The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-10-15
OPENING OF THE CIRCUS.
Wonderful Feats of EQuestrianism-Ex-
traordinary Exhibitions of Strength
and Agility. ETC., etc,

traordinary Exhibitions of Strength
| and Agility. ETC., etc.
Chiarini's Royal Italian Circus opened
last Saturday evening to very crowded
assemblage, and it was estimated that
about 1000 persons were within the
pavilion witnessing the performances
Every part of the immense amphitheatre
was packed. and many were unable to
obtain admittance owing to the dense
crowd of natives and Asiatics that
| pressed around the gates.
The performances began at p. m, as
announced, and the programme con-
sisted OF fourteen parts or acts as follows
Part l was an overture by the circus
band composed of Manila men dressed
in red jackets.
Part was cavalcade of four lady
and four gentlemen riders who per-
formed various figures on horseback.
These were afterwards joined by Mdlle.
LIE Blonde on horse trained to perform
certain antics, and finally she led in the
riding that followed.
Part consisted in hand-balancing on
a pyramid of chairs, which showed great
strength and steadiness of nerve by Mr..
H. Benham.
Part in which Signor Chiarini intro
duced two Manila ponies which he had
trained. These ponies performed num-
Der of wonderful tricks and danced a waltz
better than some bipeds could. They
showed very careful training, and their
intelligence was wonderful.
Part was graceful and refined act
of equestrianism by Miss jimmie in
which very clever feats were performed.
Part 6 was burlesque on horseback
which was neither graceful nor refined,
and would have been better omitted.
Part was a performance on the bare
backs of two horses by Middle. LIE Blonde
and Mr.. George Harmston. This was
the most skillful and beautiful eques-
trian performance of the entertainment.
The graceful and airy vaulting of Middle.
LIE Blonde, and the extraordinary nerve
displayed by Mr.. Harmston, as the lady
vaulted around and assembled upon his
shoulders, bordered upon the miracu-
lous considering that the feats were per-
formed upon bare-backed horses at a
canter.
4DCIO WClO d low luihQlOb VI val,
during which there was another overture
by the Circus band, which also played
during the performances. For greater
convenience we have arranged the parts
differently from the programme that was
handed round at the Circus, and con-
tiDue the numbers consecutivelv.
Part was a series of tumbling feats
by the De We're family which were cley-
erly performed.
Part showed young Gilbert in num-
Der of equestrian somersaults, which he
did admirably.
Part 10 introduced the Australian
trained horse Prince which went through
avariety of docile acts, and discovered
handkerchiefs IN boxes and uncovered
them from beneath the soil, in each case
presenting them to his trainer with sing
ular courtesy.
Part IL was performance on the bare
back of a horse by Mdlle. LeBlonde in
which, standing on the horse, she passed
from one side to the other of the ring
without going around. This perform
ance is considered very difficult, as the
balance is more difficult to keep. At
the close of this act the lady performed
Will iCi OldihCu plSCOIo NhiNh hOn
around and rested upon her head and
arms.
Part II introduced extraordinary feats
of strength and agility on horizontal bars
by the De We're troupe. Some Of these
feats were certainly extraordinary and
looked at times as if prehensile move
ments with the feet were made, so very
quickly were the flights on the bars per-
formed.
Part Is introduced Mr.. George Harm
stone in his champion bareback riding
feats which were wonderful acts Of
equestrianism, and seldom equalled in
any circus.
Part IA ended the entertainment and
was burles1ue boxing match that calls
for little comment.
The elephants were not introduced
during the performance on Saturday
evening.
While we appreciated the perfor-
mances we may here state that the ar
rangements for admitting such large
assemblage were very imperfect, and the
interior fittings of the pavilion were not
without fault. The fifty-cent natives
burst through the slim barrier that
divided them from the dollar haoles at
many places of the pavilion and consider
able inconvenience was caused thereby (;
but in the hurry of first performance
many of these imperfections we're doubt
less unavoidable, and will be re-
medied in subsequent performances.