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by falling back upon its accessibility to Manhattan Island at a point now well known as the Battery, camping his forces during the night of the 29th of August, 1776, at or about what is known as the City Hall (New York).
These points, culled from Bryant's History, contributed not a little to the selection of this, which it is hoped will prove to be the most popular playground of the "Greater New York." The efforts of the management in the Grounds, Grand Stand and conveniences are in evidence to the visitor, and need no encomiums from the writer. As to the entertainment, with one exceptional point, that, too, can be left to the decision of the spectator;-that point is the natural incredulity that marks a casual glance and places all exhibitions as generally an imitation of fact. In this case it is true, and original facts that are presented in the actual persons, characters and races connected with animated tableaux representing phases in their home life and every-day existence. The management desires it impressed upon all that the features are genuine, and the interest lies in the congregating for the first time in history of these people and races, camping, living and exercising on one spot - the Indians from the Rockies; the Cossacks from the Caucasus; the intervening riders of the English, Irish, French and German Cavalry; the Bedouin Arab of the Desert; the Cow-boy of the American plains; the Cavalryman of the Great Republic, and the Gaucho from the foothills of the Andes (Argentine), meeting for the first time and forming an ethnological and equestrian amalgamation in one field never witnessed before in the history of the world. In this lies the instructive qualities of the exhibition as regards horsemanship; different methods of equation, equipment and style; competing in friendship, and leaving the onlookers to judge by the eye that which description would fail to convey.
In commencing this engagement after years of absence from the scenes of our original triumph, the writer would on behalf of his companions du boyage in foreign lands, pay a tribute to the Brotherhood of Man, and has but one regret, the absence of ability to fittingly express the deep sense of obligation we feel to every nation - every city - visited, for the kindness of each and all of every rank, every station, press, public, and officials ; for the helping hands, fraternal interest, courteous treatment, and general appreciation shown us and our country's flag - so that, on returning home, we feel bound in duty to record the same ; believing that in presenting our rough pictures of a "history almost passed away," we may have done some moiety of good in simplifying the work of the historian, the romancer, the painter, and the student of the future, and exemplifying in ourselves and experiences the fact that travel is the best educator, and that association and acquaintanceship dispel prejudice, create breadth of thought, and enhance appreciation of the truism that "one touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
JOHN M. BURKE.
COPYRIGHTED BY
CODY AND SALSBURY. NEW YORK, 1894.
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