Bully Circus - The Name

From Mark Twain (1884). The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Huck exclaims that he was at a “real bully circus” - basically saying he was at an excellent circus. Some people also think of a real circus as a circus with elephants (bulls) - So, the name of the boat “Bully Circus” is the equivalent of “excellent circus” or “real deal circus”.

Quote from the book:

It was a real bully circus. It was the splendidest sight that ever was when they all come riding in, two and two, a gentleman and lady, side by side, the men just in their drawers and undershirts, and no shoes nor stirrups, and resting their hands on their thighs easy and comfortable – there must a been twenty of them – and every lady with a lovely complexion, and perfectly beautiful, and looking just like a gang of real sure-enough queens, and dressed in clothes that cost millions of dollars, and just littered with diamonds. It was a powerful fine sight; I never see anything so lovely. And then one by one they got up and stood, and went a-weaving around the ring so gentle and wavy and graceful, the men looking ever so tall and airy and straight, with their heads bobbing and skimming along, away up there under the tent-roof, and every lady’s rose-leafy dress flapping soft and silky around her hips, and she looking like the most loveliest parasol.