They are, as a class, a light-hearted set, not remarkable for providence, but bearing the vicissitudes of fortune to which they are so liable with tolerable equanimity, showing a laudable desire to alleviate each other’s ills to the utmost extent of their power, and regarding leniently each other’s failings, without exhibiting a greater tendency to vice than any other class. There is not much education among them, as I have before indicated, and they are not much addicted to literature of any kind. This seems to arise, not from any deficiency of natural aptitude for learning, but from their wandering lives and the early age at which they begin to practise the feats by which they are to be enabled to live. The training of a circus rider, a gymnast, or an acrobat begins as soon as he or she can walk. From that time they practise every day, and they are often introduced in the ring, or on the platform of a music-hall, at an age at which other children have not left the nursery. They wander over the United Kingdom—Europe—the world. The lads whom you see tumbling in one of the quiet streets between the Strand and the Victoria Embankment one day, may be seen doing the same performance a week or two afterwards on the sands at Ramsgate, the downs at Epsom, or the heath at Newmarket. The equestrian or the gymnast who amazes you at the Amphitheatre may be seen the following season at the Hippodrome or the Circo Price. They may be met passing from one continent to another, from one hemisphere to another, sometimes gorgeously attired, sometimes out at elbows, but always light-hearted and gay, excepting perhaps the clowns, who always seem, out of the ring, the gravest and most taciturn of the race. I do not know how a moral phenomenon of such strangeness is to be accounted for; perhaps all their hilarity evaporates in the saw-dust, or on the boards; but I am afraid that their humour is very often forced, their jests borrowed from the latest collection of facetiæ, their merry interludes with the ring-master rehearsed before-hand.

They are, as a rule, long-lived, and seem never to become superannuated. Stickney died at forty, I believe; but Astley was seventy-two when he departed this life, Pablo Fanque seventy-five, Madame Saqui eighty, and Saunders ninety-two. Constant practice enables even gymnasts and acrobats to continue their performances when they are far down the decline of life; and I have seen middle-aged, and even grey-headed men, who had been ‘pitching’ or ‘tenting’ all their lives, and could still throw a forward somersault, or form the base of an acrobatic pyramid. Both men and women generally marry young, but the latter go on riding or rope-dancing until they are superseded by younger ones; and their husbands ride, vault, tumble, or juggle, until their—

———‘little life

Is rounded with a sleep.’

The human mind craves amusement in every phase of society, and in none more than in that which is exemplified in the large towns of Europe and the United States, where, and especially among the commercial and industrial classes, the brain is in activity, the nerves in a state of tension, from morn till eve. Released from business or labour for the day, the nervous system requires relaxation; and if its demands are not attended to, the strain of the day cannot long be sustained. The entertaining classes are, therefore, a necessary element of present society; and, in now taking leave of them, I cannot too strongly urge upon all who may read these pages the appeal which the inimitable Dickens has put into the mouth of Sleary: ‘People mutht be amuthed. They can’t be alwayth a-learning, nor they can’t be alwayth a-working; they an’t made for it. You mutht have uth. Do the withe thing and the kind thing too, and make the betht of uth; not the wutht.’ Let us indeed make the best of our entertainers; for we owe them much.

THE END.

INDEX.

PAGE
Abbott, the clown[247]
Adams, the equestrian[62], [86]
” ” clown[263]
Adrian, Miss, the equestrian[203]
Agouste, the juggler[110]
Airec, the gymnast[162]
Alexander, Brothers, the acrobats[192]
Amburgh, Van, the lion-tamer[89], [97], [117]
” ” ” circus proprietor[238]
American circuses[223]
Ames, the circus proprietor[252]
Anderson’s circus[247]
Angela, the female Samson[231]
Arab vaulters, first in England[85]
Arthur and Bertrand, the clowns[167]
Astley, Philip, the equestrian[17], [28], [46], [48], [51], [53]
” Mrs, the equestrian[19]
” John, the equestrian[29], [33], [46], [53], [56]
Atalie, the man with the iron jaw[231]
Athos, Brothers, the gymnasts[280]
Atkins’s lion and tigress at Astley’s[79]
Avolo, the gymnast[193]
Azella, the female gymnast[179]
Bailey’s circus and menagerie[245]
Balize, the lion-performer[246]
Banks, the horse-charmer[4]
Bannister, Miss, the equestrian[56]
” the circus proprietor[66]
Baptiste, the rope-dancer[27]
Barnum, the great showman[221], [225], [226]
Barr, the falconer[143]
Barry, the clown[96], [109], [118], [142]
Barry, the lyrical jester[212]
Barrymore, the manager[55]
Batty, William, the circus proprietor,[97], [100], [138]
Bell, the acrobat[34]
” the equestrian[211]
” and Myers’ circus[92]
Bellinck, the rope-dancer[57]
Berrington. See [Parelli].
Bibb, the clown[192], [203], [210]
Blight, Helen, the lion-queen[132]
Bliss, the equestrian[241]
Blondin’s circus[55]
Blondin, the rope-walker[157]
Boleno, the clown61
Bologna Family, posturers and rope-dancers[39], [44]
Bond, the equilibrist[165]
Bonnaire, the gymnast[153]
Bradbury the elder, the equestrian[55]
” Alfred, the equestrian[174]
Bridges, the rope-dancer[61]
” Amelia, the equestrian[142]
” Anthony, the equestrian[142], [203]
” John, the equestrian[111], [125], [140], [203]
Broadfoot, the equestrian manager[119]
Brown. See [Tournaire].
Bull-fights in circuses[79], [107]
Bunn, the manager[58]
Burgess, the vaulter and globe-performer[181], [254], [262], [275]
Burnell, the circus proprietor[245]
Burt, the clown[22]
Campbell’s circus and menagerie[246]
Carl, the wire-walker[166]
Caroline, Madame, the equestrian[158]
Carr, the globe-performer[45]
Carré, the circus proprietor[181]
Carter, the lion-performer[90], [110]
Castelli, the gymnast[162]
Catawba Indians, feats of the[45]
Chapman, Miss, the lion-queen[132]
Chiarini, Beatrice, the equestrian[175]
Christoff, the rope-dancer[258]
Clark, the posturer[10]
Clarke, the circus proprietor[55], [69], [139]
” Miss, the rope-dancer[56], [97]
Clementina. See Sobieska.
Cline, the rope-dancer and ascensionist[59], [83]
Coleman, the equestrian[262], [275]
Collet, the acrobat[34]
Columbia, the circus proprietor[111]
Conquest, the manager[187]
Conrad, Brothers, the gymnasts[245], [252]
Constantine, the acrobat and posturer[65]
Cooke, Alfred, the equestrian[111]
” Emily, ” ”[143]
” George, the rope-dancer[59]
” Henry Welby, the equestrian[143]
” Hubert, ” ”[192]
” James, the circus proprietor[135]
” ” ” equestrian[139]
” John Henry, the equestrian[143], [192], [212]
” Thomas, the circus proprietor[96], [98], [111], [139]
” William ” ” ”[139], [143], [161], [215]
Cook, Wooda, the equestrian[212]
Copeland, the circus proprietor[96], [98], [139]
Corelli, the child gymnast[186]
Costello, the gymnast[166]
Costmethopila, the equestrian[19]
Cottrell, Miss, the equestrian[192]
Coup, the circus manager[226]
Crockett, the lion-performer[128]
Cross’s menagerie[60], [73]
Crossman, the acrobat[31], [34], [40], [43]
Croueste, the clown[145]
Crowther, the actor[120], [122]
Dale, the equestrian[119], [139]
Darby. See [Fanque].
Davis, the equestrian manager[46], [53], [56], [58], [61]
Dawson, the acrobat[22]
Dean, the equestrian[246]
Debach, the globe-performer[140]
Delavanti family, the acrobats[160]
” George, the equestrian[175]
Delpini, the manager and singer[27]
Derious, the gymnast[245]
Dewhurst, the clown[97], [100], [104]
Dubois, the clown[46]
Ducrow, father of the equestrian[43]
” Andrew, the equestrian[53], [58], [61], [79], [83], [95]
” ” (the younger) equestrian[193]
” Charles, the equestrian[193], [263]
” John, the clown[86]
” William, the equestrian[241]
Dugée, the rope-dancer[15]
Eaton and Stone’s circus[126]
Ella, the equestrian[126]
Elliot, Brothers, the acrobats[143], [188]
Ellis, Brothers, the gymnasts[162]
Elliston, the manager[48], [58], [80]
Ellistria. See [Ellis].
Elsler, Mdlle, the ascensionist[143], [240]
Espagnole, La Belle, the rope-dancer[36], [44], [46]
Fanque, Pablo, the circus proprietor[97], [99], [117], [135], [160], [192]
Farci. See [Ferzi].
Farini, the gymnast[186]
Fawkes, the posturer and juggler[12]
Ferzi, the rope-dancer[16]
Fish, the equestrian[210]
Fitzball, the hippo-dramatist[51], [140]
Forcer, the manager[8]
Forepaugh’s circus and menagerie[241]
Fossett’s circus[161]
Francisco, Brothers, the gymnasts[144], [162]
Franconi, the circus proprietor[111], [117], [121]
Franconi’s circus[46], [55], [136], [142], [190]
Franks, the clown[188], [197], [263], [275]
Fredericks, the equestrian[193]
French’s circus[245]
Frowde, the clown[197], [203]
Gallot, the equestrian[52]
Gardner and Forepaugh’s circus and menagerie[241]
Garlick, the lion-performer[103]
Garmon, the acrobat[21], [27]
Geraldine, Mdlle, the gymnast[240]
Germani, the equestrian juggler[110]
Ginnett’s circus[146], [150]
Glee-men, Anglo-Saxon[2]
Grady’s circus[248]
Graham, the conjurer[147]
Grainger, the acrobat[27]
Griffin, the equestrian acrobat[20], [22]
Griffiths and wife, equestrians[19]
Grimaldi, the manager[26]
” ” clown[36]
Guillaume, the circus proprietor[182]
” Maddalena, the equestrian[183]
Hall, the rope-dancer[8]
Handy, partner of Philip Astley[45]
Hanlon, Brothers, the gymnasts[175], [186]
Harwood, the equestrian actor[120]
Hassan, the vaulter[146]
Haven’s, De, circus[247]
Haynes. See [Senyah].
Hemming, the equestrian[139]
Hemmings, Cooper, and Whitby’s circus[248]
Heng, the acrobat[65]
Hengler, the rope-dancer[48], [110], [125], [195]
” Charles, the circus proprietor[198]
” Edward Henry, the rope-dancer[198]
” John Milton, the rope-dancer[188], [195]
” Miss, the equestrian[187], [192], [207], [210]
Hengler’s circus[123], [160], [187], [192], [201]
Henry, the circus manager[266], [276]
Hernandez, the equestrian[121], [125]
Hilton, the circus proprietor[131]
” Miss, the lion-queen[131]
Hinné, the circus proprietor[111]
” Pauline, the equestrian[111]
Hogini family, clowns and acrobats[192], [203], [263]
Holloway’s circus[64]
Hough, the acrobat[15]
Howes and Cushing’s circus[128], [130], [191], [204]
Hughes, the equestrian[23], [35]
” ” circus proprietor[97], [216]
Huntley, the acrobat[21], [27]
” Miss, the equestrian[25]
Ingham, the acrobat[40]
Italian Brothers, gymnasts[142], [144]
Jalma, Sadi, the contortionist[270]
Janno, the acrobat[15]
Jenkins, the acrobat[31], [34]
Jenkinson, the acrobat[34]
Johnson, the equestrian[17]
Johnson’s circus[246]
Jones, the equestrian[22]
Josephine, Mdlle, the equestrian[246]
Julien, the gymnast[153], [162]
Keith, the clown[145], [181], [190]
Kelly, the vaulter[225], [242]
Kemp, the pole performer[109]
Keys, Miss, the equestrian[264], [275]
King, the bottle equilibrist[165]
Lake’s circus[247]
Lawrence, the vaulter[38]
Lee, James, the showman[131]
” Lavater, the vaulter[98], [102], [104]
” Thomas, the equestrian[101], [120]
Lefort, the pole-sprite[117]
Lent, the equestrian manager[252]
Leonard, the equestrian[101]
Leotard, the gymnast[153], [156], [162]
Lloyd, the equestrian[188], [211]
Longuemare, the ascensionist[57]
Lonsdale, the acrobat[34]
Lorenzo, the lion-performer[291]
Ludovic, the equestrian[101]
Lulu, the female gymnast[153], [175], [185]
Macarte, Mme, the equestrian[228]
Macarthy, the lion-performer[293]
Macomo, the lion-performer[129], [132]
Magilton, the gymnast[161]
Majilton, the hat-spinner[167], [229]
Manchester Jack, the lion-performer[89]
Manders, the menagerist[132]
Mariana, Signora, the rope-dancer[27]
Markutchy, the equestrian[18]
Masotta, the equestrian[109]
” Mdlle, the equestrian[142]
Maynard, the equestrian agent[257]
Mears, the gymnast[193], [269]
Menken, Miss, the equestrian actress[175]
Miller, the equestrian[22]
Milton, the circus proprietor[62]
Monfroid, Mdlles, the equestrians[90]
Montague, the equestrian manager[146], [191]
Morris, the acrobat[65]
Mulligan, the vaulter[97]
Nathans, the circus proprietor[245]
Nemo, Brothers, the jugglers[170]
Nevit, the acrobat[22]
Newsome, the circus proprietor[98], [107], [109], [126], [138], [159], [270], [275]
” ” lion-performer[132]
” Miss Adele, the equestrian[187], [190], [263], [275]
” ” Emma, ” ”[264]
” ” Marie, ” ”[264], [275]
Niblo, the gymnast[153]
Nomora’s feats of activity[16]
North, the vaulter[94]
” the showman[246]
Noyes’s circus[248]
O’Donnel, the antipodean equilibrist[61]
O’Donnell, Miss, the equestrian[102]
Older’s circus and menagerie[247]
Olmar, the gymnast[186]
Oscar, the equestrian[192]
Parelli, the gymnast[166]
Pastor, the equestrian[245]
Pauliere, Mdlle, the equestrian[231]
Payne family, the pantomimists[275]
Pentland, the clown[252]
Pereira, Mdlle, the female gymnast[180]
Phillipi, the conjurer. See [Graham].
Phillips, the acrobat[20]
Plege, the rope-dancer[98], [109], [117]
Polaski, the equestrian[97]
Porter, the acrobat[24], [40]
Powell, John, the equestrian[97], [117], [125]
” William, ”[192], [195]
Price, the equestrian[16]
” ” vaulter[86], [94]
” Brothers, the gymnasts[163], [255]
Price’s circus[184]
Price and Powell’s circus[195]
Rayner, the acrobat[15], [21], [27], [35]
” the Misses, the tight-rope dancers[15]
Redmond, the rope-performer[169], [171]
Richer, the acrobat and rope-dancer[21], [27], [44], [46]
Ridgway, Brothers, the gymnasts[154]
Ridley, Brothers, the acrobats[162], [263], [272]
Rivolti, the ring-master[211]
Rizareli, Brothers, the gymnasts[175], [187], [246]
Roberts, the artist and scene-painter[66]
” the equestrian agent[256]
Robinson, the equestrian[174]
” ” ” manager[239]
Robinson’s, John, circus and menagerie[248]
” Alexander, circus[247]
Romaine, Madame, the rope-dancer[35]
Rossi’s, Signora, feats of activity[16]
Ryan, the circus proprietor[96], [118]
Sadi Jalma, the contortionist[270]
Sadler, founder of the Wells[8]
Samee, Ramo, the juggler[57], [170]
Sampson, the equestrian[16]
Samwell’s circus[64], [96]
Sandy, Little, the clown[192], [210], [213]
Sanger’s circus[123], [128], [179], [188], [191], [193], [218]
Sanger, John and George, the circus proprietors[214]
” Miss, the equestrian[189]
Saqui, Madame, the rope-dancer[53], [56]
Sault, the gymnast[271]
Saunders, the circus proprietor[49]
Saxoni, the rope-dancer[43]
Senyah and wife, the gymnasts[180], [240]
Sextillian, the acrobat and equilibrist[168]
Simpson, the equestrian vaulter[12]
Smith, the equestrian[40]
Sobieska, the equestrian[24]
Soullier, the circus proprietor[140]
” Mdlle, the equestrian[142]
Stanfield, the artist and scene-painter[85]
Stickney, the equestrian[61], [63], [94], [107], [247]
” Robert, the equestrian[252]
” Samuel, the circus director[246]
Stokes, the vaulter[11]
” equestrian manager[160]
Stone and Murray’s circus[240]
Stowe’s circus[248]
Strand, the lion-performer[132]
Talliott’s circus[161]
Taylor, the equestrian[18], [30]
Thayer’s circus[247]
Thompson, the equestrian manager[118]
Tournaire, the circus proprietor[111]
” Marie, the equestrian[246]
Townsend, the equestrian M. P.[151]
Tully, the acrobat[27]
Twigg, the equestrian manager[218]
Tyers, proprietor of Vauxhall Gardens[13]
Vangable, Miss, the equestrian[18], [31]
Vernon, the ring-master[262], [274]
Verrecke, the gymnast[153]
Vilderini, the posturer[136]
Vincent, Miss, the actress[122]
Vintners, the ascensionists[85]
Violante, the rope-walker[13]
Virginie, Mdlle, the equestrian[241]
Vivian, the ring-master[274]
Vokes family, the pantomimists[260]
Walker, the vaulter and rope-dancer[101], [104]
Wallett, the clown and posturer[64], [96], [98], [118], [135], [145], [158]
Ward’s circus[247]
Warner, the circus proprietor[242]
” Annie, the equestrian[246]
Watson, Lucille, the equestrian[231], [253]
Watson’s circus[247]
Wells and Miller’s circus[96]
Welsh. See [Price, Brothers].
West, the equestrian manager[61]
Wheal, the clown[142]
Wheeler and Cushing’s circus[246]
White, the lion-performer[110]
Whittayne, the clown[182]
Whitton, the acrobat[65]
Widdicomb, the ring-master[87]
Williams, the acrobat[15]
” ” jester[210]
” ” vaulter[63]
Willio, the contortionist[154]
Wilson’s circus[246]
Wombwell, the menagerist[74]
Wooler’s letter to Elliston[81]
Woolford, Miss, the rope-dancer[59], [87]
Young, Miss, the rope-walker[157]
Zamezou, the acrobat[257], [263]
Zebras at Astley’s[79]