Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-21
BALLOONING HORSE AND
BEARDED GNU IN TOWN
Barnum & Bailey Present All
That's New and Startling
in CircuSdom

The proudest boast of the Barnum
and Bailey circus management is that
everything on the billboards is on the
program. In other words, every ad-
vertised act is presented at each per-
formance If anything was omitted
from the program yesterday 1T was not
missed, for during the two hours and
a half the entertainment lasted there
was "somethin' doin'" every second.
With three rings and two stages, a
hundred clowns and numerous spe-
cial features, there was, if anything,
too much to see. No pair of human
eyes could see 1t all. The program
is divided into nineteen displays, with
from three to nine events in each dis
play. Everything that is newest and
best in circusdom, from the ballooning
horse to the leap for life of Desperate,
including, of course, all the t1me-hon-
ored circus performances, such as
grand pageants, chariot races, trapeze
work, etc., was presented.
One of the features, which caused
no end of wonder among spectators, Is
the exhibition of Jupiter, the balloon
ing horse. Jupiter is beautiful,
snow-white animal, and Is ridden by
q daring woman onto platform under
a cigar-shaped bag, representing a
balloon. This arrangement is hoisted
to the dome of the arena, while q
hundred feet or more above the heads
of the audience fireworks are discharged
from all sides of the platform. Jupi-
ter is so well trained that he does not
move a muscle except in an attempt
to keep his balance. Were he to move
ever so slight a step he and the rider
would be dashed to eternity.
Next in the hair-raising perform
ances is that of Desperate. This dare
devil mounts to a platform at the
dome Of the arena and dives off onto
a chute, landing on his chest. He
slides about thirty-five feet down the
incline and up another to break his
fall. The wonder of 1t all is that he
does not break his neck at each per-
formance.
many times that one is almost forced
to believe that training horses and
learning to ride is a pastine with a
large number of persons. Beautiful
women, riding beautiful animals bare
back, jumping on and off, turning
somersaults in the air, skipping rope
or jumping through paper covered
hoops, are but few of the stunts
these fair equestriennes do. The men
do similar and probably more diff
cult feats, but the women get the
greater amount of applause. One ex-
hibition of dexterity is performed by
two men and one woman. Each of
the riders drives two horses and rides
two q foot of the rider on the back
of each of the hind horses. At break
neck pace they race round the arena,
the woman winning, of course.
So many aerial feats are performed
with such ease and grace that the
danger the performers face is for
gotten. OF this portion of the program
probably the most exciting is the sue
cessful attempt of two of the per
formers to pass each other in mid
air. Turning somersaults and being
caught by swinging performer is an
other hair-raising spectacle. Wire
walking. gymnastic exhibitions ana
weight lifting exhibitions are thrown
in here and there for good measure.
The Barnum and Bailey circus is said
to have the finest and best trained herd
of elephants in the world. Six ele-
plants in each of three rings do un-
usual stunts, such as blowing horns,
standing on their heads, ringing bells
and dancing A troupe OF trained
seals also adds to the program by Jug
Cling various articles and then riding
horseback. Charles the First, Won
derfully well trained ape, rides horse
turns somersaults. and does other
things quite as amazing
Ponv races, dog races, horse races,
hurdle races, clown races, chariot