The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-07-02
From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser. lime 90 /
BLONDIN,S FEAT-CROSSING NIAGARA

- WHAT MAY BE SAID FOR THE ROPE WALKER.
Tomorrow Mons. Blondin, the gvmnast is to at
tempt crossing from the American to the Canadian
shores, over the terrible chasm, on rope stretch
ed from one bank to the other, with guy ropes ex-
tending from various points to steady the main
hawser.
1t is but justice to the Falls people to state that
they have not entered into the project of Blondn
with that alacrity expected when they must reap
an advantage from the large influx of visitors not
from any want of disposition to get ucre doubtless
but from the mountebank character of the whole
affair.
To most people the feat Blondn is to attempt,
seems the height of foohardness; but Blondin has
given his whole mind to it, the performing of start
ling feats on the tight rope for life time and it
probably is no more hazardous to him than a thou
sand and one things ordinary people do every day,
IN an ordinary manner. However, that does not
detract from the daring of Blondins project but
the fact that he intends making these exhibitions
regularly during the season, rendering them peri
odical attractions, rather detracts from the first
attempt, and gives the whole affair air of ridi-
Guile.
Mons. Blondin has, with an agility that might
have been expected, stepped, vaulted, or somer
saulted from the sublime to the ridiculous Let
us see what he proposes to do; he is first, to walk
across, then to return with a sack drawn over his
head, then recross bearing pack and pushing
wheelbarrow, and finally to slide down from the
centre of his cable to the deck of the Maid of the
Mist, refresh himself and then ascend and pass to
the shore That crowds of people will go to the
show no one doubt.
Many excellent people have strange curiOSties.
One has hankering for hangman's ropes; another
delights in funerals and to gaze at corpses and still
another is in ecstacy only at execution. Some
people prefer the circus ring and clown to the high
er drama, or niger concert to the opera. They
may all be very moral persons and excellent citi-
zens, and their tastes their own thank Heaven!
ITEMS OF thousands, to whom the Falls are a dumb
show, Will rush madly to such scene!" 1t has
been remarked in connection with Blondin, that
there Is but step from the ridiculous to the sub
lme-a mis-step may bring him to it. An instant
failure ofa faculty. of a snew, passing dizziness
slip, and the farce would be turned into ira
gedy.
In reference to the structures of the New York
Times, on Blondin's folly, the Rochester Union
replies:
1T does not become such journal to rebuke the
people of Western New York on their laxitv of
morality and want of decepcy in allowing an expert
rope dancer to perform his feats over the waters of
Niagara river.
''M. Blondin has walked across the river on his
rope and will do it in public tomorrow afternoon
lie as much at home there the sailor is at the
head OF the mast climbing the ratne, and his
risk is no greater than that of the aronaut who
mounts to the clouds in his frail chariot Balloon
ing Is a refined amusement, encouraged everywhere
1t is hazardous, and even the most skillui are ex
posed to great danger. Science and skill are dis
played in ballooning, and so they may be in rope
walking. That such feats may be accomplished as
walking over rivers upon ropes, or soaring to
the clouds in balloons is an evidence that man is
endowed with superior powers by his Creator,
capable of expansion to an almost indefinite ex-