Wirth's Circus.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 38, 15 February 1904, Page 2

Wirth's Circus.

It was no surprise to see Wirth's large tent packed with people 011 Saturday niglvl, Wirt lis alwins draw a r.rowil, and for their one night 111 New I l.viiioiith must have passed considerably over two thousand throug'h tlie doors. Every seat wus tukeii, and nearly every inch of ground outsiWe Uvu' iierfornicrs rings was taken up by spectators. As usual, thy jtei form-mce was highly nieri'torioiisv even more so than on any previous visit. Tlie strong man was the big attraction, and his pcrfornuuice was (;juite up to exiß'CLations. Not content witii tossing in;<out ly'ei'ghts of 7olb to 2801b with or,u liinwl and arm, lioldi_ if'-iove h'iw hi'.xi in his) light a volb weiglit tirmi a inun astride, i(arryiii|g a kori/j up mud dawn a ladder, he bore the weight of thirteen men on his chwt, and then entered Oil a Struggle with t',b king of beasts. .Seizing a lion he forced open its jaws, showing Uh huge tusks, ami then fflirew il growling and roaring across the enclosure. This act Way walclied 'with - lulled breath, the. audience evidently being doUihtml as to the result oi a man's strength living' matched against that of the king of tlie forest. Mons. Hngoiil was cheered again and agnin for his wonj.lerful control over the wild leasts J'Willi tlie foivist, who acknowledged his mastery. lie alone knows how much time and perseverance were spent before he could form his liviT-g pyramid of a lion, a horse. 11 goat, and a dog, with the trainer at vile top. Lions (did ligers ran hurdle races'; tigers were h.iriKWi> (I toi a (.Jiar'f.t in which another oi their kind wus seated, and other tiicks were shown wi.iieh coiupletuly a.sitol t'slied tlie audience. The leaping gre.v hound anil bucking ehpliant were calculated to suit I'ie popular taste, and Sir Win. Carl's six-horse act was a marvel. Mr I ;hil:p Wirtli pw, a juiji '/irr of his equine friends through some (lill'icnlt acts, ai'.fd Miss Wirth g-ave a very clever c.\h',l<ilion of ,in;>jling on horsoback, also ir.dreducing tile serpenliue dame. The l'vddie llrotheis were resiv.msilhle for noire aerial feats o! a h'.iM'.itiis'i'ng nature, aided liy twe, youngsters of woi'derfui n'J ilit.v. Atii interesting tlioHlgh rather uncanny feat was .that, of thu contortionist. wiio placed himself i n all soils of att itiidi s never intended for iii ;I n, pulling his. hnrds and feet in plarces where tiiev weie never meant lo bis T ,-e Cantons peiiormed on a swinging ladder, revol.ing the vvli.li 1 , Thi'ei- items 011 tlie programme strike t.'.e spicl,a<.or as 1,,,ing mai'velioiis. Fir.vt, the exhibition of Heir llagvl, the strong ninn ; s.-cei.'d, the tricks of tile trained animals ; and third, the prrfoniuuire of the Unwind llr.itl 1 >rs. It, is not certain that, the above is tho correct ordi.-'M of Miiji},»;. The lhiwai\l Brothers gave fill an unique performance, one of them (blindfold,il) telling cioriect,ly t|\o e, and nature of nny nrt'icle lookvd at by his Itotiher niiion'g the large audience. Clowns and t.'.v inovituflile "dninm.v" tilled in span l moments, and introduce',! a lot ef 1 a 1 1'g'l 1 tec. 'l'lu' luenageiie attaclwd to the circus is larger than ever. U is slatal that quite a largo nuniJier of Wevst (Viast residents are now journeying over to Chrisichitrcli by cycle. Tho roads aro at, present in good conditio^