WIRTHS’ CIRCUS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22742, 30 November 1935, Page 24

WIRTHS’ CIRCUS

“Does an elephant ever forget?" is a question frequently heard. “ Very definitely nol ” says Harry Mooney, the famous trainer of Messrs Wirth Bros., Ltd., herd of elephants, and to prove it he can give you numerous instances of memory feats of his beloved elephants. “ Why, just take Alice for instance," eays Mr Mooney, “ although it is two years since Alice was in Dunedin, and in the interval she hae toured right throughout Australia and, Java with, Wirths' Circus, Alice will just take one look at Dunedin from the circus train, and if We did not prevent her she would immediately set ofi for the Caledonian Grounds, and be ready for the performance. Alice and Molly—her bosom pal—were great favourites with the passengers coming over from Australia in the Marama. Indeed, they- were so well treated with oranges, apples, cakes, and other tit-bits that the monkeys and seals were jealous of them, and they tried by all sorts of tricks to prove that they were far superior to mere elephants. One little liheis monkey managed to elude his keepers, and, perching himself in the ship’s rigging above where the elephants were tethered, he kept the passengers and crew in an uproar of mirth for many hours until he was persuaded by his keeper with a bunch of ripe bananas to return to his cage.” The Marama looked like a Noah’s Ark, containing as she did valuable trained lions, tigers, seals, panthers, elephants, monkeys, horses, and dogs, but the outstanding animal of all was Lady Betty, said to be the only gorilla in captivity in the world. Passengers were amazed as they watched her carefully make her own bed, then set the table for guests, and generally made herself a very busy woman in the house. Mr Philip Wirth says that this is the biggest and best circus he has ever brought to New Zealand, and, judging by the success that it hae met throughout Southland, the public agree with him. Wirths’ Circus will arrive by special trains at 4 o’clock en Monday morning to play a short season in Dunedin of six nights and two matinees from December 2 to 7 at the Caledonian Ground.