The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29
NEW YORK STILL
 LIKES THE CIRCUS Circus Going Was Once a Pas
 sion In Metropolis WHEN SHOW WAS YOUNG That Was Back in the 2o's When Shows Were Continuous With
 Acts That Thrilled Eques-
 trian Dramas.
WHEN SHOW WAS YOUNG

was more than habit. It was a nas sion which affected not only the little poys and girls, but the grownups also.
 Ihen horsemanship was the main feature of the circus. San Tatnell "The Flying Horseman," stood pre-eminent TOT ms feats on single horse, and Jumped his mount over a pyramid of men and over dining table set for 25 persons. Two boys and a little girl performed on one pony; a Spanish horse called Romeo 'leaped through a hogs head placed on the back of another horse," and the 'Combustible Horse Surrounded by Fireworks" as the hand bills proclaimed him, thrilled and mys- tihed thousands.
 But the circuses of that day provided a varied entertainment. There were clowns who would Heap over five horses and throw somersaults through bal loon Of fre.' There were slack wire dancers, ground and lofty tumblers," clever balancers and other specialists, one of whom Mrs West, wife of the proprietor of the Broadway circus, got particular mention because she sang several songs and accompanied herself on the pianoforte, feat never attempt ed by any other person." That was in 1920. And besides these acts the circuses of that day had "spectacIes," which according to contemporary chroniclings were almost as grand as The Durbar." The Destruction of Pompeii," and oth CTS of three- quarters of a century later.
 The circus came to New York soon after the theatre. It's growth in favor was very rapid and naturally more spectacular, and at the time of which James Hardie wrote in his "Descrip- ton of New York" It wasparticularly popular.
 Looking backward one sees New York's first "circus troop" at what was known as the Collect. in Broome street, on the outskirts of the city, in 1911. A stage was built in the open air. It was merely a platform about feet high, 10 or 12 feet wide and 50 feet long.
 There Was No Ring.
 There was no ring for display of horsemanship and no charge was made for beholding the performance, the company relying on the generosity of the spectators, a lady handing around the tambourine." They soon afterward removed to the lot at Prince street and Broadway. A ring was formed and the performance commenced every day, ex cept Sunday, at o'clock and kept up until dusk.
 The Broadway circus, first in MT. Hardie's enumeration, was at the east side of Broadway at the corner of White street. "The tambourine first served in the double duty of orchestra and collection box, but it grew into a band consisting of three drums Gone bass), a trumpet and two flies"
 In 1872, when 1t was called the New York circus, company of players csme to 1t from Boston and gave the Militia ry Maneuvre," whatever that was, with Heats on horseback, ground and lofty tumbling, and Don Quixote on horse and foot" The management announced that an elephant had been engaged for the evening of June 25, and that 'Messrs Menial, Codert, Duffie and Tat nell will appear on her back in pyra- mids, groups, etc." The whole perform ance of that night was to conclude with the "Combustible Horse" act that has been mentioned.
 The prices were Box, s1; green box, 75 cents; pitt, 50 cents." Performances began at o'clock (this was the first night circus); no smoking was allowed, and season tickets could be procured from Messrs. Cayetano and Redon at the circus or at their residence, 405 Broadway, nearly opposite.
 That circus was given up in four years. and a year later. James West, an English equestrian manager, who had exhibited in Boston and Philadel- phia, erected another large wooden building, Ion Broadway, near the Stone Bridge'-that is. just above Canal street. It opened on August 21, with the same fine troop and beautiful lhorses which had drawn crowded houses in England"
 The Slack Wire.
 Among the performers were MT Will liam on the slack wire; Mir. Campbell, the clown. who would leap over five horses and three somersaults through a balloon of fire. and MT. Blackmore, who would 'balance on the slack wire and ride around the ring, his head on the neck of quart bottle" The Ely ing Horseman's" particularly adver- tised stunt then was 1eaping through the body of a mail coach and lighting on the saddle of a horse in full speed.
 There was a pony 35 inches high, and an Egyptian Pyramid. or Men Piled on Men," was a famous ate. Just before the end of that first season West in- troduced Roman Attitudes, never be- fore performed in America" It was an act popular in England about that time.
 Manager Vests wife was great dancer, at least she wassannounced as Tate of the opera House, London" and she gave lessons in "all the late new and fashionable dances" Vests side- line was conducting a School for La dies and Gentlemen In the Polite Art of Riding"
 Victor Pepin, who a few years be- fore had appeared with "a very bril- liant train" and opened a circus at Broadway and Magazine streets, re- turned in 1918 to open another on Broadway. between Hector (now How ard) and Broome streets. He had "an airy. elegant and convenient establish ment erected at considerable expense"
 There appeared Tatnell, still re- now ned, and Miss Wheland in "an Alle- mande on two horses; Mir. Maybie on the slack rope, and Mme. Cossin, second only to the celebrated Sacqui, ascend ing on a tight rope from the stage to the gallery. There was troupe of vaulters; MT. Campbell was tn clown, as he had been with West; the fire works act" still hung on, with a trained horse, Mentor doing the fiery stunt, and Romeo did that jumping through a hogshead on another horses back.
 In September of that year they had a benefit there for Campbell the clown, and then produced for the first time a piece designed and prepared by Campbell himself, being Ian engage ment between an American "A and two frigates. the latter being blown up after several rounds"
 After being closed for few months this circus was reopened by Pepin in tcfo aanIorOad with additional fior