THE PALACE CIRCUS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1051, 3 October 1911, Page 2

THE PALACE CIRCUS.

Messrs Ridgway, Cole and Ridgway’s Palace Circus opened a two nights season locally on Saturday evening. There was a very good attendance, and from the appreciative manner in which the various turns were received there is no doubt that those present were quite satisfied with the entertainment provided. As a general rule a circus entertainment is made up for the most part of equestrian feats, but the Palace Circus is an exception, as the horse is eliminated in all except three “turns.” This is undoubtedly an improvement, as trick horsemanship, as generally shown by circus riders, gets very monotonous. In Kadama, the Japanese balancer and wire walker, the management have an artist of no mean order, and his display of balancing a barrel on his feet was a very fine piece of work. The Ridgway Brothers gave an exhibition of baud balancing which was deservedly applauded. Other turns included an exhibition of rope manipulation by Dakota Fred, bare-back riding by W. Clair, and tricks by dogs and monkeys trained by Lieut. Cole. Will. Matthews, the clown and jester, never failed to raise a laugh every time he appeared In the ring. A prize of ros 6d was offered to any local horseman who could sit the buckjumper, “ Wet Day,” for half a minute, but there was no one anxious to earn the money. Eventually the sum of five shillings was offered to anyone to mount the horse, and a Maori boy from Motuiei was hoisted into the saddle. The horse commenced to buck, but the boy stuck to the pigskin, and earned his money. The entertainment concluded with a sketch entitled “ Fun in a Gymnasium.”

Last night the season was concluded, when there was another good attendance.