A big tent was pitched in an open ground outside the city. The big canopy was brightly lit up. Multi-coloured bulbs presented a charming sight. Gramophone records were, playing. The show began at half past six with the ringing of the bell.

First of all, came two ladies. They were dressed tight in white shirts and silken stockings. Their bodies were symmetrical, elastic and well-proportioned. They were smart and active. With umbrellas in their hands, they danced on a thick iron rope. I simply wondered at their balancing of the body.

Then came a number of children on the stage. Their songs and dancing amused the spectators. Then came jokers and athletes. They showed wonderful feats on parallel bars and at the swings. The actors exchanged their swings moving at a quick speed. The clowns were putting on a queer dress. Their twisted and painted faces excited our laughter. They amused us with their witty remarks and their awkward movements.

Then came a young beautiful girl with a well-knit body. She displayed great skill when she cycled on a single wheel fitted with a saddle and a pair of pedals. There was a loud outburst of cheers on all sides. Next came six horses.

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They galloped round the ring to the music of the band. The rider jumped from one horse to another while they were galloping round and round. At the crack of the ring-master’s whip, they stopped and then broke into a gallop again. The next to come were elephants. With their trunks, they saluted the spectators. They held books in their hands and seemed to read.

Last of all, lions came in iron cages. They were very huge and fierce. They growled at the trainer. They gave loud roars. My blood ran cold at their roars. The trainer with a whip in hand stood calm and quiet. The lions seemed to obey him like pet dogs. One by one, the lions were made to pass through a circle of fire.

A lion drank with a goat from the same pot and then played at see-saw with it. Besides the breath-taking trapeze and wild animal acts, it provided an excellent fare of physical culture, precision acrobatics and allied items that form part of a modern circus. Trapeze in darkness, the revolving ladder, the boneless girls, the juggling and wild the clowns-all added up to give people their money’s worth.

In the end, the actors and actresses came and thanked the public. The band played the National Anthem. All stood still. The show was over. It was a grand show. I felt I had a beautiful time.