The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-06-11 00:00:00

M. BLONDIN.

On Thumll,' M. Blondin again astonished and
terrified his audience at the Crystal Palace with • re-
titinn and an addittion to his perforiumices of
Saturday. The attendance of visitors on this omasien
was net nearly so numerous as on him first appearance.
The cold aid gloomy weather may have bad some-
thing to do with this, and very possibly the rather
general fear entvrtained that N. Blondin must one day
fall perhaps had its influence in keeping people away.
But we firmly believe that if there is any feeling of ap-
prehension entertained on the latter score it is as ground-
less as it can well be towards • man who follows such a
perilous- vocatiou Tremendous and really terrible as
are some of the feasts, Blondon himself looks upon
them as mere nothings, and we may also add that he
has practised every conceivable method in which he
could fall from the rope and catch it with his hands, so
that in the of • real slip, which be considers all
but an impomihility, he would be perfectly ',related to
ale. hinieelf. It is with • view to snob • possible con-
tingency that the door beneath the rope is kept clear,
that in case of toeing balanoe he might at once drop his
pole. The apace is not kept open, as some persons
believe, in order that Blondin himself may have • clear
fall free of the visitors.

On Thursday, 1;a- Lis Indian chief* dress, he went
through his usual feats, turning summersault.' back-
wards and forwards, standing on his head and lying on
Ins back, with as much ease and steadiness as if the
held of his operations vu as broad as Cheapside. After
keeping everyone in • tremor while he walked the rope I
blindfolded and in a sack, pretending to mile. his step
and staggering and faltering in a way that seemed hor-
rible to look at, he at last retired, and after a short
absence reappeared in the dress of chef de minium, and
with • heavy and rather bulky stove on his back
walked down the rope to make and cook an omelette in
the centre. While walking, the stove, though large
awkward and heavy—weighing nearly felh. —seemed no
limner of hindrance, but getting it off his back and
securing it to the rope seemed • dreadfully perilous
teak. For this purpose he had to lower himself with
the utmost care till seated on the rope and then make
fast his balance pole. With this secured, he had then
to free hiupielf from the stove, and not only to balance
himself without the pule, but to bat ince the stove too.
For • time the audience scarcely breathed, as stove.
Blondin, and balance pole were all swaying
more or less widely from side to aide. At last, to
the relief of every one, the obdurate ceisiee vu Bled,
and, beating himself down coolly, with balance pole or
anything but the rope between himself and the wide
depth beneath, Blondin proceeded to his cooking, by
art lighting his fire. He then made his omelette,
breaking the eggs, and casting the shells away beneath
with • much sangfroid AY if at an ordinary kitchen
dresser. He stood on the rope and tamed his omelette
with the dexterity of a professional, and, one being
cooked, proceeded to make another. When both was
ready he took from the inexhaustible stove, which
seemed to contain everything, 'dates and dishes, and a
bottle of wine, and, placing them all on the tray, towered
them into the centre tran•topt for the consumption of
such visitors u chose to partake of these h.ghly cooked
dainties. There was another short anxious interval
while Blondin got the stove on his back and reAnned
his pole, and then, walking quickly back along the rope,
took leave of his eudiemm amid loud cheers.

On Monday he crowed the rope with his feel in
Ihrge baskets. The rope has been emoted for him in the
grounds, to peas aloi,g the terrace, and through the
fountains while playing.