New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-31
4 REHEARSAL AT BARNUnS CIRCUS.
HOW THE GARDEN LOOKS ON suNDAY-MEN AND
ANIMALS AT PRACTICE.

ANIMALS AT PhACIlOE,
visit to Barnum's circus on Sunday Is not less In
terestlng than on o day when the complicated ma
chinery Of the great show under full Roadway. In
stead Of the garden being alive with mass Of poo
pie who try TO follow tho bewilderng evoutons OF
doens OF horses Of reckless, whirling bodies In the
air, of springIng catIke tumblers and Of the many
attractions which draw forth the ohs' and the Abs
from all sides send rustic of excitement hashng
along the benches there Is strange quiet through
out the arched building. Yet there is noise enough
for from the quarters of the animals come chatter
ting, screeching, occasionally q roar and always
mingling of confused sounds The crack Of tho tire
less trainers whip is heard at times and now from
the end of the long hall sharp order to some
Of the many attendants. But the contrast between
the whirl of the night before at performance and
the dangerous drag Of rehearsal makes the garden
at first almost like great tomb or tho enchanted
palace. rf
On the raised platform in the centre OF the ball
stands the ltle wooly elephant lazy and indifferent
The door leading from the stables swings outward,
there Is sharp clattcr OF feet, quick bound and
small beautifully coated pony, with clean-cut limbs
and delicate quiverlng noStrls stands by the side OF
the round, darksknned animal who now looks by
comparison like great rubber football. Then begins
the weary round of training "Mlss Mary tho elc-
phant is submissive and tacable. but she cannot be
stirred into vigorous movements The tranor speaks
to her In low tono, and she starts on Ike snail
sharper word puts little more life into her actions
but it takes sudden application Of the goad to quicken
the heavy body to anything like speed Miss Mary
plays the hand organ with "a monotonous grind,
stumbles through waltz rolls on q bicycle, and
circles once or twice around the platform and does all
her other duties without error, but In the most
rstless manner Meanwhile the pony, who has part
to play In this performance, Is hce and restless FOR
Ave minutes he responds to every word ana gesture
with promptness and decision. Then he takos leap
49, Az.I. - n 49, akN nd
scampes UP and down the outside track until caught
BY a stunning, veary-looldng super" Tho trainer
does not punish him, fOr' he says we can't do the
things vol unless VIC have the people here TO ap-
plaud us Even the animals know tho difference"
Finally the elephant and the pony ere sent of with
q crack of the whip. Miss Mary turnbies from the
platform and then Walks away and stands alone
scarcely moving an inch during the next hour. The
pony as wiiful ever, does not 10 20 now that
he may but trots around the stage pong HIS cold nose
into peoples hands. Near by some men arc teaching
a camel 10 drop to ths ground At command. The I'M
calmly animals hump proves to be his greatest eDemy
for from this Is adjusted q slipping moose,
by which HIS legs are tfpped up when he Is to fall
The camel Is crying In ptfu way but the trainers
are exceedingly gentle with him once he Is thrown
and soon the animal Is glad enough to drop when he
hcars the word "Conche| without waiting for the
rope to trip him up. 80
lot of poIlcens are hounderng around in an
saimless manner, swapping u those who annoy thcm
their long bills coming together with sound liko tho
popping Of q cork, bursting paper bag in a
corner the @drum-maiorS Is practising with his long
stsck Its Clustering head making shining, conbased
streak In tho air. Tho trained seals arc dragging
through their work. going to sleep after each thing
they do. A horse trOts out 70 the ring ana rider
mskes q few circles his back and after dozen
surInes goes back again Up in the air two men arc
trying new feat on the Aying trapese They stand
o., little platforms up near the ratefs on opposite
sides Of the hall and thrr bars swing back ana forth
across the space between them As ue bnih s1
niece OF brass swing In the right time thoy are
suddenly gresped by the men. Two bodies are nov
moving back and forth like pendulums suddenly
the men launch themselves FORWARDS there nASh
Of pink and another OF black NOW, cries one
sharpiy tho black mass shoots away nom ono par,
tie Two colors instantly blur into each other The
men hang from the same trapeze for moment, drop
lightly into the net stretched beneath them ana 80
of TO Tire dressing rooms 49, ,..
plays his part Tho performers mako no inistaxes,
but whcthsr IL Is because the music Is silent or INC
applause lacking or the manages are away, Ihe,e y
Scssness about the wholo building ana eveLy tnns
within M Even the pennans and hags and streamefs
hang hfeiess from the rafters.