×

1882 Barnum circus received a glowing local review

Photo from the Library of Congress An 1879 poster for P.T. Barnum’s circus is probably similar to how the show in Warren in 1882 was promoted.

It’s a challenge to write what is meant to be experienced.

There are things that we do that are difficult to put into words because they’re not designed to be experienced in that way.

P.T. Barnum’s circus in Warren in 1882 is one of those examples.

But, boy, did the Warren Mail – in the Oct. 3, 1882 edition – sure try.

The headline “Barnum and Jumbo” is simple enough. The rest of the story is not. Here’s how the author tried:

Barnum is a great showman and Jumbo is a great elephant. Both have been the talk of the town for weeks and both took us by storm last Thursday. Such a crowd and such a show were never before seen in Warren. Ten thousand people at least came to see Jumbo. And they were not disappointed. He is a huge brute, too big to be an elephant and not much too small to be a mastodon.

The show ground was across the creek on Mr. Struther’s farm. Early in the morning the tent wagons went through town. Then came the big band wagons, chariots, (etc.), all drawn by the finest, fattest and best matched horses ever seen in a show. Last came the camels, giraffes and elephants. Just imagine a drove of 18 or 20 elephants coming up Front street more quietly and orderly than a drove of cows. Many of them were large animals but Jumbo came last and towered above all others as a horse excels a pony in size. We expected some humbuggery about Jumbo. We suppose there is about his pretended ugliness, but there is no exaggeration about his huge proportions. You don’t know what a “big thing” Barnum has on his hands till you see Jumbo.

All the animals are first class. We had a first rate look at all of them under the guidance of Mr. Thomas, the gentlemanly press agent, who gives one valuable information as the show proceeds. He takes one to the side show where the Zulus and wonderful freaks of nature are to be seen – to the stables where the beautiful horses are kept – to the kitchen, where as good food was prepared as at a first-class hotel, and to the dining tents with tables spread as neatly as one could desire. Every man has his place and particular duty to perform.

Everything moves like clockwork and the city of tents with its thousands of equipment is moved by night or day like magic. One is almost surprised at the perfect system and clock-work regularity of everything. There is no loud talking or wrangling among the men. Each one of the 530 employees knows his duty and discharges it promptly, civilly and efficiently. If not he is bounced at once.

The grand parade through town about 11 o’clock was grand indeed, exceeding any thing of the kind ever seen here. The glitter and the pomp of Oriental splendor were there. The mirror sided chariots, the beautiful horses, the camels and elephants and their riders, the vacalcades of turban riders, the bands of music and flying banners made a scene truly as the show bills describe it of unparalleled magnificence. Barnum more than any other showman comes nearest to his pictures in the reality. He is a tremendous advertiser, but this time even went beyond what he promised.

The circus, or “moral hippodrome,” as Barnum has it, was of the best, only there was too much of a good thing at once. You can’t watch three rings with two eyes easily without getting cross-eyed! The clowns didn’t say much and nothing offensive. The leapers, tumblers, trapeze and all other performers were the best in the business. Seeing a woman fling herself from the top of the tent to a net below, and throwing a man from a catapult from the ground to the top and down again is a little exciting to spectators who don’t understand the tricks of the trade.

But about the most exciting part are the hippodrome races. The track is outside of the rings. They are not tame affairs. The riders and runners evidently go in to win.

It makes your hair stand (if you are not bald-headed) to see them go round and round at break-neck speed. There were horse races, elephant races, wheelbarrow races, foot races, a comical race by monkeys on Shetland ponies and a race between a Zulu warrior and a horse. A race between three riders each standing on two bareback horses was very exciting. The great act, however, was a chariot race, reviving the old Roman sports. The horses, four abreast, tore around the track at a fearful speed, the drivers cheering them on. The vast audience went nearly wild with excitement and it was about nip and tuck at the finish.

Altogether it was a big show indeed, and for any thing we know to the contrary the “greatest show on earth.” Everything low and vulgar is left out and everything rare and curious and wonderful in nature and art seems to be sought and obtained.

No one seemed to object to the circus but a concern following the circus was, well, less well received.

From the October 6, 1882, Warren Ledger – “Perhaps there is no feature of a circus that smacks so much of humbuggery, as the concert following the circus performance.”In this context, humbuggery appears to mean deceitful or deceptive.

“We advise all our readers to shun the concert advertised to follow the circus performance, afternoon or evening. Your money for nothing,” they wrote. “Go to the circus if you like but let the concert performance alone, or attend and lose your money and your temper, particularly if you have red hair, or in the vicinity of that color.”

Guess you can’t please everyone.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today