The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MARCH 24, 1884. THE CIRCUS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1642, 24 March 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, MARCH 24, 1884. THE CIRCUS.

■ » The leading local event of last week in the Wairarapa was undoubtedly the circus, and it provided a somewhat expensive amusement costing Masterton about three hundred pounds, and the district double that sum. Six hundred pounds, hard cash, is rather a high charge for the privilego of viewing a monkey riding a horse, 'a group of contortionists, a juggler, and some dancing dogs. We fancy that Mr Woodyear has had the best of the baigain, but he evidently understands how to cater for the popular taste, A first class lecture could not Lave drawn a tenth part of the sum the circus proprietor has taken. No dramatic or operatic company could have realised tho half of his receipts. Even the Salvation Army cannot draw a house against Woodyear. In the Wairarapa the only attraction that would compete with a circus in drawing public money would be a first class race meeting. It is evident that the people of this district are not only fond of this particular form of amusement, but that they are in. a position to pay for it, There will not, howover, be wanting some in the community to point the finger of scorn at those who have contributed hundreds of pounds to see a monkey, to gaze on a halfdozen curiously-assorted dogs, and to j behold ft similar number of horses,'

which, at a local auction, would very probably fetch much less than five pounds a head. But there is another aspect of the question to be borne in mind before condemning the large crowds which sought the circus tent, Performances of this character are specially pleasing to children, and tho large audiences who patronised Mr Woodyeah wore made up in a great measure of young people'and their parents and friends, The hundreds of pounds spent on tho ■ circus are- a stroii? testimony to the vitality of paternal and maternal liberality in this district, There may have been an unduo waste of good money over horses and dogs, but even the cynics must be disposed to place a charitable construction on an extravagant expenditures whichhas been mainly incurred to please young children. Tho money is gone and we may venture to hope that an interval of a year or more will elapse before another big circus tont is erected in this neighborhood,