Barnum’s American Museum

     Mr. Barnum opened his brief season of Summer theatricals on Monday, with his effective drama of 'Raffaelle the Reprobate,' and the pleasant little farce of 'Trying It On,' both of which will be repeated every afternoon and evening this week.  Under the skillful management of Mr. C. W. Clark the plays put on at the Museum are admirably put upon the stage, while the careful manner in which they are performed would do credit to more pretending establishments. Aside from the dramatic entertainment and the cabinets of natural history, the chief attractions at the Museum are the interesting collection of wax figures, the automaton writer, the lightning calculator, the learned seal, the living ourangoutang, and last--though a long way from least--a sort of human White Mountain in the person of Lizzie Harris, who girths some thirteen feet, and weighs nearly seven hundred pounds."

Announcement of new drama company.

     Since Monday in the theater of Mr. Barnum, an actors’ company began their show. The company has quite powerful forces under the direction of the well-known actor C.W. Clarke. Wilkes’s play ‘Raffaelle the Reprobate’ began their production and is on the repertoire this week. The piece is a sensational drama of the French school, but one of the better ones; it is very entertaining and gives the actors the opportunity to show themselves in an advantageous manner. Mr. Clarke, who had the title role in his hands, gave a masterful performance himself and was supported by the other contributing players. The play is always followed by Miss Louise’s dance, closing with the farce ‘Trying it on.’ Anyone who wants to laugh properly should take a closer look at this latter piece. Yes, perhaps the best ventilated and coolest venue in the city, families by name should now take advantage of the opportunity to visit the museum, as it is never as crowded in the summer months as it is in the theater season.