WIRTH'S CIRCUS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10281, 7 January 1922, Page 3

WIRTH'S CIRCUS.

THE BIGGEST SHOW ON EARTH.

Temukaites must have thought so when they rolled up on Thursday night in their hundreds to pay homage to a night's entertainment at "Wirth's Circus, the money shortage being but a passing phase - of the pessimist Mr Wirth must have felt that- though Temuka is comparatively a small town it was worthy of the host, and no,doubt>the circus gave of its best and worthily upheld its reputation—Bigger, brighter, and more thrilling, and' its glitter and seductive glamour cast its magnificspell over old and young alike. The programme was quite lengthy, 24 items being presented which occupied about 2£ hours, and from the time that the first grand spectacular display is made by a double quartette of well-trained horses to the final.hair-raising feats of the flying Lloyds the audience is carried from surprise to surprise, so that if a dull moment tried to creep in anywhere it would not have a possible chance cf success The circus is a long succession of things to wonder at, aud many of the turns would hardly be believed if they were not actually seen Everything is cleverly done, and the management evidently realise that while efficiency is demanded ;p. tao business world it is also the keynote to success in the circus world The horses were the admiration of the keenest judges, their sleek appearance being proof of the care and attention paid to their welfare. When Captain Lindo let his lions and bear loose from their cage, the large audience was apprehensive, but after a thrilling performance, concluding by the captain lying dOAvn across the liens, and then walking round the ring with a huge bear grasping one of his arms, there was a sigh of relief as the final crack of his whip showed the wild animals safely caged again. The serpentine dance on horseback by Miss Daisie, who finally floated into the air in the form of a butterfly, was a very graceful act Then the performing elephants came in, and notwithstanding their great bulk and apparent lack of wisdom, they gave a performance which could never bo expected fro;.; such animals. The wonderful Arabs proved marvellous tumblers, aud the » sprightly li tl 1 > racehorse "Brisbane," under the direction of Mr J. W. Cooke, delighted all lovers of hcrse-flesh by his peformanee. Th°. Mighty Muldoon was wonderfully .'.lever, climbing up a steeple of three tables, a couple of boy.es and a chair.. When on top, still smoking comfortably his cigarette, he anmscu himself swaying to and fro like/;' vv.vd in the wind, while the riim.-sid" held its breath. Tl came al last and Muldoon shoved how simple it. was to fall from a house top. Dainty little Miss Ethel Wirth gave ihe principal horseback trick act, Mr Wirth having charge of the ring while this was on. Her performance was a very clever one, and elicited very hearty applause. What can be- said of the Uyeno troupe of eight Japanese is difficult to say, for no description on paper could possibly do justice to their astonishing gymnastic feats. ■ The famous International trapeze gymnast (Miss Belle Onra), was also responsible for some work of an astonishingly Cleveland exacting nature. Apdale's zoo, a dog, monkey, and bear circus, caused uproarious merriment, riding bicycles, driving around in little vehicles of their own, and generally enjoying themselves. A trick jockey act by Alfred Clarke, who threw backward and forward somersaults from the ground on to the back of a galloping horse was decidedly good, as were also his juggling feats on horseback. The final turn was a brilliant thing by the Aerial Lloyds Avho turned double and triple somersaults in mid-air, swinging from the hands of other performers, hanging by their feet. This last act was in itself worth going to see. Mr Rowe's band added not a little to the pleasure of the evening. ;