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HOWES’ SUCCESSECI. ENTERPRISE.
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Organizing the Great Show.—The
want of a fall first-class menagerie, got up
in the style and- magnificence of the
“Zoological. Gardens” in London,'or the
“ JardihPdes Plants”- in 'Paris, had for a
long time been felt in this country, which
Mr. Howes, the founder of the “ Great
London Circus;” by means of constant ap.-
plication and the expenditure of vast sums
of money during a period of seven years,
at length.succeeded in accomplishing.
The difficulties of the undertaking were
numerous. The incessant labor, the con
stant-' exposure by travel in -remote and
tropical regions, and other personal risks,
added to - the frightful expenses necessarily
incurred in the such a vast
enterprise, appeared at first to be insur
mountable. But, if the hazard was great.
bo much greater would be the triumph
when success.should crown his efforts. -
He was, besides, greatly strengthened .
in his confidence of success, from the fact
that the public had become'’ disgusted with
the pretentious character, of some of the
ordinary exhibitions.-of the day, recently
and cheaply got up, most- of them assum
ing lofty titles -afid making extravagant
boasts, having no other claim to' distinction
than that of notoriety—humbugging their
audiences, announcing attractions which
, it was out of their power to present, clahn
-ing merits they never possessed, depend
ing upon an unenviable “ name,” or en
joying’a questionable reputation among
the low and, vulgar to whom they catered.
Having completed his arrangements and
secured the services of a staff of accom
plished experts in the selection of wild
beasts,'he immediately set sail for the East
Indies, in order to carry out his favorite
project. In the course of two years Mr.
Howes obtained in the jungles of Asia and
the wilds of Southern Africa all that was
necessary in the zoological world to stamp
his establishment the most interesting in
that department that was ever organized.
How far he has succeeded in his design
the exhibition which ho now offers to the
American public will speak for itself.'
The immense crowds that everywhere
thronged the Great London Circus in com
junction with the superb menagerie which
accompanies it, could not fail to excite the
envy of their contemporaries, who, failing
in attraction to compete with the “ Great
Show,” as it is familiarly styled, in a
legitimate manner, had recourse to the old
dodge of announcing fictitious names and
titles, and adopting every other device to
allure the uninitiated. But it.was all of no
use. Their rivalry only proved, by contrast,
the superiority of the combined English
and French troops, and at the same time
it had the effect of drawing still greater
numbers than ever to the popular show.
During his absence in Europe with an
immense equestrian establishment arid
zoological collection, Mr. Howes has given
his exhibition in all the principal cities and
towns of the Old "World, in presence of de
lighted.thousands, and under the patronage
of the most distinguished personages.' The'
beautiful Alhambra Palace, in London,
never before used for equestrian
he converted into a gorgeous amphi
theatre,, and mpened it by royal command
in presence of Her Majesty the Queen, . the
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Royal Family, and most of the ’members
'of the court. '
"While in, London the circus department
of Mr. Howes’ company was greatly ex
tended—every species of equestrian talent
and gymnastic skill to be procured upon
the continent was secured; the greatest
riders, the most accomplished athletes, the
best musical accompaniment, and the finest
stables of horses ever seen together for ex
hibition purposes, were.brought into requi
sition. The troupe of.the Great London
Circus was perfect— T its .organization com
plete in every departmenta-its popularity
unbounded. The season at the, Alhambra
continued, for, thirteen consecutive months,
and at its close a public ovation was given
to Mr. Howes, in which some of the most
conspicuous public officers and the nobility
of England assisted.
With the attractions of his establishment
vastly augmented, Mr. Howes next pro
ceeded on an extended continental tour,
giving his exhibitions in all the principal
cities of Germany. His progress was a
continuous triumph; his 3-tent pavilion,
although 'Unpiralleled in capacity, proving
inadequate to the accommodation of the
thousands who besieged it day and night.
Mr. Howes next set out upon his famous
voyage to the island of Ceylon, E. 1., in
1870, for the purpose of selecting a cargo
of performing elephants, with other wild
animals. The result of this expedition and
an interesting account of-the manner of
transporting elephants, with illustrations,
will be found upon another page.
Having secured a ship-load of the finest
elephants that could be procured, at an
enormous outlay, they, were at once for
warded to the United. States, while Mr.
Howes returned to, London and completed
His arrangements with the world-known,
“ Sanger ” for the choicest portion of his
magnificent British menagerie and collec
tion of trained wild beasts, among which
are the famous den of five royal Bengal
Tigers and a pack, of twelve striped and
■spotted Hyenas, the fiercest and most
powerful of .their kind, accompanied by
their native keepers—Moloch the Invinci
ble; and Montano the African Cannibal,,
mention of whose performances will also be
found in the programme upon the last page.
At the, close of the soaspn Mr. Howes
rresolved, to visit America, taking with him
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bis entire company, composed of the best
talent to be found in Europe, numbering
over one hundred male and female artists
of various specialties. - These, with-all his
gorgeous paraphernalia, numerous dens of
wild beasts, immense stock of draught and
ring horses, magnificent carriages, elabo
rately carved and splendidly decorated
chariots, together with all the • appoint
ments, properties, wardrobe, and other
costly equipage, with the crowning attrac
tions of the intrepid Moloch and Montano,
the wild beast subduers.
In the course of the extended tohr he is
now making through the United States, all
these brilliant novelties . and wonders of
animated nature will be exhibited: for the
first time in America.
"With these attractions and the additional
array .of talent t secured for ' the - present
season by the engagement of the world
celebrated French lady rider, Mile. DockrHl,
who rides upon her naked horse with all the
skill, courage, .force, and confidence of 1 the
best hurdle-riders of the day,—and the as
tounding' aerial athletes known as'.the
Romelli Gymnasts, besides the great
comic genius, Mens. J. Kennebel, the silent
clown, and the brilliancy of the English
jester, James Cook, the manager submits
his claims to pre-eminence in the several
departments of bis colossal-exhibition.
The chief attraction in riding at the Great
London Circus is the performance of ITIle. Dock
rill, of Paris. This lady differs in her display
of horsemanship from all others who have pre
ceded her in America. She owes her success
mostly to the'worderful balance and muscular
power she possesses, which enable her to as
sume almost impossible attitudes and changes
of position, upon her naked horse, during her
rapid flight around the arena. All her move-'
inents are marvels of grace and dexterity—ani
mated pictures of elegant .intrepidity, thrilling
dashes.of supereminent art, self-control and
indomitable nerve, such as no other equestrian,
either male or female, ever accomplished before
her. „
Her -wonderful achievements on horseback,
together .with her rapid and reckless style, in
all the principal amphitheatres' of Europe, have
caused kings and emperors to mingle their
shouts of .applause with the wild , huzzas of
their delighted subjects, and royal dames to
express -their admiration most graciously.
Whatever claims other members of the profes
sion may make concerning their skill in ' bare
; back equestrianism, certain it is; no lady in this
: country has ever been able tor equal the exploits
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WAR CHARIOT OP INDIA.
IU’LLE. DOCKRILL.
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of this accomplished artiste. She has no equal
she. will neverhave.
The following notice of ITile. DocknH’s first
appearance in America-is copied from the New
York Clipper:
El/is.v Dockrill, R. HI Dockrill and
J. Kennebsl made their American debut Mon- •
day, Dec. IGth. Mme. Dockrill, who has a
beautiful face and. a finely moulded form, is an
equestrian of decided talent. Mounted upon a
fine gray horse, and standing upon its bare
back, she assumes graceful poses, leaping over
banners and jumping through “balloons,” while
the‘horse courses the arena at full speed. Dur
ing a circuit of twice around the ring sheleaped
through ten “balloons,”- and .then passed
through five which had been .broken. Her en
tire performances were accomplished with the
greatest apparent ease, and not a single baulk
occurred. R. H. Dockrill introduced a beauti
ful horse of a dark color named Ellington in a
manage nat, which'displayed a wonderful degree
of instinct. It danced polkas and walt7.es to
the music of the baud, and four chairs being
.placed at equi-distant points, they were suc
cessively overturned and replaced in their orig
inal c positions by the horse usi; ig its fore leg for
that purpose. J. Kcnnebel, a French clown,
who labored under the disadvantage of not
speaking our language, created much mirth by
his performance of a scene entitled ** The .But
terfly,” and immediately after Mr. Dockrill’R
manage aetche appeared in the ring with a bas
ket horse, and so successfully burlesqued the
preceding performance that at its conclusion
he was recalled.
The - following is taken from the N. T. film:
The novelties of the past week at the Circus
have been Madame Dockrill and her husband
and J. Kennebel, a clown on French principles,
who have all recently arrived from Europe.
They are all French, and conduct the speaking
section of their performances in that language.
They have exhibited much in France and upon
the European continent. The lady is young,
dark-haired, slight, and good-looking. She ,
rides bare-back, and her poses arc- very grace
ful. At one time, while the horse is at full
gallop, she stands on one foot, and holds the
other,-in a rear pose, much - higher than her
head. • She is also well skilled in jumping hoops
and banners. Her husband acts asring master
.daring her appearance, and Mr. Kennebel, her
brother, is the clown for the time being. Ho
subsequently performs a u butterfly act.” , A
large white paper butterfly is attached to the
lash of a whip, and while he tries to catch it
with one hand, he jerks it away with the other.
The fun of the performance lies in liis eccentric
movements and changes of countenance. He
never utters a word. He dresses in green,
with a long point of .black hair at each side of
his head, and. a similar red point in the middle.
His face is white and the eyes are shaded with
red and a faint black. The make up is hovel.
His second performance is with an imitation
horse, with which he cleverly mimics the feats
of the trick horse Ellington, -previously ridden
by Mr, Dockrill. The-exhibition of Ellington
is a manage, act. He is ridden by his master in
mod6m costume, and dances to good time with
the music, lie afterwards encirlea the edge
' 0 f the ring, with his heels against the fence,
j and then knocks oyer audrights seyeral chairs.
1 The act was most novel. - • ■- -
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