News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-01-25
SECRETS OF THE CIRCUS.
Interesting Talk with Il Gymnast-HOw the
Perpendicular Leap is Performed.

Lulu, the gymnast has been inter
viewed by a reporter and gives us a little
sketch of his exploits. Lulu it IS known,
| appeared for a number Of years as a
ffemale and was so believed to be. He
savs:-" My sex was always a matter Of
| speculation, but my appearance was in
favor of the theory that I was Il woman :;
and no one could assert that [ was not.
When I was younger my face was Of an
| essentially feminine type. | maintained
my disguise under all circumstances;
even my intimate acquaintances were
deceived. My hair, which was very light,
was allowed to grow long, and was put
up in curl papers every night; as
regularly as the locks of the most tinical
maiden. My dresses were marvels of
art and-if I may say 1.-THE envy Of
women. I received all sorts of atten-
tions from men. No favorite equestr1enne
ever received more notes or flowers
Once I was asked to act as bridesmaid at
a wedding, and as [ could not refuse, [
went through the ceremony, blushing
when it was proper and looking demure
and sorry just at the right moments.
But the greatest trial I ever had was i'll
fighting off a German baron who wanted
to marry me. He attended my perform
ances night after night, sent me flowers
and messages and made use of every
opportunity he could to express his
[ FIl 10,
town, and it was with difficulty that [ got
rid of his attentions at last"
Chow was your perpendicular leap
made?"
"By means of a mechanical device, %
replied the gymnast, twirling his NOUS
tache. cit is necessary to have innOva-
tions in all forms of amusement. The
world grows tired of old tricks. I stood
in full view of the spectators on an iron
plate about foot in diameter, which was
attached to q spindle running down
through a framework. This spindle
was thrown up distance Of seven feet
above the stage by means of rubber
springs, carrying the plate with it. The
springs were powerful enough to send
my body through the air like a shot.
Another set of rubber bands jerked the
spindle back as quickly as it shot out, so
that the motion both ways was too quick
for sight. On reaching my distance I
caught hold of ropes.
''lt was necessary to pose my body so
that it would be in line with the median
line of the spindle. Otherwise I would
receive a severe shock, be thrown in the
wrong direction and miss the ropes. The
least delay in releasing the spring after
the signal is given increases the danger.
cone night at Dublin the machine
was imperfect and the spring became
released before [ was ready, trowing
me on my head and shoulders in the !
ochcstra circle. There was a great up- |
roar in the house. When they carried |
me out they thought I was dead. This
performance is so dangerous, III fact,
that no other gymnast has ever under
taken it."
'What sensations do you experience" ?" |
Il feel as if the earth had suddenly |
fallen from under me- But there is
really no time for thought I am at the
ropes III an instant"
''How are you able to grasp the ropes?"
''By instinct. can see nothing"
''What induced you to give up this
performance ?"
u grew too stout. One day my body
was almost telescoped by the shock. [
then set to work to devise a machine
that would enable me to distribute the
force over my whole body. The result
was, the catapult, after several months
spent in making experiments. An iron
plane about fifteen feet long is suspend
ed ON an axle on a slight angle Rub
ber springs are made to act so as to
throw the plane forward suddenly into a
position nearly perpendicular. This
throws my body, which is ly-
ing at full length at the upper end of the
plane, so that / describe an arc and
lli9ht in a net about sixteen feet from
the machine. My first performance on
the catapult was given three years ago
ut Blackpool, England.
81 was nearly killed two or three times,
had experimental for months
with weights and stuffed figures, I could
not tell how far the machine would thow
me or in what position I would alight
The first time [ was thrown lost all sense
Of what [ was doing or where I was 60
ing. I was utterly helplesss and came
down into the net on my head and face.
My head was so cut and bruised that my
hair came ont i'm buDchpS "