Barnum’s Latest Show.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 261, 29 September 1874, Page 7

Barnum’s Latest Show.

GIGANTIC AMPHITHEATRE. A New York correspondent furnishes an interesting account of the latest speculation of the prince of showmen. He says : —“ The great attraction now is Barnum’s new hippodrome. It is an immense affair in all senses, and so characteristically Barnund that his style is as apparent as if it were not heralded far and wide as it is. It is a great thing, outdoing everything he ever undertook. His amphitheatre occupies an entire block, and seats 12,000 people, and when I say it is crowded nightly, and two matinees a week also, you will begin to wonder if it don’t pay. It is the most gigantic affair of the kind ever undertaken, occupying such vast space, requiring one hundred horses and several hundred employes and performers, to say nothing of the menagaries. The style of the exhibition is entirely novel—commencing with a grand procession entirely filling the ring, nearly a quarter of a mile in its oblong circuit, representing the dress and style of all nations, leading off with English knights on horseback, in armour, and heralds splendidly dressed. At each circuit another nation emerges and joins the cavalcade—France, Germany, Africa, Russia, Arabia, India, China, winding up with Ireland and A merica—-all of the most gorgeous description, rich dresses, rich armour, golden chariots drawn by a dozen horses, camels and elephants, richly caparisoned—in short every country is represented by its people, flags, dresses, in the style of the olden time. I noticed, however, that the Queen of the Emerald Isle was dressed in a gorgeous green silk of very modern cut, while the Goddess of Liberty was “ peeled” to the latest evening costume.of this period, very brief where it could have been amplified to advantage —illustrating, . however, the term which

means ‘ license, ” to do ¥8 you please,-and-if the goddess objects to clothes shqmeetU, not V/eur them. When Barnum advertised for one hundred natives of every nation,.ji in all fifteen hundred, to carry iput-i the- 1 idea of the “ Congress of all Nations," he t had applications innumerable by Turks, n Arabs,j Chinese, French, Spanish, and For- » tugese,j but they'alj haebthe uhmjsta liable t brogue, and Barnum, holding up his hands t in despair, exclaimed, “ Is it possible that c all :other nations have gone out of print 1" • So Barnura’s Arab’s, his Turks, his Ger- i man’s,| his Chinese, and his Frenchmen am r all from Cork. It don’t make a bit of dif- ' it’s the dress that does the busi- t nsss. An Irishmaivraakea into anything c on short notice—as a French-cook .will t make fourteen different dishes from one « meat. | It is the imagination that does it, fl and Barnum’s show would not be a cent’s J worth! better if all were what they represent. An Irishman don’t make up so well t into a wild Indian—it is not the wild that 1 he! lacks, but he never can give the Indian war whoop without confusing it ,with I that of the Donnybrook Fair, and it always ,s has aibrogue to it not in keeping with the < pure dialect of the gentleman scalpers. In . the course of the evening there'are some veritable chariot races ; one with 1 two ! torses abreast, and driven by a lady in i each chariot, and one with four abreast and driven by two Romans, one of each sex, one team being jet black and the other as white as snow. There is no sham about it, i the horses are magnificent, and run for their lives, and the scene is one of intense excitement Another beautiful race is ridipg standing two horses, patterhing after the old Roman game. No Roman of the olden time ever rode more magnificently ’• than do these two men, and I doubt, very much whether any Bud Doble of that ilk ’ ever turned out such speed. The horses ■ seem to enter into the spirit of it, and are [ wild with excitement, as they fairly fly [ around the immense arena with flashing [ eyes and extended nostrils. It completely s carries away the multitude, and twelve thousand people rise to their feet wild with P excitement. The hurdle races are scarcely . less' interesting and fascinating. The riders, four young ladies, look serious as if they meant business, and that is exactly what it is. The horses are English racers, | unmistakably thoroughbreds, and when they take their preliminary canter round, show beautifully glossy coats and limbs delicately formed. They are all light horses.. After going round once the word is given, and away they dash ; and the ' fences in imitation of hedges are placed. Around they come, and as they rise to the hurdles, seem to cleave the air as grace- ' fully as birds ; but the pace is terrible, and ' a miss or falter is death. There have been ’ several serious accidents. One of the hurdle horses fell and rolled over its rider, a r % 5 delicately-formed girl, who has never appeared since, and it is said, died from her injuries. In the chariot race, with four abreast last evening, one horse went down and was supposed to he killed, but was found not to be seriously injured. In the jockey race that follows and closes the racI ing, there are four entries, two American ’ and two English, and of course the excite- ‘ ment and interest is intense. The people a cannot be kept down, but rise to their feet r and cheer, delicate women wave handkerchiefs, and are carried away by the excitement. The race is eight times around, ’■ equivalent to two miles, and is run to e wind. The horses are English racers, and Ji do their level best. Sometimes John Bull . wins and sometimes Jonathan, and when he does you could hear that crowd five II miles—and yet, so perfect are all the ars rangements that there is no crushing or r crowding. The immense arena is as comj fortably arranged as any theatre. The I seats are chairs, and are divided into sec tions. The system is so admirable that II ladies can go even unattended, as they do by thousands. The other performances * are all equally good, and, upon the whole, * the Hippodrome is the most popular place I of resort in New York, and “ takes” with ' the better class—in fact, the audiences are _ composed of the best people of the city. Of course Barnum is making money very e rapidly—not less than 5000 dols. per day *’ at a very moderate calculation. His ex--1 penses are said to be 300 dols. per day, and * his receipts 9000 dols. I rather think he 1 is bulling the market in expenses. His n Arabs and Turks generally handle bricks l " and mortar during the day—are mostly on 5 ' committees for adorning and beautifying ® the city; extensively engaged in the various callings of trade, and only play ® noble Romans and fierce Turks at night, * and don’t get Congressional pay : and Bar--1 num makes a dollar feed several animals, hj be they monkeys or elephants.

V , e Those who most frequently visit the watering b plooee in the summer time are milkmen.