The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-03-11
Avisit 70 The Chevalier Blond,n.


In 1851 Jean Francois GraveIe was perform
ing in French provincial town, when his
agility, grace, suppleness and intrepidity were
remarked by a certain Ravel, himself a famous
gynnast OF his day. "Join u.s." he said to
the Young fellow, "and come to New York {"
Done" replied Jean FRANCOIS. "But how
art thou called?" ''Grayele." 'Sacre Dieul
we cannot bill such a name, Then they fixed
upon Blondin, from the color of his hair. Tri-
umph after triumph followed, until his career
was crowned at last on the 10th of June, 1859.
when he crossed Niagara.
Why thought Blondin had gone to heaven
long ago, said some one in railway carriage
the other day, as he conned an advertisement
IN his paper which announced that the hero of
Niagara was walking the tight rope at the
Britannia Theater, in far away Hoxton. To
most Of us BlondiD is now merely name, but
he is almost as active as ever, and quite ready
10 chat about both the present and the future.
The afiectionate regard felt by the Cheyalier
Tor the Falls which made him famous is shown
by the name which he has given to his house.
The visitor rings the bell at the gate and reads
the legend inscribed in large letters Niagara
Villa, IN. Blondin at home?" 81 am NJ.
Blondin." The intrepid one stands before
the, short and stout. He has evidently been
model OF muscular compactness and symetry,
a trenchman to the bone, with small, twink
ing eyes, hair thin, and slightly streaked with
gray, moustache and thick imperial.
The Chevalier is a very Ulysses. He and
his ropes are known to the ends Of the earth
India, Australia, North America, South Amer
lca. Other Blondins have stolen his thunder,
imitators have arisen, but there is no Blondin
like this one. We shall never look upon his
like again. As we enter he points with pride
10 we'll stocked ayiary, and passing along
one notices dozen photographs showing some
Of themary evolutions which he performs in mid
ar Here he is-on the rope, OF course clad
~ a suit Of mail armor, there with "masher''
OIL the period on his back, here crossing dizzy
nelght on bycicle, again blindfolded, wall;-
ing on his head, cooking his omelette on The
tgt1 rope, looking as much at his ease before
ms Stove as the chef Of the Reform Club in his
Kitchen. Then we see him eating his omelotte.
drinking glass of champagne, and, and-hut
there is 40 need to say more. The bau il
adorned with trophies and relics Of the honor
able past: There are portraits Of NJ. BIondir,. Of
Mdme. Blondin, d Niagara In another room
Is a wonderful painting Of the scene at Mag ara.
There rs the foam, the rope, the hero-a mere
speck on the face Of the caDvass-with mr., az
CITED group, including abe Prince of Wales,
awaiting his safe arfiYal.s And here resf for
lew minutes while my host tells story or
two OF his career. "Ahs" he says, "you tIlink
people have forgotten my existence. Not at
all; perform in the provinces sometimes,
and every year 60 to Frankfort or Berlin or
vienna. There l have special permission to
perform without net; for that Is my condi-
nor. ny feey A hundred pounds ni,.iIt.
less perhaps IN afheatefsfs rs -&FE
Sir, was rope walker ut four. Nv
iather was gyDdnast. / have never felt fear