Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-20
THE GREAT WALLACE SHOWS.
The Exhibitions of the Circus Are OF
the Highest Order.

The great Wallace shows gave two per-
fcrmances here yesterday and If merit
or the acts presented i'm the rings is the
STANDARD by which "a circus is 10 be
Judged, then the exhibitions of the Wal
lace shows must be classcd as the equal
o. any that have been seen here in many
cay. Inc crowds were very large for
suCh' dreadful weather.
The names OF the Nelson's. the Strks,
me Liyingstons, William Melrose, and
Eddie Pindrd are famous In The amuse-
mentioning world, and each of the acts
presented by them stands foremost i'm It's
line. With twenty such artists on the
Programme, circus may We'll claim to
give ring performance equalled by few
and surpassed by none. 1t rs in the
strength of these individual acts that the
WaEacc shows possess their greatest
strength. The parade I'm the forenoon
attracted great crowds OF the streets,
and the excellent menagorie was greatly
admired.
The feature Of the performance is Che
act of the Nelson famliy-nine in num-
Der. They are male and female per-
fcrWers-men. women, and children-the
youngest being a little slip OF a girl not
years of age. Their work is marked
by lightning-like rapidly that is not
the rule by any means among acrObats.
trick is done before the spectd tor
Hardly has time 10 see the performers get
in position. In the case Of many similar
acts, you generally know just what is
coming. The shoulder work OF the team
IS excellent. They mount four high,
when most performers stop at three.
Tiny Nelson, the smallest member OF
the family is a daring little lumber, and
does her work without the least bit Of
hesitation, she being as quick as any Of
the older gymnasts Of the team.
The StirlI family. troupe Of bcycllsts.
deserNe 10 be mentioned next to the Mel
sons. Like the latter. the Stirks also
stand at the top I'm their line. Every
one OF these performers seem 10 be per-
Iectly at home on a wheel, no matter in
what position he may be. OF whether 90
ing forward or backward. It's all the
same 10 the Strks. Many a fellow vino
has bruised his shin by merely trying to
get on a wheel must envy these trick
riders, who can Keep in the saddle when
the bicycle is almost upside down. They
finish" with pyramid and q display Of
United States flags, that calls forth the
greatest enthusiasm.
Eddie Pinard, billed as the tramp ni-
cyclist, follows the Stirks, and while his
work is comedy. yet he performs some
for his efforts quite as often as ne causes
laughter at some of his antics
William Meirose is the principal bare
back rider, and in his act exhibits skill,
daring, and grace.
Tho Livingstons are the best among the
aerialists with the show, though there
are many others in the circus who also
perform i'm mid-air
The aforementioned acts are merely
those that are featured. There are many
others all of which are clever. Some
of these may be set forth as the statUary
by the Dellameades; the equestrian acts
Of Blanche Reed, Winnie Sweeney, AID
Adele Nelson; the sisters, Nell and Win
lie Sweeney, on the wire the ascent in
a globe OF a slender spiral. as accom-
plished by Mile. Norada French: the
VORTEX sisters, i'm their Ferris wheel, sus-
pended in mid-air; the sisters Maritz, in
feats OF cOntOrtiOn, and the ballet. as
presented on the stage by twenty or more
shapely women.
The contests OF the Royal Roman Hip
pCdrOme' closed the performances. These
races were quite exciting and the specta-
tors seemed to enter into the spirit of the
trials of speed.
The shows go from here 10 Newport
News, Norfolk, and Portsmouth.