Part 2

Some remarkable instances of his immediate ascendency over the fiercest animals are on record. When Lucas, the lion-tamer, was killed by his own lions, he left a wife and child with no other resource than the ownership of the fierce brutes. M. Arnauld, manager of the hippodrome where the tragedy took place, gave a benefit performance for the widow, and Cooper volunteered to enter the cage of the lions, whom he had never before seen, and who had never before seen him, and to perform with them, a task which he accomplished to the astonishment of all beholders. Victor Emmanuel of Italy--one who, like Cooper, never quailed before danger--found a kindred spirit in the lion-tamer, and has honoured him with special marks of approbation; one of his presents being two splendid lions, which form part of the _troupe_ with which Cooper performs. Four camels and an elephant are also gifts of the soldier-king. John Cooper has trained, while with Mr. Myers, 42 lions, 16 elephants, 25 camels, besides monkeys, bears, hyænas, and other animals. It is a popular fallacy that trainers of such animals begin their task while their pupils are in infancy. Cooper does not commence with lions till they are five years old; only in one case, that of the King of Italy’s lions, did he begin at four-and-a-half years. Whatever and however fierce the animals presented, he enters their cage without hesitation and without emotion, at the first interview. In the presence of his ferocious _protégés_ a remarkable change takes place in the demeanour of Cooper, and it is difficult to realise that the quiet, mild, and gentle individual with whom one has been recently conversing is the same person with the stern, energetic, and commanding figure, with the bright and penetrating eyes, before which quail the fiercest of the beasts, and whose iron will renders them compliant with his every nod and beck.

We have before alluded to Cooper’s fondness for animals. One incident is worth recording, as illustrating both that trait and his dauntless intrepidity. While the lions were one day engaged in their performances, springing over the head of their master, bounding from one side of the cage to the other, a favourite lioness failed to clear the movable barrier which the trainer uses to separate the animals when necessary, or, as in the present instance, as a kind of hurdle over which they are to leap in traversing the cage. The impulse of the spring forced apart the iron bars of the barrier, and the head and fore-part of the poor lioness were fixed as in a vice, at the height of some feet from the floor of the cage. The situation was somewhat critical, as Cooper had around him the other lions, which were evidently excited by the fix of their companion; but, nothing daunted, he attempted to release the prisoner by manual force. She was, however, too firmly fixed; and Cooper called for a mallet, a lever, and other tools, with which, unheeding his ferocious and excited attendants--against whom he for the time had no defence--he separated or broke the bars, and released the lioness from her painful position.

Mr. Myers relates an account of a desperate fight between a Senegal and Nubian lion, which, in the absence of Cooper, he and his people vainly tried to stop by red-hot iron bars, by throwing several pounds of snuff into their eyes, and other unsuccessful means. The fight resulted in the death of the larger lion before Cooper could arrive to separate the furious beasts; but, on his arrival, he at once entered the cage, severely chastised the victor, and attaching ropes to the body of the dead lion, dragged it out of the cage without molestation.

Mr. Myers’ experience of a quarter of a century with lions tells him that, contrary to popular belief, lions born in captivity are less intelligent and much more fierce and nimble than those born in a state of liberty. The victor in the above-related fight was born in captivity. But whether born in the great forests of the tropics or the narrow cages of the travelling menagerie, all fierce animals are alike cowed by the magnetic power of John Cooper, and Mr. Myers’ longstanding challenge of £100,000 to be awarded to any lion-tamer in the world who will perform the same feats as John Cooper is still unaccepted.

Equestrian Scenes.

With such an unrivalled stud as that of Mr. Myers, and with such a company of equestrians, it is, of course, inevitable that the scenes of the circle will be on a commensurate scale. Mr. Myers has enlisted the services of almost all the best-known riders, and his horses fulfil all the requirements of the circle, both for high breed, for docility, and for training. There is not a more accomplished and graceful horsewoman in the world than Mrs. Myers; and her performance on her thoroughbred steed “Cromwell” will form one of the most pleasing features of the exhibition. Madame Nyegaard’s feats, performed while riding a barebacked steed, are also unique; while the Madigans are unsurpassed in those daring gymnastic feats which would almost lead one to the belief that the rider was born and brought up on horseback, that he lives, takes his meals, and sleeps on horseback, and that a visit to _terra firma_ is an abnormal occurrence which occasionally breaks the monotony of his ordinary life.

James Madigan’s double somersaults, performed while the horse is at full speed, and Charles Madigan’s riding of four trained horses at once, are feats which have excited the admiration of all the towns on the Continent which Mr. Myers’ Hippodrome has visited. Special attention must also be drawn to the quadrille of eight thoroughbreds ridden by four ladies and four gentlemen, all accomplished performers, who guide their intelligent steeds with the utmost grace and dexterity through the most intricate figures of the dance.

Amongst the most notable of Mr. Myers’ horses are the thoroughbred “Cromwell,” mentioned above; the horse “Mexican,” presented to Mr. Myers by the ill-fated Emperor Maximilian; and the seven coal-black horses from the Imperial stables of Trakhene, in Prussia.

Parades and Processions, Sports, &c.

One of the features of the performances in the Roman Circus Maximus was the grand procession which preceded the sports, and in which all who were about to exhibit took part. These will be reproduced during the stay of Mr. Myers’ establishment at the Crystal Palace; the chariots, constructed on the classic model, gorgeously decorated and lavishly plated, and drawn by horses of the highest breed and mettle, being daily paraded on the great course constructed on the First and Second Terraces, as before described. There also will take place from time to time the hurdle-races, steeple-chases, and other entertainments, in which the great resources of Mr. Myers will be utilised. The classical character of this portion of the entertainment will be maintained by the decorations, which have been entrusted to Mr. Fenton, and in which, amongst other items, the fasces and ova, which formed important features in a Roman circus, will be reproduced.

Acrobatic and other Entertainments.

The miscellaneous entertainments given by Mr. Myers are of great variety; in fact, he is able with perfect ease to change his programme daily, such are his resources. An attractive item is the performance of the Japanese _troupe_, brought from Japan expressly for Mr. Myers, and in which the brothers Moto and Assa exhibit a flexibility which implies the possession of spines of abnormal elasticity; while Gingero and Como-Ketchy go through a series of balancing feats which cast into the shade all contemporary performances of a like nature. Especially wonderful is the business with the bamboo ladder, up and down which, while it is supported on the chest of one of the performers, the other runs with the greatest rapidity, standing on his head on the top, creeping in and out between the rounds; and which at last, at a given signal, falls to pieces, leaving only one side-piece, with the acrobat standing on the top. A band of Bedouin Arabs also appears in those bounding feats which seem the speciality of the sons of the Desert. Miss Charlotte Felix’s _troupe_ of performing dogs go through a series of interesting tricks, which illustrate to what a pitch of perfection of training these sagacious animals can be brought; and a number of clowns, headed by the well-known Hulines, add zest to the interludes by their quaint sayings and grotesque tricks.

The Equestrian Pantomime, Little Red Riding Hood.

The latest addition to the varied attractions of Mr. Myers’ establishment has been a gorgeous spectacular pantomime on the subject of Little Red Riding Hood (Le Petit Chaperon Rouge), which was produced in Paris in April last, at a preliminary outlay of 120,000 francs, and which forms one of the most striking features of the Crystal Palace performances. The charming little story of Perrault has been ingeniously adapted to the equestrian resources of Mr. Myers’ hippodrome. The pantomime opens with a pretty ballet, in which the fairy Good Heart and her attendant fays take part. Little Red Riding Hood next appears, with her basket, and is surprised by the wolf, but is for the time being saved from danger by the appearance of a host of little hunters, whose horns terrify the savage beast, and who chase him on their tiny ponies till they unfortunately lose his track. The wolf then slays and devours the grandmother, and disguises himself in her dress to deceive more effectually his intended victim; but she is saved, of course, by the entrance of the young prince, who captures the wolf, and encloses him with some trouble in a great cage. A grand _bal champêtre_ follows, given by the fairy Good Heart in honour of Little Red Riding Hood. The circus is transformed into a garden, with copses, alleys, flowers, tended by little gardeners. Little Red Riding Hood, transformed by the fairy into a princess, appears; guests of all nations, and all classes of society, arrive, in appropriate dresses.

Distinguished Orientals, comprising the Shah of Persia and Chinese and Japanese ambassadors, are intermingled with dukes and duchesses, marquises and marchionesses, of the Western world. Waltzes, quadrilles, and galops are the order of the day. A skipping-rope dance by Little Red Riding Hood succeeds, in which time is kept to the music with wonderful precision and exquisite grace. Now appear the gala chariots, to convey away the prince and princess. A procession of miniature chariots, richly gilded, each bearing two footmen, sumptuously dressed and heavily powdered, are drawn in, each by six Lilliputian horses with lavishly plated harness, and conducted by little coachmen. The arrival of the great allegorical chariot, drawn by six magnificent horses, all arrayed in dazzling silver-plated harness, and bearing the colours of various nations, forms a suitable finale to a spectacle which consists of a series of tableaux of more than an hour’s duration, which have never been surpassed in originality and richness, and which will surely be more effective in the Crystal Palace than it was in the great court of the Magasins Réunis.

W. G.

NOTE.--This little book aims merely at giving a short account of the rise, progress, and magnitude of Mr. Myers’ Great Hippodrome, and a brief abstract of the entertainments which will _at various times_ be offered to the public during his visit. It will be readily understood from its contents, that his resources are so vast, that it would be utterly impracticable to use more than a portion on one day, and that the programme will from time to time be selected from the items of which the foregoing is but a _résumé_.

CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS, CRYSTAL PALACE PRESS.

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FURNISH THROUGHOUT

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