Today’s post has nothing to do with genealogy, but the illustrations were uncovered as part of my Indians in Paris research.
I decided these circus illustrations are historically important and should be available to the public. Since this blog is public what better place to offer them. I hope my readers enjoy this short side trip.
Document – click to enlarge
La Vie Parisienne – Parisian life, Issue 21, 25-May-1867, page 372
Page of cartoons titled “Dress Rehearsal of the American Circus”
( reproduction from original magazine owned by Ne-Do-Ba )
Page of cartoons titled “Dress Rehearsal of the American Circus”
( reproduction from original magazine owned by Ne-Do-Ba )
Translations (with lots of help from my Friend, Bob)
— beginning at the top left and continuing clockwise, with the center illustrations presented last
———-
Le premier bras de l’Amerique, par un trappeur du Mississipi.
The first arm of America, a Mississippi trapper.
[???]
———-
[???]
———-
Peaux Rouges. – Le grand serpent, – pourvu qu’il ne s’avise pas de siffler.
Redskins. – The big snake – provided he thinks better of hissing.
[???]
———-
[???]
———-
Le sans gêne des Américains est impayable. Tenue pour déjeuner en ville.
The lack of shyness of Americans is priceless. Dressed for breakfast in the city
———-
Le saut du Niagara.
The Niagara Jump – or – the Falls of Niagara.
[I wonder if he missed or this is just a good play on words?]
[I wonder if he missed or this is just a good play on words?]
———-
Les ronds en papier exécutés par un général sudiste.
Paper rings performed by the Confederate general.
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L’équilibre sur la queue par le colonel Boum-soir.
Balancing on the tail by Colonel Boum-soir.
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Milady et miss Sandwich, demoiselles americaines.
Lady and Miss Sandwich, American young ladies.
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MM. Dollars-and-sou, marchands de pétrole.
Misters Dollars and Cents, petroleum merchants.
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Un toast. – A Chistophe Colomb et Améric Vespuce… sans les quels ce banquet ne saurait exister…
A toast. – to Chistopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci … without whom the banquet would not exist …
———-
Un souper sur une grande échelle.
Dinner on a big ladder.
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Comment un Père américain sait élever son fils.
How an American father knows to raise his son.
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Le clown squelette.
The skeleton clown.
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La danse de l’Ohio, par un cheval sauvage.
The Ohio Dance, by a wild horse.
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Le triomphe d’Iram. – Apothéose du cheval au visage pale, sur les 12 écuyers à barbe du lac Ontario.
The triumph of Iram. – Glorification of the pale face horse, on the 12 bearded riders of Lake Ontario.
[??? – guess you had to be there]
[??? – guess you had to be there]
———-
Sac du buffet americain. – Il faut bien croire au moins que le directeur a le sac…
American Bag Lunch. – One must at least believe that the director has the bag …
———-
The dress rehearsal was free by invitation and included a meal. Based on the cartoons, I would say the meal was not what Paris expected. What did they expect for free!
The Ne-Do-Ba Research Journal 