Birmingham age-herald., 1895-04-03
A PINE PERFORMANCE
Was That of Sands & Astlcy's Rail- road Show Yesterday Afternoon
 and Evening-Repeated Today.

Birmingham is nothing if not progress sige, and yesterday she demonstrated the fact that she is fu iy able to send o1t to the world first class circus as we'll as first class iron, coal, etc.
 Sands & Astley, whose show has been in winter quarters ia this city the past few months, opeoed their IS season here yesterday with a grand parade and first class performance, poth of which attracted large crowds. The parade was one that would do credit to any show trav- cling in America. and the per- formance was as good as has ever been witness sed in this city, without exception. 'Tis true there were not as many performers as are to be seen in some of the circases. but those whom the management have sv- cured are gilt edge and of the kind which go to build up circus.
 O. entering he |, nts the first thing 10 be e0-was the menagerie. Here were lions, magn hcent specimens Of the kings Of beasts beafs, two Of them as fiue speci- mems as one wished to see; elephants, with Sense equal to ordioary mortals; Il bsauti- fui spet linen of tue sacred bull, leopards, deer, llama and other ann .ls suih :lenr t , please any one, all in the pok or perf.c- tiun.
 While enjoying the Inenagerie the blow of trumpets was heard aud the first ri ng
  tourLameutal parade and ca Iestrlau intio- ductory were good. 1heu followed the elephan 8, pony and donkey, in specialties pleasing to old and young.
 The leap pers did excellent work and were warmly applauded. D,Lnng and SwAr, the fun makers, were next introduces aud got the people to laughing.
 Mir. Sam Bennett, tue peer of bareback riders, was introduced with fl 69urish and proved his worth as tbe kins of the boundiGg jockeys. Willy Sells in his pris- tine glory could not excel Mir. Benneti ,and the efforts of the young man were duly ap- plauded.
 IT en came the trapezs and Ferris wheel performers-Messr Ward aud Gibbs ca the former and the Marines on the latter. They were superb, and the audience watched their every movement, so daring were they.
 Signcr Arcaris and sister did the knife impuement act the latter standing against a large oak door and the icrmer at SIX D. c throwing immense knives with so moch accuracy as 10 fairly iinpale her against lhe door. The act was thrilling ana created the greatest furore; in f.ct, It WAS tue feature of the performances
 Then came Madame Cordelia and Fred. die Leeet in their exc He nt bareback rid ing. Grace and ease wLs noted in their every movement and their work showed perfect training and long practice.
 Zanfrella aud Ward did the flying tra- peZe act in brilliant manner ana seemed as much at home in mid air as on the ground.
 Nj si Rosa Gable and Sim Bennett showed their skill in menage riding and were ap- precated in n appropriate manner.
 The bounding rope act by Madame Cor della, Lula Maritime and Al Norton and the contortioulng of Eddie Cunningham and La Petit Evelyn were decidedly clever.
 The Brothers Gardner in their feats of tumbling and pyramid work were very fine and elicited warm applause.
 Lula and George Maritime and Gardner and Ward, in their ladder performs nces, were far above the average, and would put the Japs 10 blush. -...
 Miss Ida Showers and Professor DeCameo did some neat slackwire work, and were followed by some fine tumbing, horizontal bar exercises and a thrilling hurdle rscs.
 Johnny Patton and his funny mule closed he performances. > Sxsf
 The night performance was largely at tended and duly appreciated, l here will be two performances today ; and then good bye until time to return and 60 into water quarters again.