Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-07-13
ACROBATIC CRUELTY.
Some of the HanIon Performances
Cruelty to Boy Acrobat.


The Hanlon Brothers are now perform
ing at the Alhambra, London, and their
performance suggests the following re-
marks to the editor of the London Orches-
ira. The boys in question performed the
feats described some months ago at the
Tammany, New York city:
"a performance SO hazardous as to
make it highly Objectionable is nightly
repeated at the Alhambra. The peril
which the little boy is put is absolutely
cruel Three acrobats-two grown up,
one child of eight or nine-are CON
cerned in IT. A net of cotton cord,
which may possibly kreak at any time,
is, stretched across the stage. About
thirty feet above the net IS frame of some
thirty feet long. At either end of this are
short stirrups, by which the elder brothers
hang head downward. The boy takes his
place in the middle, standing upon the
frame. One of the brothers now begins to
swing, and the boy leaps from the bar at
the precise moment and his hands are
caught by those of the swinging man. and
the two sweep backward and forward in
regular motion. The other brother now
begins to swing, and the boy is thrown
from one to the other, sometimes caught
by the hands, sometimes by the ankles,
sometimes throwing somersault, some
times two somersauts in his flights from
one to the other. 1t is nothing
short of marvellous, but though
done with apparent ease, the risk
is alarming. The extreme difficulty
of the feat can be readily understood by
all who have an acquaintance with feats of
the trapeZe. In ordinary trapeze feats the
ropes are of so great length that the are
ot-a circle described by the performer as he
flies through the air intersects the circle
performed by the trapeze bar for a consid-
erable distance, and he can catch it
whether it meets him at the level of his
chest, face, or the extreme stretch Of
his arms over his head. In the short
swing made by the Hanlons, the radius
of which is only their own length and
the two additional feet of the
stirrup rope, it is necessary only for mo
ment that the swinger can be in position
to catch the hands of the boy; the mistake
of fifth of second in his swing would
send him out ofreach. The full knowledge
of this is required for the full appreciation
of this marvellous feat. Tho performance
is terminated by the boy ascending to
still higher bar over the center of the
frame, and from this he leaps something
like twenty feet down before he is caught
by the hands of the swinging brother.
We need hardly point out how imminent
is the risk of an accident to this poor boy
as he swings through the air. Unnatural
development of his muscles have already
stunted him, broadened his chest, and given
his frame an abnormal hardness. He has
been two years and half learning end
practicing these feats, and is perfectly fear
less, having never during the whole tram
ing hurt himself in the slightest degree.
But even supposing he does not break his
neck, which may happen at any moment,
the effects of such severe training at his
early age may be ruinous hereafter Public
opinion should check such repulsive sights,
if the law will not.