#cirucs

  Lexicon Circus is finally in town!

Daring, seductive and utterly contemporary, Lexicon is a celebration of the past, present and future of circus—a world of magic and laughter inhabited by quiet misfits and furious poetry.

It’s been 250 years since Philip Astley dreamed up the circus ring and along the way created modern circus…

Annie’s Journals

Sunday, February 5, 1860

Horrid walking.  Went to church all day, wanted to go in the evening but the Madame would not allow me to go alone.  I stayed in Mrs. Hubbard’s room.

Monday, February 6, 1860

Nothing particular.  We do miss Miss Anna so much.  Had to string out this afternoon with that disgusting Ella and (...).

Tuesday, February 7, 1860

Today perfectly lonely.  They did not want to see Miss Ella (...) them!

Wednesday, February 8, 1860

Nora was quite today.  Mae came in the evening and made me pack up the things.

Thursday, February 9, 1860

Professor came today for the last time.  So sorry, I think it is a perfect shame that he is going away.

Friday, February 10, 1860

Oh my gracious.  What a time.  I had to stay in.  Madame came in and said that she won't allow us to go out.

Saturday, February 11, 1860

An unpleasant Saturday.  Was so sorry we went to see Miss Howe then walked to 5th and Walnut.  Rode home.  It snowed so hard.

Thoughts...

A sad story published in the New York Times this week in 1860:

CORONERS' INQUESTS.; Shocking Accident at the Volksgarten. A DANSEUSE BURNT TO DEATH. The Elm-street Calamity. The Late Collision on the Hudson River Railroad. Fatal Casualties. Fires. Police Reports. Published: February 6, 1860 On Saturday night, about 11 o'clock, a sad accident occured at the Volksgarten, No. 45 Bowery. Mrs. JOSEPHINE HENSKEL, a favorite danseuse, whose professional denomination was Mile. JOSEPHINE LOUISETTE, was announced to terminate the night's amusements by a rope ascension from the stage to the gallery. She was a pupil of Mons. DE LAVE, the noted rope-walker, and first made this ascension on Thursday last, at the Volksgarten, on the occasion of that gentleman's benefit. On Saturday night, having again successfully accomplished the feat, she was in the act of stepping from the cross-tree, to which the end of the rope was attached, to the stage, when the gauze dress which she wore came in contact with one of the foot-lights and was immediately in a blaze. The excitement among the audience was intense. The husband of the unfortunate woman, who was a musician in the orchestra, leapt upon the stage, followed by other musicians, and, aided by employes of the theatre, who rushed from the rear of the scenes, endeavored to extinguish the flames. In her fright, the sufferer rushed wildly about, funning them into fiercer action by the draft, and in this way every vestige of clothing was destroyed. She was promptly removed to her residence, No. 85 Forsyth-street, and attended by doctors, but her injuries were of such a serious nature that she lingered only till 9 o'clock yesterday morning, when she died. The unfortunate woman was but recently married. She was born in Livingston County, New-York, in 1837, and took to the stage, as a profession, on the death of her father, that she might not only support herself, but furnish assistance to her mother, and educate her brother and sister. She has had engagements, as a ballet dancer, at Laura Keene's and Niblo's Garden. Her mother had always objected to her performing on the rope, fearing that some evil would be the result. This apprehension, which had often been expressed, was recalled to the mind of the sufferer upon the occurrence of this fatal casualty, for almost the last words she uttered were, "Mother, I would not have gone on the rope, but I wanted to make money for you and the children."

During the excitement which this sad occurrence created among the audience, the pickpockets took occasion to relieve sundry persons of their most valuable effects, watches, breast-pins, &c. Through the activity of the Tenth Ward Police, the audience left the theatre in an orderly manner, although a cry was raised, possibly by some pickpocket, to increase the confusion, that the building was on fire.