and evidently hurt it
severely. This should not be allowed to con-
tinue and the feature, minor one should be
dropped until such time as the pig shall have
come under better control.
In the menagerie were many of the rarsst and
finest wild animals ever exhibited. and all in
prime condition Jumbo's colossal skeleton and
enormous hide were shown, the latter made to
present very life-like appearance. The. skele-
ton screwed together in such way that it
can be taken apart, and is taken apart when
prepared for shipment from one point to an
other.
The congress Of living giants, embracing the
ma aliu md 9th e.