March 1883: Poole’s Panorama of “The World”, at Newsome’s Circus, Ingram Street
An article on page six of The Glasgow Herald, on Wednesday the 28th of March, 1883, reads:
“POOLE’S PANORAMA OF ‘THE WORLD,’ – The interest which has been aroused in Messrs Poole’s
panorama of ‘The World’ continues, and last night, when some new pictures were introduced, Newsome’s
Circus was well filled by an appreciative audience. For effective grouping the various scenes are remarkably
well chosen, and nothing could be more popular than the pictures relating to recent events in Afghanistan,
Zululand, and Egypt. The entry of the army under General Roberts into Cabul, and the pictures illustrating
the disaster of Isandula and the heroic defence of Rorke’s Drift were enthusiastically cheered; but the chief
demonstrations were reserved for the operations of our navy and army in Egypt. The dioramic effects of the
bombardment of Alexandria were very pretty. From this point a leap was made to the charge of the Household
Cavalry at Kassassin, and this naturally led up to the new picture showing the position of the British forces before
the lines of Tel-al-Kebir. By a sudden manipulation the quiet and peaceful scene in the grey dawn of the
morning is changed into the brilliant dash of the Highland Brigade over the ramparts and into the fortifications
of Arabi’s principal stronghold, and the consequent hasty flight of the Egyptian troops. As might have been
expected this striking and effective picture received a hearty cheer. Mr Foote proves an interesting guide through
the tour over the world, and his descriptions have the merit of being brief and to the point. Several songs were
given during the evening by Misses Florence Garland and Kitty Clare, and Mr Charles Williams. Mr Orville
Pitcher well sustains the comic element, and Mr Foote’s delineations of popular characters were admirable.
Taken as a whole, seldom has a better panorama than that now in Newsome’s Circus visited the city.”
Newsome’s Circus was located on Ingram Street, and an advertisement for the show, which is decribed as a “Diorama”, is on page ten of
the newspaper. The ad. names Gompertz as the creator of the “Grand New Dioramic Picture” of the “Charge of the Highlanders.”