South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-06-28
The Show.

John Robinson's show. or at least
a part of it, requiring SO cars and
several engines 70. it's tran srorta,ion,
reached this place Sunday afternoon
about 2 O'Clock. The rare opportunity
of witnessing the unloading from the
cars OF the paraphernalia of a great
show was fully awaited Of by our
citizens, and the vicinity Of the depot
was crowded with interested sight
seers until dark. The tents-three big
ones. besides several smaller ones for
the accommodation of side. hows-
employees and horses. were soon put
up and made by far the greatest dis.
play OF canvas ever seen In this town.
They were pitched in the large Tabb
lot this side Of the station, and COW
cred several acres Of ground. The
fun began about IL o'clock Monday
morning with the street parade, which
was only tolerably good. There were
some 1000 or 5000 people on the
streets.and they nearly all followed the
procession back to the circus grounds,
where fat woman, q tall woman, o
lean man, a deformed COW and on
"educated"pig were scattered through
two large tents and being exhibited
as side shows" or all the arran.
bumbugs We ever saw, these were the
worst. Their only redeeming fea-
ture was their bands. which were Ger.
tainly grand. Such splendid music
as they rendered is rarely heard out.
side the large cities. At 1890 the
meDagerie and the main performance
Of the day were opened. A great ma.
ny rare ard beautiful animals were
exhibited. the giraffe especially being
the handsomest specimen OF its kind
we have ever seen. Another striking
feature, and one well worth the price
OF admission, was the black pan Their,
whose coat was as soft as velvet and
a glossy black ,interspersed with pref
ty mahogany spots. Its species are
the most feroeious creatures known
to natural history, and in captivity
they always remain savage and un.
tamable. To one wac had read the
Wandering Jew" the sight of this
fierce, but handsome, beast, vas a
treat indeed. Another curious at
traction was the armadilloes, of which
there were several. Several baby
guinea pigs, also, were objects of in.
terest TO the seeker after curiosities
out of the usual routine OF such exhi.
billions. One thing that made the
animals show we'll was, that they wore
all in good condition and apparently
well taken care or The attractions
OF the circus tent we're not so great as
We had been led to expect. Some
good bar acting and bareback riding
were done, but not much. The per-
formers evidently lacking Interest in
their work, it could not. OF course, be
expected OF spectators. The pony,
chariot, bronchO, obstacle and other
races we're, however. interesting and
exciting, add elected from the audi
ence hearty applause. Mr.. Lowlow,
the veteran clown, made no attempt
TO do bis best, but was, nevertheless,
very amusing AMI entertaining. His
jokes were the conventional, cut-ands
dried chestnutsto which we have solonp
been aecusl omed but they we're wells
delivered and never failed 10 bring
down the house. In justice to bis
profession, however, it should be re-
membered that In these days ofcheap
newspapers il Is useless to expect Of
merry-makers Jess with which the
public are not more or less well-sc-
quainted. Taken as whole, the ex-
hibi,ion vas fairly good, and one OF
which old John Robinson himself, if
living, need not have been ashamed.
In fact, the show had many things to
commend 1t to people of intelligence
and refinement. Very little swearing
was done by the employees, and there |
was no gambling allowed on the |