Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-06-28
TRAPEZE PERFORMERS.
SUPERSTITION AMONG THE LIMB AND
LIFE RlSKlNG GLASS.

Is More Than Half Invited-Japanese
Jugslers.
The Vaidi sisters are two pretty English
girls who do some very good trapeze work.
One of them performs dive. head fore
most. from the very top Of the prosce-
mum arch, dizzy height. into net sus-
pended just above the heads of the spec
tators in the parquet- That is one OF the
most thrillingly effective feats ever shown
here in public, but. in point OF fact, is
very little if any more dangerous than a
number of things that they do together
on the trapeze before that finale. So long
as the performer comes down into the net
there need be no fear. There is more
danger in the breaking Of a tightly
strained guy wire at critical moment,
by which the trapeze might be violently
jerked out Of place and the performer
thrown off, away outside of the net, to
fall upon the backs of the orchestra chairs
and be picked up mass of broken bones
and mangled flesh. perhaps dead. To
guard against this as far as possible the
greatest care is exercised in the stretch
ing Of the wire and rope guys. which is
all gone over and examined before each
performance. This, with the stretching
of the net, takes several minutes.
BIT OF SENTIMENT.
While these things are being done the
two sisters stand waiting in the first en-
trance, on the prompt" side of the stage,
with big cloaks draped about their scant-
ily clad forms, and their mother close be.
hind them When the signal is given
that all is ready. the mother draws of
their cloaks. Then the two girls embrace
and kiss each others hands. After that
they dart out on the stage. and moment
later they are up in the air risking their
necks. If that little bit of sentimental
business were done in public, it would be
understood as q tawdry conceit for effect,
like many other things in which gym
nasts and acrobats indulge. with view
to impressing the spectators But it
Is not. The embracing and kissing
are all done 'in the wings" where
it Is only by accident that a person near
the footlights in the parquet on the oppo-
site side Of the stage may perchance see
it. The general disposition to ascribe to
superstition Of some sort the motive i'm
pelling people to do somewhat unusual
things naturally suggests that as a reason
for the vaidi girls demonstration. But
upon inquiry it is learned that this is
prompted by simple affection. nothing
more. Each knows that it is well within
the range of possibilities that the slipping
of her hand, the failure by hairs breadth
of the others grasp or break Of the ap-
paratus may cause her sisters plunge to
death. or that that fate may be her own,
within the next few minutes. With that
feeling in mind, the hand clasps, embraces
and kisses between the girls are simply a
tenderer demonstration of the impulse
that prompts comrades. when going into
battle, to shake hands silently. 1t may
be for the last time. and they know it.
There is little superstition among the
limb and life venturing classes OF public
performers, far less than exists among
people in the histrionic profession
Whether it is that the vigorous life of the
former develops more healthfu and con
seouently sounder philosophy, or that
their training has drilled them into 9
higher confidence in themselves and ap
probation Of the possibilities OF human
control over what weaker natures deem
fate and luck. need not be discussed here
The fact is enough for present considera
ton. Of course there are exceptions to
this. as to every other rule, but ever
when they do occur they are not violent
and generally have some pretty far rea
son back of the seeming superstition al
legged Matte jackson, for instance, viii
not ride in the circus ring on Good Fri
dav. She avows fear that some acc1
dent will happen to her if she does, as one
did once upon q time when she broke the
rule, or perhaps before she made it, But
the fact is that she has vague idea tina,
It isn't right. And several other vel
known riders have the same notion
A DANGER DREADED.
It indeed appears that the dread OF hav
ing a superstition is more rife among
circus people than any superstition is, fo1
the excellent reason that they know
danger dreaded is. more than half invited
man whose nerves are to the slightest
degree unstrung by expectancy OF accident
Is likely to realize his expectation wheI
attempting some feat that demands all tn
strength. skill, coolness and nerve that h'
possesses Very often riders perform
ance is made timid and measurably ID
effective simply by a groom's report u
hin, that his horse ''does not seem to b
feeling all right" There is no superstition
ohont that, but consciousness that II tn
horse is not '.all right" and up to good re
membrance and observance OF his training
the breaking of his riders leg, or perhap
his neck, may be the consequence.
It may hardly be fair to CLASSIFY a
snnerstitious the practice OF carrying Pc
.otoes or horse chestnuts In the pocket
:. fo+iches against rheumatism. II 1t l
~ then there is good deal OF that sor
~ supextition among show folk put ,ne.
vehemently affirm that it Is prompted Q.
knowledge Of the proved medicinal virtue
Of these articles.
= Jananese ~ show people have superstitao1
enough for not only their own snare, ~
sor al the others. Each OF their troupe !.
Of iugglers and acrobats ncluaes - hal II
,,em ~ SSersbip one grave. earnest oa4
hsadsd old heathen supposedly accus
.omsd @ 20 tussling with deyils who wou
foin % obstruct the work Of the perIo.mss poss
or , bring them to grief 1t is his Dasanos, ns,
Ssfora ~ - m~ each important feat involving , Pc,
.onal peril, to go about the stage sca''e'