Birmingham state herald., 1896-11-07

control over the mammoth brutes, and 1t is said that they are the best trained elephants ever exhibited in this country. Another astonishing feature was the ex- hibition of intelligence displayed by a troupe of Alaskan Sea lions, under the direction of Prof. Joseph Woodward. This caught young and old alike Among the acts performed by these visitors from the far acetic regions may be enumerat- ed bell ringing, discharging firearms, playing of musical instruments, and last, but not least, the rendition of a song and chorus, which must bear strik- ing resemblance to the famous Frog Chorus" invented by the Yale students. Another interesting display was the liv- ing illustrations of history and art exc cuted by eight well formed young women on a revolving pedestal. The groupings would have delighted the foremost ad- VocateS of DelSartiSm. Another remark able display was the introduction of ann phibian wonders, said to be the only pair of monster hippopotami, male and female, in captivity, driven loose around the hip podrome track. These ponderous and
 ferocious-looking brutes aroused their full share of interest and elicited many striking comments from the amused spec tators. The mirth-makers of this show are up-to-date. A circus without clown would be like the play of Hamlet with
 Hamlet omitted. Forepaugh & Sells Bros. have troupe of clowns, the jolliest and most grotesque fun-makers to be found anywhere. The pranks of Leon- ard. Ryan, Weitzel, Albion, Zorella, the kennard brothers and Carroll, kept the crowd in convulsionS yesterday. If "va- riety Is the spice of life," then these jest CTS and harlequins put spice, and plenty of 1t, in the performance. Acts deserving more than passing mention are the. sen- sational flights on the aerial bar by Messrs. Garnell, Lozell and Ryan; the trapese work of the Ony sisters, as we'll as the contortion and balancing acts by the same performers; physical evolutions by Frank Hilton; and the bur lesque acrobatic exhibitions given by the Kennard brothers. For the children there were displays by educated ponies, riding monkeys, tricks by trained dogs. Cradoc, the Roman axe wielder, perform ed blood-curdling feats and Juggled with sharp-edged battle axes until he had suc- ceeded in filling the minds of his auditors with terrorThe aerial flights of the Ar rigosi sisters attracted the attention of the vast crowd, and won for the artists well-merited appreciation. Those who love spirited horses and dashing riders were gratifled beyond measure. There was somersault riding, sensational trick riding, bareback equestrlanism, bareback trick riding, hurdle riding, by many of the best known circus riders in America or the old world for that matter, includ- ing the Hobsons, MT. and Miss Orford, William Wallett, sam Bennett, Linda Jeal and William German. The double bounding of the jockey riding of the Orfords has never been surpassed. 9th CT features of the show that excited ap- proval were the trick and fancy bicycle riding performances by the Stirk family, and the wire-walking performances by the Arrigosi sisters, Bernard Orton, Miss Kline, Miss Orford and others. The hip- podrome events were strictly first-class, and included a broad sword combat on horseback, larriat throwing and rough riding by Mustang Walter ladies' flat race, two-horse Roman standing race, gentlemen's jockey race, dogs chariot race, clowns pony race, and the four horse Roman chariot race.
 The menagerie was visited by thous- ands yesterday and the proprietors of this great combined double show have no reason to complain of the drawing quail ties of this department of their aggre- gation of wonders. Hundreds of rare animals and rare birds were exhibited, and 1t was the consensus of opinion that the claims made by the proprietors are not exaggerated or overdrawn. The vis- itors honored all from the educated ele- phant to the trick monkey and went away satisfied. 4s
 A second performance at night drew another immense audience of city folks, and then "Americas greatest shows" moved on to Montgomery.