The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-26

| are rightly called the kings of the
aerial bars: the Sisters Earl who did a
| double contortion act I'M mid-air; the
| Sisters Maretz, who were wonderful in
their work of contortion; William Mel
rose and Freddie Ledgett We're clever
riders, while there We're many other
acts and performers of note. But by far
/ the strongest act ian the circus was
that of the Nelson family OF nine,
whose ages range from six years 10
| forty-five and who do the most marvel
Gus acrobatic act ever seen i'm this city.
Their work is indescribable. Mr.. Wallace
offers $4,000 for their equal, and its
not likely he'll soon have to pay it over
| to anybody The performance of this
one family alone is worth the price OF
admission to the show Then there WAS
the Sltirk family, considered the greatest
| troupe of bicyclists i'm the world Their
act was strong, and being followed by
Eddie Pinard, the trick rider, and ini-
| mitable clown, made a combination Ge-
cadedly hard to beat.
| There Were other acts, of course, and
| the races, which concluded the show,
were more interesting than any circus
races | have ever seen.
| There have been many circuses in
| Raleigh, but Walace's is certainly the
| best. The acts We're as numerous as in
amy other tent show, and We're in the
| main mere cleverly done. The costumes
worn by all the performers We're naater.
the riding was better, there Were more
ladies in the show than in any other
circus seen here, and besides this there
were two or three numbers ON the pro-
granane not seen anywhere else.
y
Now it is FIVE O'Clock and the public
exhibition is ended. As the last applause
dies out in the amphitheatre the grooms
in the menageric begin to feed the wild
beast.
Even now a roar announces that the
liodis and tigers are qllaTreling over the
meal For wild beasts have bnt one
meal day and when the hour comes for
that they want their full allowance and
no encroachment upon their rights.
In the cages on either side of the tent
are lions, tigers, leopards, bears and
other animals. Jrley are turning back
and forth with heads low against the
bars, switching their tails and peering
out impatiently at the men carrying tho
great hunks of raw meat. The caneels
and dronnedaries don't eat mea. so they
stand contentediy munohing hay. while
the elephants impatiently throw dust and
trash upon their own backs and heads.
The meat given the carniyerous ami
mails is of the best quality good enough
for Dem0nico-Mr. Huffman. tho
trainer, tells me. Always beef, too, for
lions and tigers never eat pork or fat
meat Instead of being of rugged health.
as popularity supposed, these beasts are
subject to an sorts of complaints and
must be dieted with greatest care.
If their meat be not good it would
surely make them sick The slightest
faint will cause trouble. If the meat be
too cold II will chilli their stomachs and
Illness is liable to be the result. Once a
week the animals are made to fast and
are fed only on milk that day. This
however. seems to satisfy them and it
prevents their growing fat and lazy.
While the trainer is explaining to me
all this the beasts have finished their
meal and are now ready to be waterel
But before this is done the bones are
taken out of the cages, the floors are
sprinkled with fresh sawdust and clean
straw is put lin for bed. Then they
are watered. Tepid water lit is, to keep
from ohllling the stomach, given in q
shallow vessel. They are watered twice
day, and it is a sight worth seeing.
The rough red tongues like twisting
snakes, shoot out from behind the
black lips and lap up the water.
An ordinary lion or tiger drinks about 4
quart of water daily, a pint each time.
The feeding and watering having peen
completed they roll lazily in the straw or
stretch out with the black m1izZle be-
tween the paws for a nap before the
night performance The tigers purr and
switch their tails. The lions blink
dreamily. Gradually the lids close over
the burning greenish eyes and they are
asleep.
The circus last night was seri-
onsly interrupted by a terrific rain storm.
! The performance was only about half
| over when the rain began. Nobody re-
GREETED it more than the show people,
and they did the best they could to make
up for the Inconvenience the crowd
suffered under the dripping canvass.
During the storm yesterday afternoon
anu last mgnt very, stfong Wlnd gave
| the tents a severe test. They stood the
strain without damage, save the teaLng
of two rents in the canvass at one end.
|
There are several particulars in
which the Great Wallace Shows are
unique, but the one that has perhaps
caused more comment than any other
| is the absence of fakirs and pickp0ckets.
Not a man was robbed, SO far as we
have been able to learn. not one that
didn't get his correct change in purchas-
ing tickets. All its dealings were hon
est and business-like. and this is one
reason for the popularity of the Great
| Wallace Show IN this section.
Mr.. knapp, the press agent of the
circus is the right man in the right place.
He looks after the newspaper boys ana
sees to it that they always get the best
He made many friends here who hope
that he may visit us as often as the
| Wallace show does and the oftenar that
comes the happier we are.
The Great Wallace Show travels III a
train of its own, built especially fol-
it, and consisting of forty-two special