Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-30
PROF. GENTRY'S SHOW.
Dogs and Ponies Delight Large Crowd,
Saturday Afternoon and Evening.
A Good. Clean Show Throughout Being Both
Interesting and Instructive.

The dog and pony show which gave
performances in this city, Saturday
afternoon and evening, was in innova-
ton that proved highly instructive and
at the same time interesting. 1t was a
convincing demonstration of the fact
that intelligence may be developed to
a surprisingly high degree in the four
footed animal by proper training and
kindness. With Prof. Gentry's COM
pany Of dogs and animals kindness
and good care Is the motto and its ex-
cellent results are shown by the won
derfully trained, sleek, fat ponies and
beautiful collection of dogs.
There are two small elephants. 1t is
a well-known fact among naturalists
that this great numbering animal ranks
at the top notch of intelligence among
beasts. Apparently stupid, yet sagac-
ious to a remarkable degree; seeming
ly clumsy and awkward, but gentle
and careful. and the surest footed Of
all; the elephant is capable of devel-
Oping an intelligence almost human
Prof. Gentry's pair of these fellows go
through maneuvres that are surpris-
ing, instructive and mirth provoking
The luncheon scene in itself is worth
going to see, while the act Of walking
across a row of wooden bottles. both
forward and backward, with very
small pace for the feet, is a most con-
vincing proof that the elephant is
most capable in walking over insecure,
dangerous places The secret of this is
that the elephant always feels his way
very carefully before stepping.
young. more than the ponies There
are so of these beautiful, sleek. gentle,
little fellows and their performances
are highly entertaining. They go
through the most intricate military
evolutions with the greatest readiness
and accuracy. At a word they are
ready to lie down and play possum.
walk. trCt. form by twos, threes. tours
or sizes, forming a beautiful spectacle.
Among the ponies is one that attracts
more attention than anything else in
the show: in fact. he owns the show
1t is a little beautifully colored colt
but five weeks old. The handsome lit
tie fellow can be taken up like small
dog and is the delight of all.
OF course the monkeys are funny:
who ever saw any that We're not?
There are IS of these ludicrous animals
and they make everybody laugh.
Probably the most wonderful collec-
ton Of dogs ever seen is with Prof
Gentry's show. There are white dogs,
spotted dogs, black dogs and dogs of
indiscribable color and the antics they
go through are amusing and astonish-
ing. Every one of these CANNES has
81 thrnl1oh n
performances at a word from the ring
master. The long. lean and lank
hounds in their exhibition Of high
jumping make tremendous leaps. One
of them, a black beauty. holds the
championship of the world. One of the
smaller dogs performed the feat of
climbing ladder to the top of the tent
and diving from a platform there. into
a blanket held up from the ground be
low. These dogs can walk on their
hind legs. fore legs or on three legs:
they turn somersaults in the air or
ride on the backs of horses leaping to
the animals back at full speed: in
deed, il seems as thought nothing is
impossible to them.
The performance closed with a fire
scene in which the monkeys took
prominent part. a blaze springs up in
the Hotel Gentry" the fire company
with hose cart, fire engine and hook
and ladder, rushes to the scene. The
hose is run out by the monkeys. two
others operate the fire engine and
stream of water turned on the blaze
soon eXtinguishes it.
At the close of Saturdays show the
children We're invited to ride the ponies
and their delight knew no bounds. As
the crowd passed out many stopped to
pet the handsome ponies, who took
pats and kind words as thought they
were used to them. Everybody SEEM
ed pleased with the entire show, which
certainly was worthy of the praise of
all.
This is the first appearance of this
show in the East The company was
organized in the West, but the man.
agement is we'll pleased with the re-
ception accorded the show throughout
this section and expresses the inten-
ton of coming again. No side shows