Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-26

fame and cash-bOx went up at rate which /
threatened extinction 10 his rival, till the
Italians ingenuity found out mode of making
things more than even. Sarfuico raised his
rope. The elevation was full twenty feet
above anything Perote had ever attempted.
The bare advertisement drew a considerable
house on the first evening of exhibition, and
when It went abroad how he carried the sack,
balanced the sword and drank glass of wine
to the health of the lord lieutenant, Perote's
popularity fell to the freezing point. In vain
his most Astonishing feats were put In requisi-
tion-he stood on one leg 10 no purpose,
danced the minuet de Ia Colr with no effect
notwithstanding the bows, the carmen ran to
see and shout for his daring antagonist; and
though his compliments rose, if possible, to a
higher key, the ladies deserted him and his
rope.
At this epoch it became public by their
Joint advertisement, that Sarfuieo and Perote
had made friends. Why and how, their most
confidential advisers could not declare, but it
was generally believed that, as became his po-
sition, Perote had made the first Oyertures,
and Sarfuico remembering former days; and
not willing to rule over his enemy, agreed to
let by-gones be by-gones, and receive him
into his service. They were both henceforth
TO act altogether, and the surmises, specula-
tions and reports that went through Dublin,
when that announcement was issued, were un-
exampled. Would the Italian bring down
his rope? Would the Frenchman elevate his?
Would the stage admit Of two ropes? Would
there be anything more than old tricks
Heavy bets were taken on those important
questions, and full house before its doors
were opened, crowd that might have filed
a building twice the size, had collected in
front of Sarfuico's theatre. The getting in and
getting places was considerable business; and
when no more seats could be found for the la
dies, and no more standing room for the gen
tlemen, the curtain rose. Then what surprise
for eager faces-what disappointment of
shrewd conjectures-what losing of heavy
bets appeared, for there was Sarfuicos rope
alone, at Its highest elevation, and there were
the rivals both upon it. The Italian looked
more than usually grave and grand; the
Frenchman determined and unfinching, as if
his courage had been screwed up for some
desperate purpose. The one bowed solemnly
to the boxes, the other to the whole house, but
it was carelessly done, and Perotes hand was
not even laid on his heart when he turned to
the ladies.
As soon as the house recovered from its
amazement, it made the root ring, and the
IOpc trtinDlt, Hol W SPEAK Vi lHO>c On III, WIFI
thunders of applause. Sarfuico's theatre, it
must be promised had been an ancient wind
mill of more than common height, which al
lowed room for his present elevation, and
there he and his former rival stood some forty
feet above the stage. Most people expected
the Frenchman to fall, but he did not. The
Italian had evidently no notion of the like;
he received the ovation of his due; and the
little dark man who acted as his crier-by the
way he called him Manifesto-came forward
and announced that the ladies and gentlemen
were that evening to witness a performance
never before exhibited on any stage; it was
called the dance of friendship invented by
Monster Perote, and immensely approved by
Signor Sarfuico.
The two on the rope Immediately tried to
put themselves in dancing position; they were
both in full dress of the period, with lace ruff
files, bagwigs, ard swords. The eyes of the
whole house were fixed upon them. Signor
Sarfuco still grand; but, in beginning the
dance of friendship, he seemed to have some
difficulty with his feet. Perote had perceived
this, and made some remark, which nobody
could hear; but it reused the Italians anger.
| He raised his hand as if to strike him; the
same instant, Perote's rapier was drawn, and
before the audience could comprehend that
they had actually quarrelled, Sarfuico's anger
was out also, and they thrust at each other on
the tight-rope. A pin might have been heard
falling in the crowded house, where every
body sat still in his place, gazing up at the two
fighting in the air How they kept their foot
ing, the genius of mischief only knows. The
concentrated hatred and malice of their faces
fearful to see, up there in the Pickering
lamplight. Pass after pass, lunge after lunge
they made at each other with the rapidity OF
lightning Both were good swordsmen but
Perote was the better of the two lie warded
off the Italians thrusts with his small rapier
and positively seemed more certain of his
footing than before the quarrel began; until
Sarfuico, making one desperate lunge, re-
ceived a backstroke, which threw him off his
! balance, and at the same moment attempted
to grapple with his enemy. Down he went
and down went Perote. A cry of horror rose
from the spectators. But some power had in.
terfered in their behalf; for there was the
Italian hanging TO the rope by his feet; and
the Frenchman holding on to it with both hi:
hands.
Look, ladies and gentlemen" he cried
with face of triumph sufficient for having
saved Christendom, ''behold now / have per
lied my life, and, still more, my fame, to un
mask deceit and vindicate sciencei Look a
the straps attached TO his shoe-soles, anC
passed over the rope; there is how he mad,
himself safe, and dared to surpass me, who's,
life was spent on the rope-whose great-grand
father performed before Henri Quatre.
guessed i'll knew it. through the inspiration
of my science; and l die happy since the
william is unmasked'
Monster Perote did not die happy or other
wise on that occasion. Before his partin,
speech was done, the spectators had recovere,
their senses sufficient TO give the alarm, anC
rush to the rescue with ladders. fire-escapes
and feather beds to be fallen upon. He wa
got safely down; so with SarfuicO, though
proved more difficult business, and the doc
tor never could understand why he did no
die of apoplexy. From that evening, how
ever, his glory had departed fact of whicl
the last scion of the noble Florentine famil
; were so sensible, that he departed also withOu
sound oftrnmpet, and TO the great regret of sey
( eral tradesman. His now successful riva
f; made longer stay and good deal of nois
about the unmasking; but the whole seen
r cured the Dublin world of fashion of Its fanc
for such performances.