WIRTH’S CIRCUS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8653, 11 February 1914, Page 8

WIRTH’S CIRCUS

Wirtb Bros.’s Circus, described as the “Greatest show on earth,” opens in Wellington on Monday, February 16th, for three nights only, near Te Aro railway station. There is always something about the circus that carries with it a universal appeal, especially bo with Wirth’s Circus. Each year sees them come along with more beautiful ladies, more captivating horses, finer lions and tigers, more ponderous elephants, and funnier clowns than the. last time. This year the spectacle is , of more than ordinary merit. Nearly 100 perfumers comprise the company, and they include Dare Devil Desperado, the audacious aerial athlete, who will defy danger by leaping head foremost from a height of' 87 feet, alighting on a concave'platform of solid wood upon his chest and hands. La Belle Victoria, the beauty of the circus world, and the acknowledged queen of wire artistes, gives a performance on the tight and slack wires that is nothing short of wonderful. Alfredo, described as the flying, man, the 20th century mid-air marvel, is said to be the most wonderful of‘ all trapeze artists ever seen in this part of the world. Then there.are the Flying Cadonas, the original Nelson family of nine members, the crack‘American acrobat combination, the Bastien family, also of nine members, a wonderful French troupe of acrobats, the Hobson sisters, America’s; wife-walking prodigies; the Stair ‘ sisters,' contortionists . and gymnasts ;; -atad a score of others, want of space precluding their mention in detail. ;.It would not he Wirth's Circus without an animal act, and this season’s is the most noveLand interesting of the many that have been introduced by the .enterprising management. It is that, of Doblados’ performing sheep and pigs, and is the only act of its kind in the world; a group of a dozen pure white polar bears, assisted by two grizzlies and a pair of splendid boarhounds, exhibit an intelligence that is! absolutely ' astonishing. These beautiful animals also form one of the main attractions of the menagerie, which will be; open from 4 to 5 p.m., and which also contains the only hippopotamus and a large mandrill in Australasia. There, are also performing lions, tigers,-leopards, camels and other strange animals, the wonderful elephant herd, and i with one of the lionesses two young cubs. The box plan is at the Dresden.