s, to
take place on Metonomy Common or Chelsea Beach. Many pace-races took
place in Narragansett on Little Neck Beach, at which the prizes were
silver tankards. And if we can believe Dr. MacSparran, or, rather, since
we would not appear to doubt the word of a clergyman, especially upon
the speed of a horse, if he took the time of "a little over two minutes"
with any care and had a good watch, there must have been some very good
sport on Little Neck Beach.

Though the Puritan magistrates denounced shows as a great "mispense of
time," yet after a century's existence in the New World, the people was
so amusement hungry that all turned avidly to any kind of exhibition,
and but little was necessary to make an exhibition. A "Lyon of Barbary"
was in Boston in 1716; and I believe the "lyons hair," which was "cut by
the keeper" and sent by Wait Winthrop to be placed as a strengthening
tonic under the armpits of his sickly little grandchild, was abstracted
from this very lion. In 1728 another lonely king of the beasts made the
round of all the provinces on a cart drawn by four oxen, with as much
eclat as if he had been a whole menagerie. He lodged in New London in
Madam Winthrop's barn, and "put up" elsewhere at the very best taverns,
as became a royal visitor, yet seems a semi-pathetic figure--a tropical
king in slavery and alone in a strange, cold land.

In December, 1733, and in 1734, rivals appeared at a Boston tavern, and
were advertised in the _Weekly Rehearsal_.

"A Fine Large White Bear brought from Greenland, the like never
been seen before in these Paris of the World. A Sight far
preferable to the Lion in the Judgment of all Persons who have seen
them both. N.B. He is certainly going to London in about 3 Weeks &
his Farewel Speech will be publish'd in a day or two."

* * * * *

"To be seen at the Shop of Mr. Benjamin Runker Tinman near the
Market House on Dock Square a very Strange & Wonderful Creature
called a Sea Lion lately taken at Monument Pond near Plimouth The
like of which never seen in these Paris before. He is Nine Feet
long from His Rump to his Head & near 4 feet wide over his back
with Four Large Feet & Five Strong Claws on Each. Also Two Large
Strong Teeth as white as Ivory sticking out of his mouth five or
six Inches long with many other Curiosities too Tedious to mention
here. Price Sixpence for a Man