Fairs are becoming extinct because, with the progress of the nation, they have ceased to possess any value in its social economy, either as marts of trade or a means of popular amusement. All the large towns now possess music-halls, and many of them have a theatre; the most populous have two or three. The circuses of Newsome and Hengler are located for three months at a time in permanent buildings in the larger towns, and the travelling circuses visit in turn every town in the kingdom. Bristol and Manchester have Zoological Gardens, and Brighton has its interesting Aquarium. The railways connect all the smaller towns, and most of the villages, with the larger ones, in which amusements may be found superior to any ever presented by the old showmen. What need, then, of fairs and shows? The nation has outgrown them, and fairs are as dead as the generations which they have delighted, and the last showman will soon be as great a curiosity as the dodo. INDEX Abbott's theatrical booth, 358 Adams, the dancer, 154 African dwarfs, 80 Albinoes, 295, 310, 313 Albion dancing-booth, 263 Algar's dancing-booth, 263, 328, 333, 355 Allen, the dwarf, 205 Ambroise, the showman, 189 Amburgh, Van, the lion-tamer, 260 American juggler, 294 Annesley, Mrs., the dancer, 164 Appleby, the showman, 63 Arthur, the comedian, 144 Astley, the equestrian, 211 Aston, the comedian, 109, 121 Atkins's menagerie, 258, 277, 302, 304 Baker, Mrs., the theatrical manageress, 196 Ball, the showman, 271, 303, 309 Ballard's animal comedians, 169 " menagerie, 232, 241, 287, 303, 305 Banks and his performing horse, 23 Barnes, the showman, 63 " " pantaloon, 246 Barnett, Mrs., the actress, 349 Basil, the showman, 191 Baudouin, the comic dancer, 131 Bearded women, 33, 47 Belzoni's feats of strength, 216 Berar's _optikali illusio_, 311 Biffin, Miss, the armless portrait painter, 210, 231 Billington, the comedian, 349 Birds, performing, 178, 182, 188 Bisset, the animal trainer, 177 Blacker, the dwarf, 167 Blight, Helen, the lion-performer, 337 Boheme, the tragedian, 96 Booth, the theatrical manager, 94 Bradshaw, Miss, the actress, 144 Breslaw, the conjuror, 187, 192 Bridge's theatrical booth, 152, 163 Broomsgrove, the showman, 313 Brown, the showman, 272, 300 Brown's theatre of arts, 315 Brunn, the juggler, 189 Bullock, the comedian, 78, 95, 105, 107, 114, 119, 132 Burchall, the showman, 314 Burnett, the trapezist, 359 Cadman, the flying man, 145 Campbell, Mrs., the actress, 344, 349, 355 Canterel, Mrs., the actress, 110 Capelli, the conjuror, 307 Carey, the actor, 223, 230 Cartlitch, the actor, 246 Cats, performing, 178, 307 Chapman, Mary Anne, the albino, 314 " Miss, the lion-performer, 337 " the comedian, 114, 119, 127, 132, 138, 143 Chappell, the actor, 353