AMUSEMENTS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1259, 1 April 1878, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

COOPER AND BAILEY’S INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS. The first performance of this mammoth show —the advent of which has been looked forward to with the greatest interest—took place on Saturday evening, when over 5000 assembled. For some time past elaborate pictorial posters descriptive of the wonders to bo seen, in what Mr Bailey cills “ the greatest show on earth ” have been liberally displayed, and it is therefore not strange to find t hat the curiosity of the people of Christchurch, more especially the juvenile portion thereof, was excited in no ordinary degree. Indeed so much was this the case thata number of enthusiastic sightseers were congregated at the railway station to witness the arrival of the company at the early hour of five o’clock on Saturday morning. The method and admirable discipline existing in the small army of which Mr Bailey and Mr Gardener are respectively commander-in-chief and general was markedly displayed by the rapidity with which the immense tents forming in themselves a perfect canvas town were erected, and the arena prepared for the reception of the crowds of visitors who poured in one incessant stream on Saturday evening. When it is remembered that at six o’clock on Saturday morning there was scarcely a vestige of any tent on the site, and that by four o’clock that afternoon all was completed, even to the seating of the vast circus tent, some idea may bo formed of the amount of work got through in a short time. The show itself comprises three large tents. The first one, to the westward, approaching from Colombo street,, is where the side show, described below, is located; next this is the menagerie tent; and beyond again is the circus tent. First then, as to the menagerie portion. As a largo majority of colonials have had no opportunity of seeing wild animals in what Artemus calls their “native lair,” this is, of course, the centre of attraction. The arrangements are such that the visitor has ample opportunity of inspecting the whole of the animals in the menagerie. The doors are opened one hour before the circus performance commences. Here Professor G. W. Johnson is in charge, and gives any information concerning the animals that may be required by the visitors. On Saturday evening he had, what our American cousins call a “high old time,” in answering the many queries regarding the strange occupants of the cages. The eages are large caravans on wheels, the fronts of which are all open and fixed with iron bars, so that ample opportunity is afforded of inspecting the animals. But before describing these, the camels and elephants claim attention. The camels are placed in line, and close to the promenade. They are well grown specimens, one being an especially largo one. The elephants are six in number, three being Asiatic and three African. Of these two are specially noticeable, viz,, Prince and Titania. The latter made her debut on Saturday evening in the ring, and Professor Johnson showed to whet extent training can be carried, even with so unwieldy an animal as the elephant. They are also utilised for pushing the heavy cages into the ring—an employment in which the one so engaged on Saturday evening seemed to take considerable pleasure. In the matter of the consumption of biscuits the elephants are adepts, and each one expects—and receives—favors of this kind. Here also are some pretty Javanese and Shetland ponies, many of them being exceedingly diminutive. The steam piano, of which so much has been heard, is stationed close by, and Mr Stoneham, junior, whose clever musical performances with the Italian Opera Company will be remembered, discourses—well not sweet sounds —but music as dulcet as can be expected from steam whistles. This instrument comprises a series of steam whistles governed by valves, which are regulated by keys similar to a piano, and when at high pressure can bo heard some distance. The music is not unpleasing, though somewhat weird and strange in sound. Passing through a wide avenue the visitor enters the menagerie tent. The cages are ranged round in a circle, which is roped in so as to prevent any chance of accident by persons approaching the animals too closely. The first cage on the right contains specimens of what Artemus calls “ Amoozin little cusses,” in the shape of kangaroos. These, with some emus further on will, Mr Gardner informs us, be curiosities in the States. In the same cage with the kangaroos is an American fallow deer. Next is an American bison, an ugly looking customer. Beyond, again, is a cage containing a lioness and three young lions. Two of these aye half-grown cubs, but the third is an interesting stranger of only a few days old, having been born in Oamaru, Next to this is a fine specimen of the South American jaguar, beautifully marked,and a Brazilian tiger. N ext are the two performing lions, a lion and lioness, the calm repose of the former being a great contrast to the continuous motion o" the jaguars and tigers. A very fine specimen of a royal Bengal tiger next claims attention, and is well worth staying a few moments to see, os also are the jaguars in the next cage. Two spotted and two striped hyenas, who are anything but remarkable for beauty, stand next, and then a pair of emus and a coyote or American prairie wolf. In the cage beyond these is a very fine North American elk which has just abed its antlers. A double-horned hairy rhinoceros is passed, and w r e come to a really interesting pair, in the shape of a sea lioness and young one, who reside in a tank having glass sides. The i with which this animal devours a fiph

must bo seen to bo appreciated. A cage of monkeys of all kinds, from one little fellow who can claim to be the Tom Thomb of monkeydom, down to the large solemn looking caricature of humanity, closes the list of animals—a collection which is both highly interesting and instructive. Professor Stoneham’s band are now ploying the opening march, and the circus performance is about to begin. Passing through a wide avenue the visitors enter the enormous circus tent, which is 206 feet long, 150 feet in diameter, and [6OO feet in circumference. The dress circle seats are a novelty here, being in fact comfortable chairs, but folding into small compass for convenience of travelling. They are seated with a kind of carpeting, and the lid lifts up, forming a comfortable back. Quite a troop of ushers are in attendance, and the large assemblage are as quickly and quietly seated as if they numbered only hundreds instead of thousands. There are fourteen items on the programme, which in an ordinary show would take some three or four hours to get through. But here everything goes as if by machinery ; item succeeds item without an instant of waste time; there are no wails and no intermission, and so the attention and interest of the audience is kept up to the very last. The opening item is a cavalcade introducing the whole strength of the company, including artists, elephants, camels, ponies, monkeys, &c. It is led by a squadron of knights and ladies, and there are also in the procession representatives of birds, the make up for the pelican and stork being especially excellent. Then follows the exhibition by Professor Johnson of the trained elephant Titania, whose performance was wonderfully clever. The riding of Mr A. Lowande was marked with much grace, and his somersaults on horseback are something to be remembered. This act introduced Mr N. Austin, one of the clowns, who was especially happy in his “ wise saws and modern instances.” He sang a song relative to the working man, the moral of which, by the way, is scarcely applicable in this country, and for an encore gave one illustrative of the power of gold. In the next act Messrs Lnzello and Moffit performed some really excellent gymnastic feats, which have never for difficulty and daring been equalled here. They were performed with as much ease as if they were merely the ordinary feats, and in a manner which proved the gymnasts thorough masters of their profession. Madlle. D’Atalie, whoso title of the female Samson is no misnomer, then performed some extraordinary feats of strength, the most noticeable being that of the firing of a cannon, which by the way took four men to lift, from her shoulders, a little boy being perched on top waving tricolored flags. Two pupils of this lady also performed some clever feats. Madame Cordelia’s bare back equestrianism was a line performance, and Mr Cassim, as the grotesque clown, was irresistibly funny. The next act is one of the greatest novelties of the show. Mr Batcheler turns a double somersault over three elephants and three camels —a feat which, it is needless to say, has not its equal in circus annals. M. Martino Lowande then appeared, and with his two sons accomplished some remarkable equestrian feats. After going through a series of performances with the youngest, a little fellow only four years old, the boy climbs up on his father’s head and stands upright thereon without any support, whilst they career around the ring. This feat, which elicited loud applause, was followed by one equally daring with his second son. In this the boy stands on his father’s head on one foot, holding the other in his hand whilst going round the ring. After some very clever trapeze performances by Mr C. and Madlle. Belmont, some good Japanese juggling by Amati Catroslim, and Professor Wambold’s educated dogs, MrJM. Lowande appeared in his wonderful act of riding seven bare-backed horses, which is certainly one of the greatest feats of equestrianism seen here. Professor Johnson’s performances with his lions closes the programme, and the audience troop out to the side show, This is under the proprietorship of Mr Goo. Middleton. The wonders to bo seen must be shortly described. There is the educated pig, who plays euchre in a manner which would puzzle the heathen Chinee to beat. Miss Fritz sings and dances well. Mr and Miss Belmont’s clog dancing is good, as also is Little Daisy’s rendering of “Keep on kissing me.” The feats of Mr Mitchell, the fire king, are wonderful, as also is the shooting of Mr Chalet, the nerve displayed by Miss Chalet during the operation being admirable. Miss Batchelor sang a motto song nicely, and Messrs Flynn and Enson, in their comic Irish duets, were very funny. Mr Chalet, as a ventriloquist, is by far the best who has been here.

Tl'is evening the circus will be open at seven o’clock.