Spectaculum

A dream put Aristotle out of breath, / A meteor he said, ’twixt life and death. “An quid fit frustra? An datur vacuum? Fill the pot, Edy! Supernaculum.” A blazing star’s a rare spectaculum!

So many amusements have sprung up of late, Theatres, Museums, Spectaculums, Circuses, Castle Gardens, Waxfigures, and Balloons, that we can scarcely find time to devote to one as often as its proprietor could wish, and the public munificence is consequently so dissipated among the multitude, that individual establishments stand but poor chance of success.

We have a surprising growth of street spectacles in the great thoroughfares; out-of-door shows of a more ambitious character—small theatres and spectaculums.

A stage coach was then “a rare spectaculum,” being only found on the grand thoroughfares and leading arteries of the kingdom.

Jefferson Davis in manacles at Fortress Monroe, a spectaculum to heaven and earth did no more prove that his governmental theories were false and his practices treasonable, than did Jesus Christ, “lifted up” on Calvary, with “the crown of thorns” upon his sacred head, the rugged nails in his hands and feet, by which he was secured to the cross of crucifixion, between two thieves, and in the midst of his jeering enemies, prove that “the gates of hell” had prevaileded^([sic]) against the councils of the Eternal Father, and the devil is the lawful sovereign of the universe!

From all which it is evident that the confraternity retreat ought to be confined to the confraternity itself; for if the general public be allowed, the preceding remarks cannot be made without turning it into a spectaculum, and a gossiping material for the whole parish.

It was a spectaculum to behold the old lady stepping up to the creek alongside and supported by the aged pastor to be submerged.

The Roman part of the program was a spectaculum revealing the Delphic oracle, portrayed by Sandra Weaver, answering questions in rhyme which were asked by prominent Romans.