Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1883 — Circus Notes. [ARTICLE]

Circus Notes.

A rather thih show, but way ahead of no circus at all. Between the wisdom of the dogs and the foolishness of the alleged clowns, and some really toleable performances most everybody felt that they had got the worth of their money. The youngsters enjoyed it especially. It being a busy time with the country people the attendance at the afternoon performance was light, but in the evening the crowd was immense, all things considered. The Electric Lady was loaded, no mistake, and went off easy and often. Nearly every person who touched her hand felt a decided, and even, in many cases, unpleasantly powerful, electric shock. The Three-headed Songstress was exhibited inside a cabinet, only the heads being visible. It was an ingeniously contrived optical illusion; but just how it was done, we do not undertake to say. The group of “Trained Barbary Coursers and Branches” resolved themselves into a white horse, beautiful but without much sense, a handsome dark bay, which really was up to a number ot little tricks, and a diminutive donkey which knew but little more than the so called clown who had him in charge. The dogs were well trained and 'intelligent, and their performance was really the best part of the show. The show people themselves, though many in name, were few in number, f.nd, so far as we can learn, were all decent and well conducted people. The thieves, gamblers and pick-pockets who made things so lively when another circus was here a year sgo, were not heard of with this show. Landlord Blue, of the Makeeyer House, who boarded the whole show over Sunday, says that a more quiet and well behaved jot of people, or more honorable in their dealings, he never saw.