ST LEON’S CIRCUS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7862, 18 May 1886, Page 5

ST LEON’S CIRCUS.

The proprietors of “ St Leon’s Eoyal •Palace Circus and Menagerie ” have deserved well of the Christchurch public by the generosity they displayed in devoting the proceeds of their first performance on their return to this city for distribution among the charities of Christchurch. . As it is less than three months since 1 this circus last visited us, its merits .are within the memory of the public, and the large audience which assembled last evening in the marquee which has been pitched on the Market reserve, showed that St Leon’s Circus has been favourably remembered here. In the tent at tho entrance devoted to the menagerie, the tigers in their cage greet the visitors on their right, and the camels in their enclosure on the left, while the panthers, bears and monkeys are ranged round the tent. The performance of the circus in the tent beyond the menagerie, quite sustained the previous reputation of this troupe, every item of the long and varied programme eliciting loud applause. Mr Gua St Leon showed his skill as an equestrian by his skilful handling of seven bare - backed horses; Miss Eosina was very successful in her clever tricks on horseback; she was followed by the pony Butterfly, which did marvellous antics under the hands of its trainer, Mr W. Jones. Messrs Gus St . Leon and Pitman, in their daring gymnastic performance, and the sports of the : brothers St Leon, were both well received. Little G m St Leon, a boy of tender years, . displayed extraordinary skill in his mans', agemenr. of four bare-hack ponies. A capital exhibition of tumbling, including many daring feats by the members of > the troupe, concluded the first part. A grand entree by the equestrians ’ fallowed the interval, and then Miss

•R/wrjp. appeared in her clever feats upon the revolving globe. The somersault equestrian act of Alfred St Leon gained loud and well-deserved plaudits, and Lambrook Pitman was equally good in his daring feats on a bare-back horse. Ewar, the Japanese wonder, showed great nerve, agility, and strength in his performance on the balanced vertical pole, and his balancing act on the slack wire was an extremely clever exhibition. The trick stallion Emperor, a fine highly-trained animal, reflected great credit on Mr Jones by the celerity with which he went through a variety of difficult feats and antics at the bidding of his trainer. The evening’s performance concluded with an amusing sketch entitled “A Journey to Brentford.” The circus shows again this evening.