WIRTH’S BIG CIRCUS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16674, 23 February 1920, Page 5

WIRTH’S BIG CIRCUS.

CLEVER ARTISTS AND ANIMALS. The coining of Wirth Bros.’ circus and zoo to New Plymouth on Saturday was looked forward to as a. treat by most of the young and the older people of the town and district, judging-.by the large numbers who flocked to the tents iu the afternoon to see the, elephants, lions, leopards, and other wild animals and in the evening to sec the circus, lindetorred by substantia! prices of admission, quite 2000 people assembled :n the large tent before eight o'clock in i lie evening, the seats being overflowed and a large residue having to sit on the gravel floor in order to quieten the expostulating seat-holders behind. Tug performance fully justified - the hmh anticipations. : -Every item was in theforefront of its class for quality;, and, the costumes, appointments and mnsl,; were also excellent. The programme was generous in length and included an infinite variety of items-., A wild animal tamer, described as Dare-devil Eugene, disported himself in a largo cage with four lions and a hear, which displayed much agility and intelligence under his ■direction. -Two' of-fhe-hons he was-ab’e to cuddle.most affectionately,'while the hear walked off loaning bn jus arm at the conclusion of tho .turn. Five elephants of quite full-grown- proportions cid their host to charm, by graceful evolutions in the-ring, and one, even more clover than his comrades, contributed somo music oi) a mouth-organ and did his best to walk when, asked to. A flock of geese, led by Silly Danny, a clown, belied their reputation for stupidity in' a display of militar y drill, taking their commands by word of mouth. They left the ring in a closed carriage drawn by goats. The animal performers were al 1 particularly clever, and besides those already mentioned there wore a number of handsome dogs and ponies who performed aerobatic feats with remarkable skill and intelligence. Living statuary,! in which people, setter dogs and a horse took part, formed one’ of the most impressive items on the programme. It was wonderful to see the "dogs' and horse poking absolutely immovable in a number of .beautiful tableaux, all being coloured dead white to accentuate the appearance of being real statues. The Eddy Duo, acrobats, gave a very pleasing display,-a.feature of which was marvellous somersaulting both on the ground, on the shoulders of another man, and on a suspended wire. There were several Brilliant trapeze displays by ladies and men. .A sight which; was i beautiful and spectacular in the extreme was provided by tho three Zo'e Sisters, as they whirled through the air, holding on by their teeth alone and using their arms to operate flowing coloured draperies in imitation of butterflies. Another daintily preftj display was that given on tight-wires by the seven members of the Cevcunes troupe, who all proved themselves accomplished artists on the w ire. There'were other items, including a somewhat astonishing exhibition of telepathy in which a blmdfflded lady named various articles as they w j given to an assistant who moved about amoag the'audience. Tho usual trimmings of ring-work on horses were provided in ample quantity of a quality in keeping with the pleasing standard of tho mors solid portion of tho programme.