Young Folks.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 40, 30 December 1893, Page 5

Young Folks.

CIRCUSES AND “WILD WEST

SHOWS.”

(By W. H. Mathieson.)

Having - devoted a good deal of space to your older readers, it is time the children had a turn, and I therefore propose to tell them something about circus life and Colonel W. F. Cody (better known as Buffalo Bill) and his Wild West Show. Since he started out with his entertainment, which aims at reproducing the wild frontier life of early times on the American continent, it has been crowded with the elite of Europe, and even the people of Rome had an opportunity of witnessing it. Circuses, we all know, have a great fascination for the young, but the “ grown-ups” also have a weakness in that direction—look at the back seats, and you will be surprised at the number of bald heads to be seen there.. I have no doubt that after seeing the glitter and show of a circus many of my young friends would gladly change places with the boys in the ring and let them milk the cows end attend to the humbler duties of life on a farm, but you never made a greater mistake

than to assume that the life is art. easy one. These circus boys have to undergo a very severe course of training, with scanty food, and very often make the acquaintance of the ringmaster's whip when they do not go> through an act property. The whole thing to you looks delightfully simple and charming, but if you only had a week of it you would go home with a. glad heart, and thank God you had a home to go to, unlike these poor* homeless lads, who not only work all day but frequently alt night when on tour in the country districts, until they are worn out both physically and mentally. But to my subject.

While in America, I had the pleasure, in a country town called .Racine, of seeing a real travelling’ circus on the road. To those who saw the very respectable show made by thej Fillis circus I would simply say that the one I saw was just as large again. I counted 142 horses,, ponies and mules. They were all engaged in drawing the cars —■ the most gorgeous vehicles I ever saw. They were one mass of gold, and the band car, constructed in. the shape of a huge dragon, was beautifully carved. Behind it came a large open-barred carriage containing - a very fine pair of lions, and following 'these was a bewildering array of tigers, leopards, trick ponies, bears, elephants, camels, and lastly a large organ, played by. steam. This instrument rolled out populai* tunes that could easily be heard a mile off. The procession exceeded a mile in length, and formed the best and most complete organisation of its kind I had ever seen.

While at the World's Fair I had the privilege of seeing a performance at Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, the greatest affair of the kind over got together. The exhibitions given by his congress of rough riders nothing in common with the usual/ professional acts, the aim, as I have/ - said, being to reproduce scenes fromm> early frontier life. The show has' been wonderfully popular, and it can safely be said that no actors have appeared before such large audiences as have gathered to see Buffalo Bill and his company daring the last live years. Next week 1 shall give yon a sketch of his career, which--' has been of a most exciting and interest! ng elmracter.