HARMSTON'S CIRCUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8178, 13 February 1890, Page 5

HARMSTON'S CIRCUS.

Tins Circus Company, which arrived in Auckland by the Alameda, on her last inward trip from San Francisco, gave their opening performance in the space abov° the Wellesley-street School, in Wellealeystreet, in a fine large oblong tent, and as ib is now many years since a circus has visited Auckland, ib is not surprising that there was a large attendance. The internal arrangements and lighting of the circus were very good, and, considering the very short time at the disposal of the management, it must be acknowledged that they did very good work; bnb they appeared last night under great disadvantages as they have had no opportunity for practice, and the horses were very much out ol training. In spite of this they gave a very good entertainment, and there were many very interesting features. As already stated the equestrians were at a disadvantage owing to the stiffness of the horses, but Madame Harmston gave a very good display of horsemanship in the first act, her jumping through hoops and over banners being well executed. The steeplechase and hurdle race act by Gilberth, a youth on a bare-backed pony, elicited applause, and although through the want of practice on the part of the pony, he several times failed in getting over the hurdles while standing on the steed's back he persevered until he succeeded, and was loudly applauded. Mdlle. Le Blonde also E roved herself to be a graceful and daring are-backed rider, and Mr. G. Harm3ton's trick acts were worthy?' of the applause which he received, his feat of throwing somersaults through hoops being executed with great cleverness. The Japanese section of the troupe gave several characteristic acts, the tight-rope act being very cleverly performed, and another member of the troupe gave a wonderfully clever exhibition by the dexterity with which he managed the spinning of tubs, umbrellas, etc., with his feet. , Peppino caused a good deal of fun in his clever skipping rope feats, and Mdlle. Minetta, the woman with the iron jaw, excited the wonder of the audience in hei feats. She swung a chair about with her teeth as if it was a feather. She lifted in her teeth a full-grown man and the plank on which he was stretched, carried them for a considerable distance, and returned them to the trestles from which she had taken them, then ascending to the top of the tent, she held a trapeze in her mouth while the man performed several trapeze tricks on it, and finally travelled the whole length of the circus on a suspended wire, her only grip being the hold she had of the runner in her mouth. It is needless to say she was warmly applauded in the performance of her extraordinary acts. The trick horse Black Eagle gave evidence of skilful training at first, bub he subsequently became restive, and several times bolted out of the ring amongsb the audience, and had to be taken off, while as for the trick donkey, with the stubbornness characteristic of his race, he refused to do duty. Mr. Harmston apologised for any apparent deficiencies, and explained that they had had no opportunities to practice during the last month, bub with a day's practice he hoped to. be able to give more satisfaction in the next performance. >•