The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-24
The 9ailg Argas,
Amusement and Death.

@>AhUScAlAS14b anu 0edb0.
1t is not at all probable that the sad fate
which seems to have befallen Captain
Donaldson and his young companion, who
went up last week in Barnum's balloon,
will in any measure affect the widespread
desire among many people-only a few of
whom can plead interests of scinece as an
eyeuse-to uefy the laws of gravita,ion and
and gain a bird s-eye view of the earth.
Doubtless the risk of this form OF sport is
TO several of its devotees an additional at
traction. 1t is challenge to their courage
which they are delighted to take up
Other men seek to penetrate the mysteries
of the Polar regions, or track the tiger to
his lair, or shoot the rapids of some unex-
plored river; they prefer to realize, in
fact, those dreams of ''levitation which
near y everyone has exper'e iced, abandon
ing themselves to the chances of the air.
On a clear calm day, for instance, who
could fail to speculate on the enjoyment
OF the rocks which. at vast height in the
air, are slowly sailing about, obviously
without any thought of the necessity of re-
turning to hobble about the meadows and
fields in search of worms? For the moment
they are clearly giving themselves up to the
delight OF flying about in clear air and sun
shine. They are catching no flies as the
open-beaked swallows do in darting this
way and that; they have left their nests
far below them; they have risen above all
earthly cares, and are simply bent on making
the most out of fine and genial summer
day. We cannot but suppose that an
aeronaut feels certain pride Of spirit in
leaving behind him his fellow men, and
though it may not be true that he hears
no more the tempests bowling when he
gets aloft, though he may be sorely buffet
ed by winds and rains, he has, at all
events, the proud consciousness that he
has risen long way above the world. He
looks down, perhaps, with mild contempt
which s0othes many breasts on the pretty
affairs and troubles of the world; he is
proud of his own daring; he likes the ex-
cite'nent of the risk that he runs No one
need suppose, therefore, that any very
stringent warning has been given by the
presumably unhappy fate Of Captain
Donaldson and Mr.. Grimwood Balloon
ing, whether as an amusement or as pos
sible means of aiding science, will have its
ardent votaries as of old--unless, indeed,
the public authorities interfere.
The question how far public exhibitions,
attended with risk, and, in fact, in which
the risk is the chief attraction, should be
tolerated by the civil authorities, is very
important one. Neither in business nor 10
pleasure, neither in the pursuit of gain nor
in the pursuit of applause, is a man always
allowed to risk his life independently Of
the law and the will of the state. In one
Idrunkard who offered to drown himself for
1 81 hofo al
who got his rum, drank it, and then kept
his word. Had that parsonage announced
his intention by placard days before, and
invited crowd to witness the performance,
would the police have been directed not to
interfere, on the ground that the principal
performer being an adult male, was able
to take care of himself? Yet, to most
reasonable people, the certainty of death
to person who leaps into the river seems
but little greater than in the case Of one
who trusts himself into balloon. Now,
there is great deal to be said for the
broad, blunt principle of leaving to every
grown person in charge of his own exis
tence, and in this country we act pretty
much upon it. But il there be any excuse
| for the principle of authoritative interfer
ence at all, it will be conceded by the bes
. portion OF every community that some
check should be placed on the imperiling
of human life for popular amusement. =
We are concerned about humanity, and i
is quite certain that our authorities would
not allow a bull-fght to take place in any
! of our cities. We have done good dea
to put down prize fighting, and we would
no more permit gladiatorial show in ;
Chicago circus than We would allow tn,
performance of the Empress Theodore t.
go on at McVicker's theater The simple
question, therefore, remains: is it right t,
allow persons to risk their lives in caterin!
to mere craving for excitement? TIL
, best remedy would, no doubt. be the i'm
# provement of the public taste, but till thi
undergoes revolution it seems to US tina
justice and reason both demand the pro
lection of human life against one OF it
most morbid forms-a form which has a
: ways been associated with barbarism 0
with the decay of civilization, which in tn
beginning of Rome's decline doomed tn
victims Of popular prejudice to unequa
contests with beasts of prey.-Inter- Ocean