WIRTH BROS' CIRCUS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13520, 15 February 1908, Page 6

WIRTH BROS' CIRCUS.

Wirth Bios', Circus is :i name that is known from one end of Au.-tralia. to the other, anil tli;- management may confidently expect to see thtir big lent packed on the occasion of the opening performance in Timaru, on Thursday next. (Since their last appearance, about a, year ago, the Wirth Brcs. liave made important additions to their company. New artiste have been engaged and new animals have been purchased. Among the former is Mr Batty, the world's great animal trainer, with Hagenbeek's great act. 'lhe act consists of six full-grown lions performing together with a number of leopards, bears, and a couple of boar hounds, lorming wonderful tableaux and a most exciting mixed-up finale. Hagenbeck isaj» it is absolutely the greatest of all his many -wild animal turns, of which he supplies nearly all the American circuses, and also the circuses on the Continent. Hagenbeck has the largist zoo in the world, and breeds his own wild animali;, as well as buying all the available animals in India and Africa; he supplies nearly all the zoos in the world with animals and birds, and he has a huge training quarters IK-ar Hamburg (Germany). This act we have secured as the acme, of wild animal training, for he makes the anjnia'ij perform together feats that would hi marvellous for dogs or cats to perform. It is absolutely the greatest turn the Wirths* have ever impurt-ed. A >pecial feature about it is that there is no occasion for fear by the audience —in fact they forget the performers are wild animals until the finish; then likv are made aware of this fact by the exciting final-. A!i-o reappearance ot John Wcddy Cook, champion jockey act rider, Sampti Osad<. a celebrated contortionist, and a mutter of equilibrium : and Addie Fredericks, a flying rope artist, who is said to have been imported from the Xew York Hippodrome. Signor Herbertino, from t:ie Palato Circo, Madrid, will demonstrate hiis ability as a, table and barrel manipulator. Then there will be Fraulein Htrizog, an equestrienne, who is described as "' the Queen of the Circus " ; and a trio of acrobats, who perform their ftats in a deg-cart. The whole of the circus company will appear in an Oriental pageant representing the Durbar, and introducing lichtydecora'ed elephants, cattle, camels, buffaloes, horses, mules, other animals, attendants. Special attention will be paid to the dressing of this performance. Ihe management- promise to present it on a 6cale ci Oriental splendour. .Since their last- appearance here Mewiu Wirth Bras, have purchased Messrs Bostock and Wombw-ell's collection of animals, besides securing the titi'vicus of the trainer M. Marco. The firm hr.l 3 also secured the leading attractions of Fitzgerald Brus". Circus. •

There* are high-jumping horsco in the .show which head records, and which are an attraction in themselves. In addition to trained horsis there are trained elephants in charge of Captain Buitowcj. Mess is Wirth ]Jro.s. carry in all over ICO people, and under their hugo tent there are several distinct shows, all of which can be g.-.-n for one ticket.