Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-05-21
TRAPEzE PERFORMERS.
SUPERSTITION AMONG THE LIMB AND
LIFE RIsKING CLASS.

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A BIT Of Sentiment Indulged in just Be
fore the rerformance-Danger Dreaded
rs More Than Haif Invitea-Japanese
Jugglers.
The Vaidi sisters are two pretty English
girls who do somo 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 II any moro dangerous than
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 tightly
strained guy wire at Q critical moment.
by which the trapeze might be violently
jerked out of place and the performer
thrown of. 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
ell gone over and examined before each
performance. This. with tho stretching
of the net, takes several minutes
BIT or SENTIMENT
While these things are being done tho
two sisters stand waiting in the first en-
trance. on the prompt" side Of the stage.
with big cloaks draped about their scant-
lily 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 II that little bit of sentimental
business were done in public, 1t would be
understood as tawdry conceit for effect,
like many other things In which gym
nasts and acrobats indulge. with view
to impressing the spectators. But 1t
Is not The embracing and kissing
are all done s'in the wings" where
1t Is only by accident that 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 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
terderer demonstration of the impulse
that prompts comrades. when going into
battle. to shake hands silently II may
be for the last time. and they know IL
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 healthful and con.
sequently sounder philosophy. or that
their training has drilled them into
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
tion. Of course there are exceptions to
this. as TO every other rule, but even
when they do occur they are not violent.
and generally have some pretty fair rea-
son back Of the seeming superstition al.
legged Matte Jackson. for instance. win
not ride in the circus ring on Good Fri
day She apows fear that some acci-
dent viii happen TO her If she does. as one
did onco upon a time when she broke tho
rule. or perhaps before she made 1t. But
the fact is that she has vague idea that
It isn't right. And several other well
known riders have the same notion.
DANGER DREADED
II indeed appears that the dread of hav
Ing superstition Is more rife among
circus people than any superstition Is. for
the excellent reason that they know a
danger dreaded is more than half invited
a man whose nerves are TO the slightest
degree unstrung by expectancy Of accident
Is likely 70 realize bis expectation when
attempting some feat that demands all the
strength. skill. coolness and nerve that be
possesses Very often riders perform
nncs Is made fimid and measurably in
effective simply BY 4 groom's report to
him that his horse docs not seem to be
feeling all right There Is no superstition
about that. but acousciousncss that II the
horse Is not ..all right and up 10 good 70
membranes and observance Of his training.
the breaking OF his riders leg. or perhaps
hts neck. may be the consequence
II may hardly be fair TO classify as
superstiti0us the practice Of carrying po-
i.frr. - 4,,r-ss es1,nefnufe in the pockets