3-074-979 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Grand Circus at Covent-Garden Theatre, 1890. Performing animals in the West End of London. 'The pantomime at Covent-Garden Theatre, is preceded by a grand circus entertainment, in which a brave and graceful lady equestrian, Miss Boorn, gallops round the ring, leaps through or over a series of pretty obstacles from the bare back of her well-trained horse; Happy Ashby and other clowns make their jokes and play their amusing tricks; Herr Hagenberg directs the combined movements of a young lioness, a pony, and a Royal Dane boarhound; Mr. George Palmer rides and drives a team of seven horses; [and] M. Permane superintends the almost human behaviour of his performing bears'. One of the bears seems to be drinking from a bottle of beer. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.