Telegram-herald., 1890-06-12

u : A2t 4a4Ila
80 Some one has
said. Ia reply 70 this that there are other
animals tbat laugh. Bat strictly SPEAK
ing. this . probably not true. TIE
hyena's laugh st any rate IS not hl-
l4ri0us, nor Is the parrots imitation
Of laughter any thing except in form
like the genuine article.
ItisAv valid plea for amusement for
enjoyment and laughter % say that al
nations have provided for these things-
The Grecian aud Roman games are IS
famous IS any thing else We know OF IN
Grecian and Roman history, and tho
unburied walls % Pompeii reveal 10
modern eyes the plaeards Of theatrical
and public shows In Rome. Ia times
OF public olaror, the appeal FOR bread.
Is the Latin motto sheEs-was coupled
with that for alnusements. 80 II were on
a. equality with and 40 necessary as
the other.
think IL will DC found true that in
any nation where q genuine love OF
amusement prevails. and where whole
some and rational amusements flourish,
you Will End a peaceful government
and a people that IS contented- l be-
lievc that II tho Gar Of Russia should
organize monster shows and brilliant
spectacles all over bis Empire, be would
70 some extent mitigate tho b-ooding
sorroH OF his people / do not mean
that JOY can take the place OF justice;
or that injustice should have even this
I .I 70
dispensing wrong / should see, l think,
that some mitigation OF il could be had
by promoting gayety and pleasure.
The growth Of the public show in this
country arose from quito primitive be-
ginningS Fifty years and more ago
the performing bear or single elephant
was enough 30 draw a crowd. The ele-
phant--when he was a show by himself
was driven around from place TO place
in country towns. 1t was the habit TO
take him by night as much as possible;
and when be went along the country
roads by day he was closely blanEeted.
He was generally exhibited in q barn
for a small fee; and as soon as the eyes
of the crowd were satisfied the doors
were closed, and the next morning tho
trainer and keeper, with an assistant,
drove him on 20 another town TO repeat
the exhibition. ,e
BY degrees certain other attractions
were Joined to the exhibition OF the ele-
phant. There were ventriloqual per-
formances, sleight-of-hand tricks, a
little magic, and finally the large tent,
circus-rider, street procession and
clown.
But the stock circus, as it used to be,
with a menagerie, or a few animals
added later-every body is now famil-
lar with. The change which has como
over it now is that of enlargement
and publication. And there was need Of
this. for the old-time clown was some
times a very coarse parsonage in
public, and in this politer day Will not
be tolerated. But he was a teller OF
somc good Jokes, subtracting tho particu-
lar quality mentioned, which were
worthy of a laugh. He was always a
punster and player upon words. The
I ringmaster represented authority, with
| gentlemanly dUlness, while the clown
was as witty and obsequious as the
Kings Fool
shall never forget how, as a boy.
I enjoyed at the first circus / attended.
many Of the ante-diluvian Jokes of this
! last parsonage The following now very
/ aged chestnut opened my minds eye
! then to the queerness Of our language,
| and may be given as one sample. Tho
/ ringmnster said 70 the clown: "Youl
coat, sir, is very short" II know ii, y
said the clown. but it will be very long
before get another" Across one mar
row ring al the badinsge of these tws
characters could be easily heard, bu
now, as the circus of to-day is arranged
conversation OF any kind is not eithei
! possible or desirable
What struck me most while abroad
with reference to the public shows tha
prevail IN England and on the CONT
nent, was the fact that they are for th'
| most part small affairs. In fact the
seemed 70 me to be repetitions and 70
productions OF those we have lsf. be
hind. in America. long ago There {
one show in England which. perhaps
merits a better description than this
bus tho rcma1k applies very we'll .
nearly all tho shows and circgses il
Europa. Then. too, they are not as
general thing patroni7ed so much b.
the veslthier and higher classes as Ia
best circuses arc here. The price Of al
mission In England ranges from ST,
| pence 20 three sbillinrs and four sal
| InFs bat the more expensive seats ar
In slight demand. I 1hink The circu
and show ia Germany and France a.
generally rather more refined tha'
those IN England. II is said, thoura
that in some countries, especially II
France. there arc = pair of cloEns vh
sre husband and vito. which gives roor
fer situ.atious that are perhsps nor
in accordance with French and cont
mental taste than win oar manners
Bat nore Of the performers IN cir-lse
abroad command the high prices uhic
are rivsn hv ny Creates show on Earth
The best gst only from $40 90 sso r
week. while Ve give many times thos
prices Tor this season whenever Fl
hear p rare performer IN E1-cpe
us can secure him OF her srainst a