The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-07-06
Biondin and Lcotarc.

Blondin has been astounding the cock
neys with his performances on the tight
rope. The London Times Of June Sd says
OF him:
"On Saturday afternoon NJ Blondin
made his first appearance before an Eng
lish audencef on a rope stretched along
the top OF the Crystal palace transept,
nearly TWO hundred feet from the GROUND
an immense crowd of visitors thronged
Palace to witness performance, and ev-
cry act of siiiliiul daring was rewarded
with tremendous bursts OF applause The
whole exhibition therefore, was in the
highest degree successful, and though
what was done was more than sufficient to
as.ound and almost terrIty an audience
who Witnessed n. Blondin for the first
time 1t really amounted to nothing when
compared with what this astonishing rope
walker can and has achieved, and what he
of course viii do again duiin his perform
ances in this country. 1t is no exagecra-
ton to say that Blondin can do easily on
a tight rope what skillful gymnasts would
have difficulty in accomplishing on the
solid earth, and to those who have seen
or even read Of his terrific performances
at Niagara, his ieats OF Saturday, though
quite wonderful enough for first appear
ance, were tame by comparison. They
seemed, however to excite as much sur
prise and admirat!on a. If this chief Of
rope walkers hsdneyer done anytE.E. be
fore. Perhaps what has been related of
his performances vas too much for popu.
lar belief, especially when we recoIiect
! with what detail and elaboration some oi
/ the American papers set themselves to
work TO deny the verv existence Of euch
. ffgf ~ al oyI to Il
nounce the whole story OF hi, achievements
/ as . deliberate hoax
But the Londoners have another sensa.
i ton in Leotard, the flying man. The Era
saws, upon has appearance at the Alham
bra
Directly he came before the audience
as Il SLIM bat athletic Young rnsn, appa
renily no; much over twenty. and att.red
IN the simplest style OF scroJatIc costume
/ he received q Vigorous greeting, which
! grew into bursts OF rapturOus applause a
he executed on the flying trapczo, some
OF those remal kab'e teats whic have gain
ed tor HIM so great name IN the lists o
gymEa. &c a&nger seekels lis bound!
iium bar % bar are FAR more d.licult and
daring tian any that have been hitherto
a.Lievcd Y force of muscular cxertion
and, were they accomplished with less
Consciousness OF self reliance, would chill
the blood 10 look upon. At ha.fp2ii
e.sven In the eysniuE the audience .ee :
platform rapidly ereciee IN the centre oI
the building, and IA teS rolls of cSrpstius
spread over the boards. Ia.s Is ali the
preparation made. \ few Light cords. con
nectcd w.jh the trspczc, are daus Cling above
and rheu the leg!ulMer enters, h" sus
pencS i'm Elf by one OF these swinging
bars sEi throwing himself forward, aad
turning = sogaer-aIit - lie goes. he aiiyht:
i;kc = bird on the resting place that pro
iects from The first balcony Then b.
startling fights commence aud last I'll
. midnight. No mere description can con
icy aa idea Of what he does du.in. TIA
intensely exciting half hcu-.
Literally thrownr himself through III;
a.f g an immense attitude. he cyratcs q.
goes. c..H-s ior . second 10 one OF the in
;eINrr.ng bars. aud t4,u projects LiIn>..
'w"utV feet tJrw!-l. 20 tho next bar
where he hangs bv the feet and th-r
turn, backward sonersau!t, through the
. air back to H. cIs-inSl starting point
win 40 greater impetus than what i g.
guirei :. ON tEc CscI.lrtICH Of the rope,
"i;I wh.-. lie swlags himself onward III
his rr.al progress. Nothing ike it la.
ever been seen In England before and II
II very likely that that iew viii hay,
gained iIa requisite practice CT have the
requisite pluck t. ever oG-in repeat sucl
Unparalleled exploits. Leotard j equally
to be admired and wondered at for Iii.
darin2. MS Gcx;erity and his distinguish
ing grace Should he fail 10 catch the
swinging rope in Its Vibrations, lie is sure
TO save himself by somersoult and align
on hi. feet. and the precision with whicl
he calculates his movements in the bes
security the a.tound,d spectator can lav,
that he has reduced the risk that ne run
20 the most intiui.es!mal