The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-22 00:00:00

CRYSTAL PALACE.

given by
M.Yeßstioernddainy ainprtiatehveteprerrafcoermdainnciengvfaa
room of the
Crystal Palace. Hitherto we have seen M. Blon-
din achieve several difficult operations on the tight-
rope, which were chiefly remarkable on account of
the dizzy height at which the exhibition was given.
Yesterday we saw him to greater advantage in a
series of acts each of which would have been enough to fatigue an ordinary performer, sup-
posing him capable of rivalling it. The rope used.
for the purpose was a short one, strained to a per-
fect level, at a height of not more than eight or
ten feet at the utmost. It seems that M. Blondin
has for so long a period abandoned this simple and. comparatively tame means of display, that an apo-
logy was considered necessary for any loss of skill
that might have ensued from disuse. We should
scarcely think, however, that M. Blondin can have
lost much by want of practice. He first appeared
in the costume of a Siberian slave—a cool one, by
the way, as it consists principally of loose bathing.
drawers and fetters—and with his feet secured in
baskets of the shape and size of those receptacles of
unreadable pamphlets, ithpertinent communications,
and circulars of bankrupt sales, at an awful sacri-
fice, which "no gentleman's library should be
without." Thus awkwardly encumbered he danced,
leaped, threw amazing somersaults, and ran swiftly
backwards and forwars on the rope, with an ease
which is wholly indescribable. He next came for-
ward, dressed in the conventionally pretty attire of
a stage peasant, and with wooden shoes, or rather
clogs, the soles of which, being loosely tied on,
enabled him to produce the same clapping sound on
the rope which would ensue from stamping on a
hard floor. The dance itself was exceeding
l 9
and pleasing, and the feats of agility
of, his
whthe
concluded it were not less attractiovne,,haoenwehrhaaiulilerdi:iptch
were infinitely more amazing. Throwingtciinlax
was
somersaults, he still kept. up the clappioleurio"eis.
wooden soles in the air, just as well as 1
Each succeeding exploit astonished
, alighting on
the. ase
more and.more ; but perhaps
reached when he balanced himself
alsoeaped
bonaelykwonaerdosf iotvserleigtswuiptohnathsoerareorla
and
he jumps,
with the utmost ease
the rope in a graceful pose with
, of the perform
and precision. In
one time
Blondin exchanges
balancing
fora
at another cocked hat aver
for a brace of flags, hpias" pole at performance,
311.
and even plays upon the violin and.
which, holding it by bothl hands,
and
of
his and practised skill in
without the balancing„sight pole, trusting only
finallythe
drum, dances,
fixedness
himself in difficult • •
sustaining .
position. It was
• s to see with what ease he paused, once or
curious to his own
twice during his performance,to give some directions
to the attendants, all the while standing on one f ,ot
on the rope with the most perfect nonchalerice.
The spring afforded by that elastic basis very con-
siderably aided his efforts, while it also increased
their graceful effect. It is a part of M. Blandin's
tactics to make each performance mere startling
than
`any which has preceded it in the same series, and ppose that ho intends to introduce many
fresh evolutions in the forthcoming exercises on
the 2,000 feet rope outside the building. But wo
can hardly think it possible that he can approach
one-half the feats performed by him on the short
rope, which is screwed to the tension of a violin-
string. The rope reaching along the terrace, and
even that which extends the length of the tran-
sept, cannot yield the elastic footing from which
Blondin shoots up, as it were, many feet abave
the little cord in the terrace dining-room.

Can any one answer the question, what Is a magnet? We
only know some of its marvellous effects, and admire the in-
genuity of those who apply its power to beneficial uses, for
instance llerriag's magnetic brushes, &c. Dr. Hassan re-
ports "I regard them as the most perfect brushes hitherto
made, as respects their mechanical construction, and their
magnetical action." They are the remedy for grey hair,
neuralgia, rheumatism, &c. N.B.—Counterfeits arc being
made, palm, 32, 13axing4411-street, Ludo.