New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-19
BEHIND THE SCENES At THE CIRCUS.
ROME AND THE BowERY SHAKE HANDs-A
DAZZLING SPECTACLE.

| ROME AND THE BowERY SHAKE HANDs-A
DAZZLING SPECTACLE.
Behind tbe scenes at the circus 1t is a subject
CT for Hocarth's pencil in the infny OF types pre-
sented and for the brush Of Turner In vividness and
variety Of cOlOrs.
Suppose an election-day in Rome, a Brooklyn Sun
day-school parade q county fair, and the entry OF
Charles into Antwerp all damned into space 100
feet by 30 aud faint idea may be gained OF the push
ing elbowing. stamping, persplrlng mass OF incon-
gfuitles that sweter behind the painted wooden gates
that close the eastern end Of the amphItheatre at
Madison Square Garden every night Just before tho
"Nero' spectacle goes on.
The sensations Of the unaccustomed visitor arc
weird and wonderful. His physical impressions are
those Of a sardlne in a well-packed box. The powder
from the rounded shoulder of of Neros hlghkict
ers Is being rubbed into the back of his coat The
Off horse of fourlnhand chariot team Is smiling at
his silk hat first Roman citizen," in green toga
and eyeglasses, Is digging elbow into his ribs on
side, and his toes are being ground 10 pieces De-
meath the butt of a spear which sturdy MEMBER
9TH Regiment is leaning. 1t is most
curious pathological fact, easily established by near
acquaintance with the members Of Ncro's train. that
the ballet girls Of ancient Rome spoke French Italian
and Bowery slang in equal parts.
Inside are the trampng Of horses, the rustic OF
hundred gded olive branches, the shouting OF animal
trainers the meodous guying" OF five score daughters
a
Broadway streetcar wet summer day. Outside
can be heard the surgng roar of applause, ebbing
and flowing throughout the of spectators, and the
neverceaSing music of the band, footing away right
over head over all CLEAN the golden eagles Of Rome
and the barbarc emblems of dozen different religions
and mythologies
Suddenly the gates are thrown open with warning
shout. The part cOlored multitude stampede TO right
and left. For with the thunder Of many hoofs and
the rush Of whrlwind, O'Bnen sailing in with
IFS tandem team OF FIVE horses swings to the left and
down the runway into the stables Save himself who
cani O'Bren can't stop for you: He has only five
minutes TO get out of his cutaway coat and "plug"
hat and attire himself in the laurel wreath and
jockey toga in which he umpires the hippodrome
races.
High above all this hubbub, looking down on the
elbOwng mass Of all that is most bizarre in the
costumer's art, on the stairs that lead to Neros
private box. sits a rngmaster, IDS long whip in
his hand his cleaning white linen, unwrinled dress
coat and high hat unspecked by even the smallest
particle of dust Behind him, peering out through
the peep hole is his wife, in neat walking dress. II it
not for such remnant Of real life and Of the
outside world thus cast up above the level and beyond
the reach OF this seethng tide of hanude and wholly
bespangled grlhood, of soldiers of the provinces in
leopard skins, lion skins bear skins and every other
skin known to the fur trade and of uncouthly clothed
votarles Of Roman and Provincial pagansm all con-
seriousness Of nineteenth century individuality would
slip from under the observer
The music changes and swings into new therp-.
The gates open their widest There is nharmonous
flourish Of trumpets, and the pent-up OF page"
humanity begins to pOur out into the arena Rank
after rapk the people form and disappear, with the
solemn tread of legion the hop skip and Jump OF
the tambourine brigade. The rumbllng chariots and
the redcrested cavalcade fall into ne and Of all that
multitude none is left but the arhalred Christian
maiden" sitting barrel Of torches staring with biz
eyes into vacancy waiting for her 10 rush into the
and altogether unconscious Of the pretty picture
which she makes framed by the barnlie surroundings
of the circus pTeen-room."