COLE'S CIRCUS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3944, 8 December 1880, Page 3

COLE'S CIRCUS.

The coloaaal " ahow " of Mr W. W. Cole, consisting of a menagerie, a circus, and a museum of living wonders, waa opened for the delectation of the Chriatchurch public laat night. This waa earlier than had previoualy been announced, and only a fow hours' notice through tho evening papera waa given. Notwithatanding the short notice the attendance was very largo j so large indeed, thafc it would havo filled any ordinary place of amusement to overflowing. The hour for opening was 7 p.m., and at that time many were in waiting. The first hour was spent in the inspection of tho menagerie, in whioh tbe following living animals were to be seen -. — A beautiful specimen of the wild yak of Tattary, a grand lion and lioness, a mandrill, or man monkey of Brazil ; an albino-deer from Madagascar, a two-horned rhinooeros, two young hyaenas, an African lioness, an East Indian antelope, a hippopotamus hog, a leopard, a collection of serpents, six camels, four elephauts, a Eoyal Beogal tigor, a Senogal leopard, a " quarrelsome family," conaiating of a number of monkeys wit h a littlo dog, a silver lion of North America, a Brazilian tiger, a "happy family," like other happy families, experiencing an occasional jar, a baby-monkey, born on the firat of April this year, a South African Zebra, a cage of three African liona, and another cage of fcwo sea lions. Each animal appeared to be in excellent condition, and did space allow, mighfc have at least a sentence devoted to it. Shortly before eight o'clock a signal from the circus tent warned visitors to secure their seats, there, and presently a steady stream in that direction set in. During the few minutes which elapsed beforo tho ball rang for the first " acfc," the orchestra, under Mr W. Stoneham, diaeoursed somo vory sweet music. Tho circus lent ia of enormous size, and the circle is clear of all obstruction, the centre pole genorally to be aeon being conspicuous by its absence. Just before eight a noise as of a rushing wind resolving itself into a sound not unlike tho bubbling of boiling water waa heard, indicating that the electric light apparatus waa at work. Thia, by meanß of aix lamps, illuminated tho vast enclosure most satisfactorily, tho clear, brillianfc light contrasting in a marked manner with two flaring naptha lights and some candles near and in tho orchestra. The apparatua used, engino aa well aa lamps, ia what ia known as Bruah's. It may bo notod horo that the engine waa making only about 520 revolutions a minute, but can bo worked up to nearly doublo that number.

To give a detailed description of the programme would far exceed tho limits at our diapoaal; we must therefore content ouraelvea with a brief glanco at each itom on tho programme. The first waa a " grand entreo" consistingof a procession of elephants, camols, banner bearer-, knights in armour, ladies in brilliant costumes, Jce, tbe knights and ladiea boing on horseback and the elephants, &c, being richly capariaoned. The concluding portion of this " act " was a oeriea of evolutions by tho equc.triana, in which tho beauty of the costumes was displayed to great advantage by the brilliant light, whi'.e tho admirable training of the horsea was fully shown. Iho ring having been cleared, two performing elephants appeared. Theae waltzed, lay down and rose at tho word of command, caused much amusement by their unwieldine.s whilo endeavouring to stand on their hind le^a, and aa much astonishment at tho tableaux they formed, one standing on a pedo.tal on which thero wa_ only j uat room for hia four feot, the two standing with hind feet on the ground and foro foot on tho pedestal, their trainer posing betweon thorn, and finally ono of thorn propelling a big cylinder by meana of his foro feot, after tho innnncr of nerobala. A novelty succeeded, viz., an " aorinl bicycle act," by Mdlle Adelaide, John Murlz and Georgo Dunbar. To form an idea of this, our readers muat refer to tho pictures, to b-i feeo everywhere, or, bottor still, mu.t see it for themselves. Next came aomo " battouto leaping," in wliich a dozon athletes gavo specimens of vaulting equal to anything beforo seen horo, the usual

fun being introduced by Pico, the grotesque clown. A now sensation in vaulting was a aomeraault over five camels and an elephant, tho last raised on a pedestal. To thia succeeded a diaplay of what can be done in training horaes, the animals in this instance being " Humbolt," and "Hindoo," the firat named actually ao far overccming ita inatinctive dread of fire aa to leap through flaming hoopa. Some good riding by Mr Wooda Cooke followed, aud a song by Mr T. B. M'lntyre, one <f the clowns. The success of thia was partly spoiled by the alarm of fire which was given at the time. Messrs Dunbar ond the Livingstone Bros, next gave some astonishing feats on throe horizontal bar?. Mdlle Adelaide followed, with aome bare-back riding of singular excellence. The next act was the wonderful balancing performances of Mr W. O'Dale Stevens with three globes- and— of all th inga in the world — a table. Mr A. Vauzant, "the French bounding jockey," followed with a variety of feata of bare - back riding, oach worth noticing. The Livingstone Broa. next gave another exhibition,! this time of their marvellous strength and acrobatic agility. Senorita Millie Tumourthen went through a numberof perilous feats on the balancing trapeze, by no means the leasfc astonishing portion of her performance being her descent' by a single rope. The " only Linda Joal " next appeared with her J horse Salamander. This lady's riding ia of a ' moat graceful style, bufc her transcendent act j is leaping her horse through blazing hoopa. Mr W. Organ then exhibited the perfection to which he haa brought the circua education of his stallions, Prince, Duke, Emperor, Genoral, and King. The last three named walked erect on their hind legs from one aide of the arena to fche ofchor. Mr W^. O. Daly followed- riding and driving wifch great skill a pretty team of five horaes. An amusing and novel acfc waa then given by Beauty and Butterfly, two ponies, the first of whioh did the chief buainess. This waa a genuine game at Be< j -aaw. A camel raco followed, and the programme was concluded hy Mr George Conklin exhibiting his mastery over tho lions, . which ho caused to leap over him and do other tricVo, finally putting his head into the mouth of ore and teasing all three with some raw meat. The "side show" now attracted a largo portion of the audience. For admission to thi. an extra shilling is charged, but considering the number of interesting objects to bo seen this cannot be considered an exorbitant fee. Here were seen "Baron Little Finger and Count Boaebud," two gentlemanly dwarfs; Dr Granville, a living skeleton, who discourses jauntily of his condition, concluding hia remarks with fche assurance thafc he can diapoae of three " good square meala," daily j. tho educated pig Bismarck ; a troupe of American Indians ; a phonograph ; and a minstrel, and vaudeville company. The last went through a programme which included a song entitled " Cardinal Bed and Navy Blue,"' a couple of double songs and dances ; a scena from "II Trovatore," sung very correctly in a treble voice by Count Eosebud^ accompanied by a whistlo obligato, performed by Baron Little Finger on his fingers; some excellent fencing by fche aamo fcwo gentlemen ; a atop dance ; and a concert on seven inatrumenta at once by Maater Wooda. Ifc should be mentioned that the phonograph is made to ahow its powers, and the Indians give a war song and dance. There will be two performances every day, one beginning at 2 p.m. and the other at 8 p.m., and circle and stall tickets for any of them can be secured afc the box-office, Mesßra Milner and Thompaon's, between the hoursof 10 and 4. This Mob_U-.g's Pabadb. There waß a "parade" of the animals forming tho menagerie and of many of the horses of Cole's Circus thia morning through the principal streets of the city. The wild animals were mosfc of them in their cages, and very few of these wero open to inspection. The public lost little, however, by this, as the enclosing boards were covered with excellent paintingß of whafc can be seen when the cages are in the tent. The horaes were gaily caparisoned, as were tho elephants and camels. On the top of one of the cageß was a horizontal bar, on which, an automaton monkey performed to the intense amusement of the onlookers. The -lions were open to the pubho, and in fcheir cage was seated their trainer quite at hia eaae. The snakes too were visible, fcheir keeper amusing himself by playing with them as if they were the most harmless of creatures.. The procession, whioh was headed by the capital baud of tho establishment, was of great length, and aB ifc wended its way along the streets under a bright sunshine, ifc afforded gratification to thousands, whose appetite for more no doubfc it whetted. There ia every probability thafc Cole's Circua will be as-popular here as it has been everywhere else, and that parents- and guardians will not let this opportunity pass for giving their children instruction and amusement, themselves. of. course in the mosfc unselfish manner taking 3are to accompany their youthful charges.