New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-02-29
SSNOwY'S" leap,
& Romance as Related by an Old Show
MANA Trapeze Performers Peril.

New York Telegram: Thesign above
Che door was inscribed "Dramatic
Agency" and thestairway, seen dimly
from without, was worn with the
tread Of feet and revealed just then a
figure coming down. A moment more
and the sunlight that was setting the
dust Of Union square aglitter with
shining particles shown upon face
that would anywhere arrest atten-
zion. 1t was not any scar or defect OF
feature, but q certain terrified look
Shat gave the man the aspect of one
VINO had just seen q specter. The re-
porter standing out upon the sidewalk
aotlced it, and turning to look after
Che owner ofthat strange countenance
saw that his hair was white as snow.
'Odd-looking ism t he?" muttered the
reporter to his companion, a member
OF "the profession" engaged just then,
alike many Of his fellows, in AIicawber-
like pursuits.
The lounging Thespian looked up,
looked after the receding figure and
said:
"Snowball; yes, he is odd"
SWhy do you call him snowflake"
ooh, on account of his hair, to be
sure. Didn't you notice it?"
certainly. I couldn't well escape
It,"
''Well, that's the reason he is called
Snowfall or Snowy. 1t is only nick
name"
els he an actor"
emo; he is a circus man. I don't
know what he is now. But he used to
be IN the trapeze and tight rope line.
pretty clever at his business, too,
can tell you"
The speaker was dismissing the OBJ
4ect of the reporters inquiry with this,
but there was something in the awed
expression of that face, something in
Che white locks clustering around it,
shat remained in the mind of the
questloner like some haunting pres
ence. What an odd face it was for an
athlete and an acrobat? Thoughts of
Che Grlmaldis Of the stage, who carried
under their grinning masks and pie
Dald ralment tragical stories, came be-
fore him, and ten minutes later, when
q buriy soul with the girth OF a Fal-
staff and the lungs of a. Stentor came
elong, who could tell the personal his
tory OF nearly every human being who
CrOd the sawdust on this side Of the
a ho
story.
'tWhat have you heard about him?"
was what the big man said, and then
added solemnly, few know the truth
about him."
n know nothing, " said the reporter.
1t was his STAGE that made an impress
sion on me-"
cit well might, said the other s'It
is not theface God gave the man. He
was once a Jolly enough soul. But
one nights fright fixed him. He has
worn the look of terror that is left
upon him for many a year He will
wear it to his grave. If you care
about it I will tell you what I know.
But the narrative Is not cheerful one,
/ promise you. fSnowy'-we call him
dhat-it is not his name, but the bows
calls HIM SO. Snowy was a trapeze
professor. You see he is a we'll built,
graceful fellow, even now But when
ne was young he was as graceful a
figure as any one [ ever saw in the
business. He was clever, too, and
was among the first who took fving
leaps through space from one trapeze
SO the other. When | knew him first
he was with acircus. He was a great
attraction, too, for when he came out
in his trunks and spangels and kissed
ais hand about the circle, there wasn't
B. girl present that didn't admire him
and look it too.
There are a good many pitfalls for
q young fellow in such q business to
stumble into. But he steered clear of
them. He never drank and [ never
heard OF his being mixed upin any gall
tantries. What was odd about him
was the way he used to keep to him
self. People believed he was in some
sort OF trouble, or had come from a
good family and was sorry for taking
TO q circus life. But he never enlight-
ened them Of his own accord.
Soon alter came toknow Snowy
had the management of a travelling
variety show making a circuit down
East. We had all sorts ofattractions,
from song and dance men to ground
and lofty tumblers. There were stump
speakers and banjo players and ballad
singers till you couldn't rest. But
noticed that with the Yanks down
9here the athletic feats took best, SO
Imade it a point to enlarge. that part
OF the entertainment. That was how
Snowy came to get into my compa-
ny. ] made him an offer. He accept
ed it and was engaged for the season.
You can imagine that in going