The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-04-15
THE MARrYRs or THE TRAPEzE.
Something of the History OF an Acrobntic
Family.


Seeing in many city papers an account OF an
accident which occurred In Baltimore recently to
little Zoe DE Lave, tho first female gymnast In this
country and the arst female that performed the now
less novel feat OF the flying trdpese" am tempted
TO write for readers few facts concerning the
troupe Of which she is member. Ny information
IL from lady who became acq tainted with them
during stay OF week or two they made at hotel
at Grass Valley, Cal.
Monsieur Cwhose specially and sole part OF their
serarmsn' is, T. an act on tue tight ropo) his wife
wears old, his daughter by former MARRIAGE
In the first part OF their entertainment. before
the real ftiguing business commences, Lila
dances some Of the fancy dances. well known in the
days Of the b,lict. Then she and Zoe do tho double
and single trapeze, rings, parallel bar Sc, in short
all the business that the Hanons are so famous for
only tnat they do different parts much more rapidly
than the iianlons Zoo also does act the tight
rope. NJ De Lave once crossed Niagara river on
arope, with Zoe, thea six years old walking in 'front.'
Of Linn One OF her feats Is for Lila to precipita,e
herself from the gallery ceiling Of theatre, catching
trapcze or ring hanging from about the centre or
the ceiling, where she hangs by her feet and Zoe
filings herself to her is caught and is again nung to
some one on the stage. whose busiuess IA to catch
her, and who docs II or not, as the may be.
we had an instance OF in Philadelphia this fail. Mrs.
De Lave has warned her husband time and again
that the child was getting too heavy. aud some day
sho should be unable to catch her. This and the
flying trapoze act tho most dangerous of all the
feats they attempt aud In doing these Zoe h con-
tinualy missing her hold, and has narrowly escaped
death several times.
These girls detost tho life they are Obliged TO lead
Mrs De Lave says every night, whom she goes uoon
the ropes, the cold perspiraton, started by sheer
horror breaks out over her, the rosin put there
TO prevent slipping win not stay upon her hands.
She enters upon every performance with protest.
Zoe la. musical talent that II cultivated would lead
TO fortune mitch quicker than the means size at pre-
sent is Obliged to adopt. She IL small OF her age.
Slender, though very musculnr-her face thin and
peakcd-she Is not what would DO called pretty
child. She Is ignorant-doos not even know how to
read. She Is selfwilled-will not venture upon
either tight or slack ropes until satisfied they
secure. Her father has educated her to bolicvo that
as long no stands by the rope or bar she
will never be hurt at least dangerously. This, OF
course, gives her confidence lie excuses his
sternness TO them by yaying unless they do just
he orders they would, In many instances have
been killed. But this will never palnte the brutai
ties he was known 10 have been guilty of In Piila-
deiphia. At the time my informant met them Do
Lave was independently wealthy, md promised,
after exhibiting Zoe ut the Paris Exposition, she
should DO withdrawn and placed In a convent to be
educated But the pledge has been broken, and last
month she was so Injured In Batimor that IL was
thought she would be acrpple for life and so sup
pose her lie win be held thus cheapy by her inhu
man father until she is crippled death iutervenes
and sets her free from daily contact with the things
sue loathes.
knowing this and that there parallel cases,
for instance the apprentices the Hanions have,
cannot but wish that freedom mi-bt always be the
reward OF bravery and wonder which IL the most to
blame for this cruelty to these girlsthe Frenchman,
DE Lave. or the real rover behind the throne, the
public, who pltronizes and appauds these liiem
poIllllng performancesl