THE CIRCUS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 439, 23 February 1909, Page 9

THE CIRCUS.

■ A oirctis lisa peculair charnis. Sarrounding .that :big marquee, swaying and flapping.' and brilliiintly .'lighted, and tho numerous smaller tents' lire and theponies' are saddled, there ■'is- an atmosphere of nov- - elty which-.casts.a spell, over, most'people;-. Maybe-Hho'circus', discovers: a, taste';.which was stronger in, other days—in, those: times 'when ; the \ gladiators were,; "biitchered to mako a Boinaii holiday,'? and when deadly struggles: wero .'Witnessed- 'twixt rnan . and beaßt. ltemhants: of tho .ancient naturb may. 1 still ;eS;st,' to be .nourished at-the": sight of daring in the circus arena; ' How quickly the ,news igoes round ,of .the arrival of the caravan -and: the.; caged-animals j'; and how stead- 1 fastly the'childran.follow'and watch .the pre-' ■ parationsi! * : An ■ Elephant without the': escort

;of scores s ofschoolboys is .never seen: But grown-ups : are not- absent when'the Opening night-comes; 'The-majority;-of ■ those long and- crowded; tiete^are "- .occupied' by'■".adults,-' -who,', along with-their, youthful companions, appear, to, enjoy thoroughly every;item-of the' iperformaiice.-' - :The". circus brings'" with ;it ■usually., a star item which involves -sbme- ' thing classed as unique; onetime aGhefalo comes and loops the loop on a bicycle, again jt is a, Pagel,' .who lifts horses- by: : his teeth. Supplementing these; there are', scores' of/performer's.' -who' contrive sensation aftor sensation. ; until^afterVthree..'hours bf: ; it, crowd are prepared to gaze;'.without- a. shudder,, on almost ''anj , - thing,appalling; Who is thereibut,does'not i like to be; surprised P - :■; ;; ;.-■• :• ■. .; ;'.Now,. ;Wirth's-Circus, which ■ -opened in "Wellington; last night, after '.-art absence of many nidnths,'has brought with;it/some new faces: with;the old.' In tho outer tent, .where: the j/'b^astics"'.prowl- incessantly' round their. :.cages,.!there ; -are .quite a: lot !of' strangers," .for;from behind those bars Miyena,lookWoiit here, ft :jagua there,' and a baboon,' Himalaya bear',, , a -','clozen.: monkeys, Polar bear, ; fox, : jtickal,: lion cub, besides the majestic but not .more", interesting;lions,and tigers. '.' Hobbled in the -eontro is the inevitable troupe of elephants, .whoso ever-moving;", trunks: - are busy collecting- peanuts from- the p ";Hands and; .■pookets:..'of;..'tho throng,, and;'conveying the spoils, to; capacious mouths;; Here,, too, are

the .camels,-a couple of buffaloes; and an Indian'zebra.,/ : Tha latest addition- to'V' the inonagerie .is a giraffe, purchased :in.' Ham-: burg.' The' long-necked foreigner'.-niust. re,quire"a:deal of attention, but'ho is ,in good condition; as 'his shining coat displays.' Tho ■ animalimakos.a shy .circuit of; the ieni and .rotires. like. a.gentleman .to his '.own .particular- ■" apartment; :' : ;'■■.'■'■,• ■' -'■■■'. ','; ■ \/, ,: '.;-, Tho. blare 'of tho, circus '■ band: heralds. the .commencement of the;. performanco,: and henceforth;'. in "the -.inner, ring, -feats., of strength,, whirlwind dances, bicycle .tricks ■' and acrobatic' displays /succeed each other' .rapidly., The. oleverest turn last night was ■ a short, one; what it lacked in; space ; pf time was made up. in thrill. '.On an ordinary swinging; trapeze; ths two .brothers 'Rodrique balanced a' sliort ladder, and, one at ;: each end, did;all:manner, ol gymnas'tio oxeroises, all ,the- time preserving" a, perfeot equilibrium. ■ Orio:. of: the Rodriques,: inverting..himsolf, stood, on "his. "head without support in'the middle .of, the; -trapeze, bar, .'The Sidney Brothers .'were another; expert couple; who rodo.bioycles in all but; the orthodox fashion. T6; spin round on-the rear wheelor sit back- • wards with ;arms folded and steer round. a limited .stage: was easy; to them. -. When it _to sitting on a; machine; however and skipping, up:totho "mustard" degree : the thing became .moro than.interesting. The

pair also ..somersaulted neatly'on the two Wheels. .'.The > Crottons.. must to all who know, what': vitality means. .'Developed like Spartans, they threw each other about .like;toys/and some.of their heavy lifts wore extraordinary. . Whoever saw a dog'doing vback-sohiersaults? The hundreds'who attended tho. circus last, evening "were amafced at' a,fox terrier:disporting hiniself in this way,, apparently 'with : gusto. ■ If. the dogs .about tho.city:thoroughfares' took up ■ :this form of.exeroise. on tho 'street corners, few of. them ;would visit the, destructor..'■■-"■ The three Gammon Brothers, who own .this ■•'■ remarkable terrier,- had another, dog which : took .;an amusing part in their j tumbling tricks. The clowns: were as funny 'as ever and the performing animals clever arid aweHarmony would be impossible among a tiger,-a pony, a'goat, - and : a .kangaroo, except at a circus. Tho remaining items had each its own peculiar merits' and altogether the. programme- at WirWs Circus on this.visit is as attractive as anv ever presented in the city. ■;. ''.. ■■:■■ iM^ e i? enaEerie -will.be open daily from .4 till. 5.15 p.m., and the evening performance is to. be repeated during the week. : • ■