The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-11-24
WALKING THE ROPE.
Blondin Writes About Himself and
His Risky Profession.

Tho Apparatus Used by the Famous Rope,
Walker-How He Feels While Perform.
ing His Tricks-Sensations Of
Raw Assistants.
From Blondln's paper in Liprtncotts Mdgd-
ety,s it can be learned that a rope-walker is
like poet, born and not made. myself,
he says, began to toddle along rope when
I was only four years old, and in my eighth
year gave special exhibition on the high
rope before the King at Turin. It is a usual
thing, no doubt, for the apprentices in q
circus to be taught rope-walking among
their other lessons, but only a few Of them
ever get beyond the rudiments CT the art.
The usual system Of teaching is to make the
pupil walk along narrow board the width
Of which is daily decreased until it is barely.
thicker than an ordinary rope. Posturing
and the assumption Of graceful attitudes
are taught IN this manner and finally tie
pupil is introduced to the rope itself.
The apparatus which q leading rope
walker uses appears in the public eyes to be
simple enough, but in reality il has to be
constructed and arranged with the greatest
of care The rope generally use is formed
with flexible core of steel wire, covered
with the best Manila hemp and is about an
anch and three-quarters in diameter. 1t is
several hundred yards in length, and the
cost may be $500. The rope is coiled
from either end On two large wind
lasses, and when supported by two
high poles the Windlasses are turned until
the rope is stretched perfectly taut. 1t
takes me. as rule, several days to adjust
this simple apparatus to perfection-st fact
which caused me to abandon my perform
ances at Staten Island, where it was neces-
sa1y to remove the rope after each exhibi-
ton. at the top Of each pole is small plat
form, for the purpose OF resting; and on
one Of these platforms usually place tenn
porary dressing-room, where l can make
necessary changes in my attire. / may
mention here that the suit of arnor in
which first appear 10 of great weight and
exquisite workmanship. the gauntlets hay
ing once belonged to the celebrated tenor,
Mario AS o rule, my other costumes are OF
the least possible weight, while tho shoes;
are an ordinary pair Of fine leather ones,!
with soft soles. It is, I think, popular
error to suppose that rope walkers feet
are exceptionally large or muscular. Mine,
I am told, are rather below than above the
ordinary size
The balancingp pole, suppose, fairy comes
within the classification of apparatus. In
my own case it is made of ash, is about
twenty-six feet long, aud weighs some forty
OF fifty pounds. 1t is made in three pieces,
50 as to be easily taken apart and to occupy
but little space when ! am travelling. Nat
urally, my journeys into every quarter Of
the civilized world have taught me- to re-
a..ce MY baggage to the smallest possible
dimensions; but, as it is, ! am forced to
carry great deal, aud when visited Aus
tralla years ago remember carried over
sixty tons Of baggage with me
am often asked as to my sensations when
walking the rope; but if by that is meant
whether feel fear or nervousness, must
answer dec,dedly in the negative. When
walking | look some eighteen Or twenty feet
ahead of me, and whistle softly or hum
snatch of a song, as the humor may selzo
me- also invariably keep time in my step
to the music the band is playing, and
find that helps me wonderfully in preserv-
ing my balance With my own weight and
that OF the balancing pole there must b.
about 230 pounds bearing on the rope,Which
naturally gives considerably, this saggiIg
being one Of the chief difficulties we have
to encounter in keeping our balance.
prefer to perform in the open air; Tor IN a.
hall or tne;eter, even of the largest dimen-
sicns, tue Initiated air found at the elevation
at which my rope is always stretched IS
most unpleasant to breathe.
Nowadays l never practice, and even my
most difficult tricks. such as turning SOM
ersault over a chair placed in the middle OF
the rope and landing with my feet on The
other side Of it, arc usually performed with
out premeditation, just as the whim seizes
me. This enables me without effort
to vary my programmes at every per
icrmance, and prevents them from
becoming monotouous to me. l could
remain a year, on even longer, without
ever setting foot on a rope and then go on
and tread 1t Us safely as though had been
in constant practice As'an illustration OF
the slight amount Of practlce require Tor .
new trick, may mention my bicycle act
Some years ago, when bicycles were some
What OF novelty, it struck me that could
utilize one in my performance, and accord
ingly had one constructed according to my
directions, with a groove in the wheels to fit
the rope but otherwise of ordinary fashion. I
ordered it to be sent to me some time be-
fore the performance, so that could try it,
but it came just as I was making ready to
appear. was as pleased as q child with
new toy, and, mounting il at once. l re-
nearsed successfully in view OF large
audience, who probably thought had been
practicing for months.
Inever take any stimulant before walk
ing the rope, and take no special pains to
keep myself in good condition. MY attend
ant rubs me down carefully when my
journey is ended, and then take some
light refreshment. Otherwise I only live
plainly and regularly, merely avoiding eat
ing heavy meal shortly before perform
ance Finally, may say that prefer ex-
hibitlng without net stretched below me.
think it would make me so nervous as al
most to lead to the accident against which
1t IL intended as safeguard
II myself do not feel nervous, am
afraid the many persons have carried on
MT back across the rope have felt .trite
perturbed, save when they have been pro-
fessional assistants. In reality there is
nothing in the world for them to be afraid
Of All they have to do is to sit perfectly
still, refrain from clutching me too tightly
around the neck, and leave the rest to me.
When am carrying any one over for the
first time, chat to him continuously on
anv different subjects I can think about,