1855 – Letter, on an illustrated Niagara Falls lettersheet, describing a picnic on Goat Island and alluding what he found to be a less than impressive visit to Buffalo by the Dan Rice circus
Ellicottville, New York: 1855. Unbound. This two-page letter, written by Samuel Geil to “Lizzy” (perhaps a friend or sister), is datelined Ellicottville N.Y. July 20th, 1855. The lettersheet features an illustration of Niagara Falls as seen from Goat Island. There is no accompanying envelope. In nice shape.In this letter, first describes his participation in an excursion to see the Rock City in Little Valley, New York.
“I have now satisfied myself about Rock City and have seen also a N. Y. Pick-nick the day was pretty pleasant and our company consisted of some 30 mostly ladies and from appearances the Beauty of Ellicottville. We ate our dinner off a Rock and then proceeded to the City and then traveled perhaps 2 miles or more between high Rock, sometimes in wide & sometimes in narrow alleys sometimes climbing then creeping through dry & wet till I became tired and glad to return.
“On our return the shines were cut up by the girls & boys at the “Springs” where we got the dinner. Soon after starting from home which was much delayed by the wagons being in an unturnable position . . . it began to rain and all . . . the passengers were completely ‘ducked’ before they go home. . ..”
Geil closes by relating a visit of the Dan Rice circus to Buffalo.
“The circus was numerously attended but was Humbug No. 1 not near all that was pretended was performed and it came near raising huff. Dan Rice was sued before he left the village [as] they had 20 less horses than the other circuses. I did not go in [but] they had first rate music. . ..”
. Very good. Item #010842Rock City is a natural quartz conglomerate formation in what was then a remote, forested wilderness landmark about 30 miles south of Ellicottville. Its massive 20-to-30-foot-high boulders—forming natural alleyways resembling city streets—sat quietly above Little Valley Creek. Today, it is the site of a privately run, family-friendly tourist attraction, known as Rock City Park.
In the mid-1850s, to "cut shines" meant pulling tricks or behaving in a boisterous, playful, or silly manner.
In 1855, legendary 19th-century entertainer Dan Rice, of Jim Crow fame, marked a major milestone by officially launching “Dan Rice's Great Show,” establishing himself as one of the most prominent circus impresarios in United States history. Rice, originally a blackface minstrel crooner, had previously gained fame by touring with shared exhibitions and his famous “One-Horse Show,” however, with his “Great Show,” Rice completely changed the circus in America. It included death-defying equestrian and wire-walking performances, upscale theatrical parodies, a menagerie of animals including an elephant and rhinoceros, and, yes, minstrelsy too. Perhaps, Geil’s opinion might have been different if he had sprung for the 50-cent admission and actually taken one of the 5,000 seats under Dan Rice’s “Big Top” tent.Price: $250.00