The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-06
The First Circus.

The advent of the Sells Brothers enor-
nous Millionaire United Shows, to take
place in this city on September 18th, makes
the facts regarding the antiquity of the cir
Gus, collected by St. Louis paper, interest
ing matter. The Circassian games that, &C
cOTdiDg TO tradition, originated in the time
OF RomuluS, and dedicated to Census or
Neptune. are credited as the source of the
modern arena. In the time of Julius Caesar
the circus was 1873 feet long and 625 feet
wide. When the Romans invaded Britain,
55 B. c., they introduced the sports of the
arena, in which chariot racing varied the
combatS of the gladiatOrS and the fer &c en-
counter of wild beasts. But the amphthe-
ateTs they built on the island fell into decay
OIL their departure and until the middle of
the seventeenth century the nearest approx
imation to circus performances WAS af-
fOrded by 'glee men"-itinerant Ministries
or musiclans-and the exhibitors of bears
that initiated dance and horses that beat a
kettle drum with their fore feet. Some of
the glee men were juggers and tumblers.
Now, vaulter good. aud dancing lass
On rope. and man that cries, Hey passi
And tumbler youth that needs but stoop.
Lay head to heel 10 creep through hoop;
And mau in chimney hid to dress
Puppet that acts our old Queen Bess,
And man that while the puppets play
Through nose expoundeth what they say,
And white oat-eater that does dwell
In stable small at sign of Bell.
That lifts up hoofs TO show the pranks
Taught by magician styled Banks;
And ape led captive stiil In chain
Till he renounce the Pope and Spain:
All these on hoop now trudge from town
TO cheat poor turnip-eating clown.
The first equestrian performances ever
seen in England. other than those of the
ilineTant exhibitors OF performing horses,
were in 1867. About the same time Philip
Ashley, great name in circus annals
formed his first ring with rope and some
Il n. Ga
performance to collect the loose halfpence
of the admiring spectators. After while
he built rude circus, the seats being
rooted over and the ring in the open air.
One OF his strong attractions was trick
horse. In 1927 Ducrow began his great feat
of riding six horses at the same time in his
rapid act as Russian courier. Cireuses
and menageries united at an early day, and
the circus OF to-day is very similar in every
respect to the travelling show Of fifty years
ago. 1t is in this country that the circus has
attained its greatest development. there
never having been anything OF the kind or
gained in Europe that approached in mag
nitude the colossal railroad show organized
by the prince Of all showmen, p T. Bar
mum. Forepaugh. Van Amburgh, Robin
son, Stone 81 Murray, CASTILLO, Sells, Bal
ley, Coup and others, whose names have
gladdened the hearts Of young America,
will long live in the circus annals of
America.
THE SELLS BROTHERS.,
Whose vast establishment we may expect
next week. is, we are advised, more than
usually we'll equipped, condition rendered
necessary by the fact that when the ex-
hibition season is through on this coast
all the paraphernalia, the performers
the entire cayalcade, the hippodromie at
fractions and the geological department
will be shipped to Australia. The people
over there are very nice in the article of
horsetlesh. and knowing in equitation and
athleticism. OF this fact the Messrs. Sells
are aware, and therefore we are prepared
to see about as perfect show as has visited
this coast for years. There is one novelty
called "The Arabian Nights" in the gen.
eral performing tent, to which public atlen-