The record-union., 1893-09-18
THE PAVILION CLOSES.
The Last Night Was One Never to Be
Forgotten.
A Great Crowd in Attendance-The
Circus Maxlmus Given in
Grand style.

Fully 5000 people visited the big eX-
position hall. and took in the Circus
Maximus. The latter was given in a
more brilliant manner than on any pre-
vious evening, and the thousands who
witnessed it declared that the production
was the greatest they saw in their lives
The athletic club presented the Roman
show in its entirety. After Caesar S
triumphaI entry and the Emperor's ad-
dress to his subjects, the Greek games
were put on, including running, leaping,
wrestling. cestus fighting, discus throw
ing and javelin hurting. They were all
interesting and called forth the plaudits
of the dense crowd.
The ode of the vestal virgins and the
performances of the dancing girls were
given in a most delightful manner. The
solo dance of Miss Maud Caswel and the
Deisarte poses OF Miss Pearl Thicker were
especially fne.
THE DEADLY FIGHTS.
But the gladiatorial combats carried off
the honors of the evening. They were
given in such a reSolute manner-and, to
all appearances, so much blood was
spilled-that at times the audience be-
came really alarmed. The single combat
between the captains of the two bodies of
mendlani was one of theigrandest specta-
cles ever witnessed. &. A. Strobel and
l. F. Morris were the performers. They
fought as though their lives were really
at stake, and the killing was enacted in
such a manner as to simply stagger the
spectators. They battled desperately I'M
til both had lost their helmets and
shields, and then one broke the others S
sword by a vicious blow. This lett the
disarmed fighter at his opponents mercy
and the latter was not slow to take ad-
vantage of it, for he plunged his sword
into The others breast cruelty. The
blood spurUed from the wound and the
slain gladiator died amid ckening
writings and gasps.
SOMETHING UNEXPECTED.
Contrasts have high values.
The passage from grave to gay is often
the most impressive manner Of intensity
ing the former. Certainly it is one of the
very best means of relieving q strain that
is painful. 1t was demonstrated at the
Circus Maximus.
After the final gladiatorial contest, with
the blood flowing and the fallen gladiator
prone on the ground, came the funeral
march, the slaves bearing away the body
to the notes OF gruesome march, with
censer swinging and blacks covering the
blOOd-stained earth with sand, While the
soldiers paced sadly behind the body
of their fallen fellow, and the
lights faded and darkness settled
all about. The thing was SO re-
alistic that a solemn silence fell upon
the vast audience and women paled, and
some men even began to doubt whether
or not there had not been a real tragedy
in the ring by the over enthusiasm OF the
swordsmen.
But there came at once a change, and
with bound a contrast so sudden and
ludicrous that presently the laughter Of
relief was almost hysterlcal.
As the lights hared up there ran into
the arena a new Magister. This master
OF ceremonies was as quick of foot as the
original was slow of step: he was as light
and tritiing of manner as the real article
was solemn, dignified and pulseless.
Wrapped III an odd mixture of Roman
toggery, he bore alOft a long-handled
shovel, and with grotesque gesticulations
wa ed open the ponderous gates, and
there issued forth mounted herald, who
blew a discordant blast. Then came a
motley crew. Soldiers with their cos
tulnery awry; slaves naked to the buff
and crowned with helmets, and followed
by serviiors Of sable hue bearing long
black clubs stuffed tor the occasion. Then
the spectators began to understand that
burlesque was on, and the rebound from
the depression of the funereal scene just
enacted sent the people in paroxysm Of
laughter.
The sprightly Magister, with an agility
of (which his reverend prototype could
not De guilty, declared the lists and ap-
pointed the stations for the contestants.
One was a short, stumpy and coal-blaclk
fellow, with a smile that opened from the
far east to the distant west OF his ebony
countenance; the other tail and long
drawn-out, solemn-visaged and dead
earnest-faced colored gentleman of lighter
hue, and, like his competitor, stripped
for deeds of death and daring, At it they
81
doing his best to divide his opponent at
the waist, no higher than which could he
reach, while his agile antagonist skipped
about and avoided his La Blanche swings,
and vainly tried to get in a Swipe that
would wipe his dusky Toe from the face of
the Sacramento earth. And the audience
howled with merrlment and split up its
sides with uproarious laughter, while the
Magister danced about like mad and
waved his steel-bladed badge OF Office
aloft and urged the combatants to go in to
the death.
ROUND TWO.
Finally, while the band PLAYED the
victorious strains of ''After The BalI'' the
bugle blared ''call off'' and the winded
gladiators rested on their laurels. Then
came the second bout. Each of the now
thoroughly aroused warriors was armed
with huge emblens OF the barber's art
and while the musicians footed in eternal
discord ''Der's Razors in de Air." the
two went at it. cut and slash, and slash
and cut, while the spectators took sides
and shouted encouragement to their
choice and roared in convulsions each
inatory and otherwise, and the Magister
went entirely wild and dug the atmos-
phere deep and hollow with his glittering
shovel. 1t was anybody's fight for a
moment, and then the long-lim bed glad
iator was seized with asudden panic, and
fed like deer. Round aud round the
arena went the two; the fat, short legs OF
Archie Christopher were not matches for
the lank limbs of Davis, Who swept about
the course like meteor, pursued by the
shouts of the people, and intercepted
yainly by Magister Yoerk's staff Of
office 1t was no use; ali the Kings army
aud all the Kings men could not put a
stop TO his flight, until by q short cut and
the cruelty unfair barring OF the way by
a parcel oil dissipated Romans. who would
strike below the belt If they had chance
Archie cornered the panic-stricken glad
iator, and with single swing of his blade
cut him down III the flower of his man
hood. Then there was gathering in hot
haste, and running to and fro, and cries
of distress, and the band walled, and
kinross forgot to beat time, and the musi-
clans swallowed their notes and spewed
them out promiscuouSly. and the people
raved in their laughter and roared in
their mirth, till 1t seemed as ii sheol had
broken loose.
And in the midst of it all there was a
clangor Of bells, and cry of authority,
and the stamp of ironclad hoofs, and the
whir OF wheels, and in rolled the police
patrol wagon at topmost speed, Bob
foods laying on the lash and dashing
into the arena as if the safety of the ma
ton depended on his getting there. Two
of the ''finest' clad in the blue and brass
that distinguishes the heroic police of the