Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1891-05-21
NO. %.
FISH CIRCUS TRICKS.
Asseni-hing Performance. hy FIn1y Tribes
Taught bv Children.

invited to spend the evening with an
old friend. and while there was greatly
entertained by the young son and
daughter II the family. who were ar
dent naturalistS, and possessed some
remarkably well-traincd specimens.
/ We have never seen real circus"
said the boy To the guest. because wa
/ wenc born in India. but we have read
about IL. and Gladys and thought we
would make our fish do just what the
circusmen do Some do. but some
won't. he added
The visitor took a seat with the 9TH
ers. and being cautioned to keep very
| quiet and not frighten the performers.
he was witness 10 the following won
derful performance.
The little hoy brought out small
drum. n mimic bass drum. which h..
fitted into n eross piece over one of the
tanks, allowing a string attached To- the
drumsticlS to hang in the water The
moment il was seen a fish darted At il
and gave IL series OF tugs which rc-
suited in an audible bang. hang. hang
on the little drum. bell on top Of th..
dram was now rung in the same way.
That's ~ wake the performers M
and let the p..ople know that the per
forfnanec j. about t. commence: they
| always do IL in the real circus. you
know. explained the Young manager.
The little girl now dropped a piece If
halt into the water and dragged Il slow
ly around PROM fifteen - twenty
fishes If ali kinds Immediately started
| after It. soon forming perfect proccs-
sion around the tank. These were some
of the performers, and this was the
grand en,ree.
The first act, said the little girl.
with a mischievou> glance at the audi
enec. will bc mortal combat be-
tween two ancient knights"
Two fishes were selected that looked
very much like some that arr. found in
America. but they are the famous pla-
kats from Siam the fishes noted for
their fighting qualities. and upon which
the natives wager all their possessions
even IN their children
The eonhatants were caugh, in a net
and had slipped over them a harness of
moss. through which a blunt miniature
spear was thrust and a mimic shield at
iaehed- The moment they wcr~
dropped into the same tank they rushed
at each other with the greatest fury.
Sometimes the spear would hit the
shield and sometimes the fish hut. IL
the truth must h.. told they more often
hit only water and darted by each other.
presenting most conicaI spectacle,
Finally. when both seemed willing Ia
acknowledge defeat. ths. combat was
declared at an end
The next performance was of his
torical interest.
Once" said the young rincrnasfer.
"A big ship was lying in the harbor ut
Calcutta ON the queens birthday Sh.
was all decorated with hagS and her
yards with lights. At night some ma
tives-bad natives. Of cuurSs.-Stol..
down and tried tn sink her They tore
down the flags and succeeded in putting
out the lights We are going to show
the ship and the bad natives putting out
the lights
80 forthwith n beautiful little model
of n ship was placed upon the water cf
the tank, and for lights some very large
and exceedingly lively flies were fast
ened upon the tip of the bowsprit and
ends of the yards This was no sooner
accomplished than up from the bottom
dashed gleam of eolors and stripes
an oval fish with grotesquc and b.,anti-
full fins and with great purple eve
spots It, mouth was the most rcruars-
able feature. being extended into a
tube This was thrust above the sur
face. aud from IL the fish expelled 4 hall
of water which hit the hi.- bluehottls fiv
that chung to the howsprit. bringing il
down. whcreupon il was eagerly col,-
hled up. Again the pointed mouth
came Ia the surface. ard again light or
n fly went out. and 81 On until thrc,.
were extinguished. when the performer.
evidently satisfied. retired. ending th..
scene Later this fish. or another lust
like 1.-THE long-billcd chaetodon-waS
called into play to shoot its vatery can
non balls at a little mark suspended
over the tank. the bull's-eye being bi.,
fly that was invariably brought down.
The next performance was a race.
Two very somber-looking fishes were
brought on the scene. each having a lit
tie band Of SEA moss fastened about
him. upon which was mounted a tinv
crab. Away went the fish. the crabs
holding on for dear life and evidently
wandering what it all meant The
crabs were supposed to bc the
bareback riders Of the circus.
but IL must he confessed they clung to
the backs of their dashing steeds with
great tenaeity. Finally one racehorSc
rubbed off saddle and rider, which
brought matters TO a close.
The next act was introduced bv a
jumping fish big fiy fastened to a
delicate twig was dangicd over a tank.
when up shot hright-hued fish. dash
ing almost entirely out of she water in
its effort to secure the dainty. but il
missed il and fell hack. to swim around
the tank slowly. still eyeing the morsel.
and then rush at II again. this time Sc
curing the prize. The fish did not en-
tirely leave its native element. but came
so near II that the tip of its tail onlv
touched the water
The jumping fish having subsided a
miniature see-saw was introduced into
tank. and Immediately two little
fishes darted az il. At first both rested
upon one end, but finally each secured
a position, and the see-saw was COM
plete- This ended the performances,
when the audience were allowed TO ap-
plaud as heartily as they wished y.
Y. Herald
Taking census in India airavs