The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-11-14

SOneahing AbOut BsOndtn.
i An illustrated :, Life" Of Blondin has Just
appeared in London. The famous rope
walker. who draws as great crowds in Eng
land IS he did at Niagara Falls and Jones's
Wood, is decidedly an interesting person.
His biographer, W o follows the thread of
! his hero's lie from his cradle to the time OF
} bis tumble from . rope At the crystal Palace
(au accident. by the way, which is explain
ed in the most satisfactory manner). dwells
UPON every inci1ent in Blondin's career
with the mnuteness OF Boswell, and mad Q
q readable story. Here is an account of
BLoNDiN's YOUTHFUL FEATs.
"Prior to the death Of his father who
sank prematurely from the effects Of the
hardships endured while following the
Eagles of his Imperial mastery and when
young Blondin was not more than five
years old. travelling company of equestrian
and acroba'is performers pitched their tent
one day near the paternal home. He. in
common with the boys Of the neighborhood.
became a wondering spectator of their ex-:
ploits and it was soon obvious that those
exploits had produced. a powerful and abid-'
ing eucCL upon us vim
marvellous adroitness for child of his ten
der years, he began to initiate some of the
hair breadth escapes witnessed by him.
self and companions in the professional
arena and ere long he succeed iu accom-.
plishing variety Of gymuas,ic fests. such
as no child Of his age had ever before at
tempted.
| ". The child says the poet Wordsworth
is father of the man, and no one could
have witnessed the first rude efforts OF the
boy BlondIn. alter returning home from the
performances of that peripatetic troupe,
without discerning in them something more
than mere imitation. His attention had
been particularly attracted by the snowy
appearance and display Of young gentle
man in blue tunic, Aeshings and spangIes
who exhibited considerable skill and elias
tici'y both on the tight rope and the slack
rope aud he resolved that not an hour
should pass over without his attempting
something OF the same sort. He according,
ly procured q piece of strong cord and
affixed it to the upper rungs OF a couple Of
chairs. placed dos a dos at little distance
apart. On this he mounted to make his
fret essay in rope dancing, when, as a mat
ter Of course. the imperfect machinery col.
lapsed and the young mimic fell To the
ground equally surprised and alarmed. A
few tears succeeded the mishap. and Mamma
Blondin hastened tn lift up her percocious
son and heir, glad to find no worse result
than few bruises where she really feared
q broken limb.
"But chidhood's sears. though freely she'd,
Are soon forgotten"
"And, although the bruises disappeared,
his ambition did not, for having fairly mas.
tered the idea that the lighlness and insta-
bility OF the chairs had caused them 10 fall
inwards Che knew nothing of thcis want Of
their want of bslsnce), he set about secur-
ing fresh line. This time he possessed
himself Of a much stronger cord. and secur-
ed it to the posts OF gateway, intending to
astonish' number of his admiring play.
mates with his youthful daring. Alas the
cord was not yet strong enough, nor his
fathers fishing rod q sufficient balancing
pole so down he came again, with a blank
countenance, q splintered rod aud a sprain-
ed wrist, but no bones broken, nor any
wavering in his determination. His mind
was resolutely bent upon success; and
hope, the life spring OF enterprise, the polar
star OF ambition, tascinatingly lured him
on"
Blondin's parents subsequently appren-
ticed him TO the proprietor of the gymnasium
at Lyons. where he speedily acquired such
proficiency that within six months he was
advertised to appear in public as :. little
wonder" In 1851 be joined the Ravels on
an expedition to the United States. On the
voyage. an incident happened which the
biog grapher makes the most Of, but which
certainly proved that Bloudin is a brave
and skilful man off rs we'll as on the rope
AN ADVENTURE At SEA.
during the raging of violent storm.
young man of noble birth. who CHANGED to
be passenger on board the same ship With
him. was suddenly precipitated overheard,
as the ship rose and sunk in The black abyss
Of waves that yawned around her. Blon-
din. with bound sudden as tha, of the
panther, lesped alter him u; the winds shrek.
ed and howled like demons let loose, and
the kissing surging waves swept mercilessiy
over them but the strong swimmer The
future hero Of Niagara, breasted them not
withstanding and courageously approached
the drowning man, in time to save him
Struggling gallantly agains, desperate odds,
he reached the ship and was drawn UP 10
safoty, but not before he had securely lash
ed his fAiuting companion in the rope that
was thrown out to him. Deeds like these
60 tar TO prove that Blcndin' : is no artificial
courags."
HOW HE CAME To CROSS THE NIAGARA
Al the completion of an eigh years en-.
gagemen,. the Rsvel family gave a dinner
in Blondin's honor, and, elated by the
tribute paid to him. Blondin. to use the
elegant circumlocution Of his biographer
(says the Saturday Review, INDUCED in
the pleasure of the table TO an extent much
beyond his wont. Going to. bed late. and.
perhsps-if one were to use plain English
-tipsy. Blondin dreamed q dream, which,
divested of the gorgeous coloring of the