The herald., 1896-09-23
CERTAINLY A GREAT CIRCUS
forepaugh and Sells Bros. Aggregation
Delights Crowds
Many New and Attractive Features, Not
to Speak of the Old-Time Historic
Acts, No Circus Is Completed

IL Will De mere today. 1t was not the old
time circus of fifteen or twenty years
ago. although there were many things
attached to it that carried one back
to the familiar scenes that accompanied
the advent Of a circus in the town in.
the years that have gone by.
The man who walks all over you wi N
the delicious pink lemonade at onl.r 5
annoys you with tickets for the cor cert
at 10 cents were both there in all their
glory, the proudest of the proud.
The man who was very busy and really
had no time to- go except to take the
children was there in large n umbers.
So was the man who only went because
his wife could not go and he had to
take his neighbor's wife to see to it
that she was not imposed upor II.
The first evidence that the circus was
here was when the main streets of the
city commenced to be cor1gested with
waiting people about II a. IN. They had
turned out osee the free ;xslow-the par
ade. 1t came, along abo Ut noon, and it
was indeed very credits. BILE, pretty tiis-
play. "FY ~ t"li
The Adam Forepaugb ard Sells Eros.
consolidated shows is really the most
ever visited Los Angeles or this section
Of the country. The large tent was
crowded both, afternoon and evening,
and ring perfor nance was given that
would be difficult to excel
There were many new and novel feat
ures that have pever been seen in a cir
Gus ring in this section. Then, of course,
there were the old stock features with
out which no circus is completed. The
clowns multiplicity of them-were
there. They did the same old turns and
the crowd laughed, ashley always do
and always will new ~ a-.
One very prettyfeature were the living
pictures yaown on a revolving pedestal,
illustrating history and art. The aero
patio performances were an interesting
and clever part of the program The
bareback riding was gracefully and clev-
erly performed and interested all. The
bicycle riding of the Sterk family is
just as as much of wonder now as it
was ten years ago when 1t was first seen.
There were tight-rope artists. jugglers
and contortionists innumerable, all of
Which had an act.
But above and beyond all was the ex-
hibition of trained animals, which was
given and which was by long odds the
greatest feature of the performance.
First came pair of hppopotami, male
and female. They were driven around
the track, and while they did nothing
wonderful still they gave evidence of
the fact that they understood and obeyed
commands.
The educated ponies did very clever
act. but they are not difficult to train.
Still they amuse every one.
The educated elephants, though. are
the most wonderful sight of all. There
are seven of them, and the great, large
clumsy beasts obey their trainer as If
possessed of human intelligence. They
lie down at command. They dance and
keep step to the music like human be-
ings. In fact, they do everything their
trainer tells them to. This herd of ele-
plants is the one trained by Adam Fore
paugh, jr.
The more than human intelligence dis
played by a troop of Alaskan sea lions
and seals under the direction of Prof.
Joseph Woodward created more ap-
plause than any other actof the show.
The exhibition they gave was most sur
prising.
Taken as a whole, the ring perform
ance was really more than the people
expected. The hippodrome performance
which closed the bill was as of yore.
The menagerie is above the average.
All of the animals look to be in fine
condition. They are not at all like the
hungry, half-starved, mistreated brutes
that are ordinarily shown here. They
look sleek, well fed and appear to be
properly attended to.
The lot at the corner of Washington
and Main streets affords room for all
the purposes of the circus, and it IS
reached by the Grand avenue. the Main
street or the Maple avenue line.
Another performance will be given
this afternoon and the last one this even
ing. If you have not already taken the
children you should do so today and
If you have no children you should go
yourself for YOU will enjoy it.