Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1896 — The Wallace Circus In Town. [ARTICLE]

The Wallace Circus In Town.

From Quebec, Canada, Daily. Telegraph, Aug. 3, 1896. \ ' Wallace’s big shows arrived here yesterday morning and within a very short time the smaller canvasses were spread and the cages and other property were placed in good order around the grounds for use to-day. The wagons were unloaded and the work of putting up the tents proceeded with the regularity es clockwork, no undue noise and absolutely no profanity being indulged in. The parade here this morning fully justified all previous expectations, which is saying a great deal, as the arnval of the circus had been looked forward to for some time, and the interest shown in it was evinced by the number of people from the country districts who came in at an early hour this morning It is not often that circus promises are so thoroughly carried out in every particular. The Wallace shows have always been noted for the excellence of their horses. It has at present 300, including the finest and best breeds in the country, from the roly-poly'Shet-lands to the pink-nosed Arabian racer and heavy Norman and Percheron draft animals. Three tons of hay, one hundred bushels of oats and two tons of straw are consumed daily by them. A blacksmith shop, a carpenter’s bench and a harness mending booth adjoin the stables. To transport the shows in their entirety, a train of forty-three specially constructed cars are required. The iffenagerie too is especially large and fine, and bore witness to the care and expense bestowed on it in the magnificent condition of the animals. It included amongst other beasts four large lions, three’bf which were raised in captivity, monstrous elephants, sleek camels, and ostriches ugly enough to vindicate the claim to be one of the ugliest birds in existence, and with a plumage that set all the ladies who saw them breaking the tenth commandment into little bits on the spot. The first performance commenced this afternoon at 2 o’clock before a Very large audience. Some of the best features of the performance are a triple bar act by the famous Petets, the bounding wire work of Mr. Frank Apple, the juggling of the Japanese, the horseback riding of two' dogs and two bears, and the bicycle feats of the Martel Is.