THE CIRCUS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5322, 17 April 1878, Page 3

THE CIRCUS.

The last performance of Messrs. Cooper and Bailey’s popular show came to a close about 9 o’clock last evening. Although very little dissatisfaction was openly expressed at the rather early termination of the performance, yet it was but too evident, from the facial expression of the majority, that they did not expect to hear “ God Save the Queen” quite so soon as 9 o’clock. As if to compensate, however, for this drawback, our old friend, Mr. Sackett, early in the evening came into the ring and announced that after the circus performance came to an end there would be a wonderful exhibition iu the side-show, consisting of the learned pig which bears the name of the great German statesman, the great fire-king, the champion ventriloquist, the African serpent, &c., &c., at a charge of “ only one shilling extra.” Our American cousins are certainly up to business, and if they do not succeed the fault cannot be attributed to their want of enterprise, for immediately after Mr, Sackett’s announcement, two or three persons commenced selling tickets for the “great after performance,” aud as the people left the circus two gentlemen stood on boxes, and in sonorous tones asked the gentlemen to give the ladies aud children an opportunity of seeing such wonderful things as they had in their side-show. And who could resit t such affecting appeals ? It is certain that a good many did not f eel inclined to do so, for in a very short space ot time the place was crowded. “ Bismarck, the learned pig,” surprised those who went to see him by playing the game which Bret Harts tells us in such a wonderful way the “ heathen Chinee” played, but which he did not understand, and which is now known as euchre. The circus performance did not vary very much, if at all, from those of the two previous evenings. The feats of the two youngsters, Masters Tony and Martiuho Lowande, created great enthusiasm; and taking advantage of the feelings of the audience, the youngest boy came around, accompanied by a gentleman, selling photographs of his father, brother, and himself. Very few could resist gratifying the wish of such a pleasant child, who seems to have made himself as great a favorite with the audiences as the “Luck of Roaring Camp" did amongst the diggers. There was no concert after the circus entertainment, and as it was announced in the programmes which were given away that such would be the case, there was some disappointment at its not taking place. There was no afternoon performance, but a good number paid a visit to the exhibition during the day to see the animals, which were a never-failing source of interest to the youngsters. The average attendance per day was about 3000, or about 9hoo altogether who visited the show during its stay in Wellington. It would not be an easy matter to give the correct amount of money taken, as Mr. Bailey, in a very courteous manner, informed our reporter that he never told anybody as to what his takings were. If the average is put down at three shillings per head, and we think it may fairly be put down at that amount considering the large number who only paid a shilling to see the animals, the total sum might be put down at between £I3OO and £ISOO. The amount of the takings at Christchurch (which we" heard put down at £8000), and other phases, must be, we think, greatly overstated. The circus has been very popular wherever it has visited, and vast crowds have flocked to see it. The largest attendance, Mr. Bailey informed our reporter, was at Ballarat, in Victoria, where 8000 persons visited the show during the two days that it stayed in what used to be called “the metropolitan goldfield.” Before the termination of the performance, some of the smaller tents were taken down, and •by about 12 o’clock at night the immense tent and all its belongings were cleared from the ground, which will be a sad disappointment to many a youngster who expects to have another look before going to school at the wonderful auimals he has been told so much about. The troupe will start this afternoon for Auckland, where, we believe, they play for the last time in New Zealand. Messrs. Bailey and Cooper will be long remembered in Wellington, not perhaps because they brought the best circus to our city, but because they brought the most varied collection of animals. They'will also be remembered for their courtesy to everybody with whom they came into contact; and in saying this, we do not wish it to be understood as confined to Messrs. Cooper aud Bai’ey, but it applies to the entire troupe, who made themselves decided favorites with the people of Wellington ; and we are sorry to be compelled, in the exercise of our duty to the public, to make a complaint about the rather sudden termination of their last performance here. We now cordially wish them a prosperous journey.