Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-09-11
A CHAT WITH BLONDIN.
HE CARES NOW MORE FOR MONEY
 THAN FOR GLORY.


 Physique of the Famous Tight Rope Walher-No Weakening of His Powers. The Most Difficult Feat-A Trip on His Back-His Method,
 "If zey, would pay me I would cross Mi agara again, but for ze gloire, jeu al assezr' Of course only one man ill the world could have made that remark, and although it is distinction to have done what no other man of woman born in all the ages has ever done, Jean Francois Blondin seems to have in measure survived himself. When in his in- trepid prime he walked the narrow path of hemp above the mad swirling waters so dizzily far beneath him, both the American and Canadian shores were black with beholders who watched him with bated breath. Now when he returns to America after decades and exhibits the even more startling nerve of tripping bhthelY on the tight rope with 65 years on his back, a sparse gathering of Coney Island visitors look with lang1id in- terest at the doughty funambulist before the Sea Beach pavilion.
 There is much of the same dissonance be- tween the Blondin of today up aloft on his aerial pathway and the Blondin who treads the earth. There clad in tights, and soft ened by the enchanting touches of distance, there is something of the quasi heroic about ms physique, despite his protuberant abdo- men. Straight a crow Indian, motionless as the statue of Memnon, he stands until the praying band on the portico of the pavilion breaks into tumultuous strain Then grasp ing his long balancing pole he steps forth hardly and with an elastic abandon on the rope. The cords stand out on his legs and ar ms, his hair has 8 sort of wind swept look, 9d hlS straight ahead gaze is as firm and confident as the unblanching look of Fate
 His wonderful preservation, the agility which invests his six and a half decados with the robust vigor of youth, tell of his mod crate, carefully regulated life. In the morn ing he takes a breakfast of eggs and wine, or something equally light, and then touches nothing till after he has walked in the even- ing, when he takes hearty dinner and lin- gers at the board with friends over some cor dial-quiet restful, content.
 ''Do you feel any weakening of your DOW ers?' was asked.
 "None. There is nothing that have ever done which l cannot do equally well today" answered Blondin in French. II am slightly heavier, but feel as active as ever felt,n
 Have you never felt any trepidation on the roper
 "No. Of course there is certain tension of nerves, but I am as cool as I could wish have never had any accident or been hurt. Once or twice l lost my chair did this at Niagara. Occasionally some of the gear or guy ropes have given way, but l have never been injured The rope is always subjected to good test first. This one is capable of standing q pressure of forty tons, so am not likely to breal, it down. My son super intends Ill of tEeso details now, and I can fl1,N of every, hing."
 "Wol t,:c:c must be some feat more diffi- cult t!-.l!. others, Is there notr'
 ''Ba!,-.c,Hs with the chair is the most diffi- cult 50 far uj equilibrium goes. But the bicycle work i5 tho HiosG dangerous, as recov- cry ill c-:.1 of slip would be so difficult, if not impo,-.tui2."
 "How do you tell when the chair is just balanced ill tEc Iniddle?"
 1T am Tot So particular about that so long as my center of gravity is right. tell that by my shoulders and my balancing pole. There is q sense of being balanced which as- snres me 1t is as it should be-"
 ''In carrying person over on your back, are you indifferent as to who it is, or do you have person who is trained or specially qualified to be carried! don't suppose you find many who covet the trip"
 "Oh, yes There are plenty who are will ing to take 1t. I would as soon carry one as another ii Ee has nerve. But when feel anybody trembling or showing any trace of vertigo, 1 advise them not to go. Although their legs arc run through straps they could slip out Of them if they were to get faint and fall backward. The mast sways somewhat, and person subject at all to vertigo will show it when he gets up there. generally carry over ny son, though his wife is de- cidedly c posed to his taking the trip. But it is perfectly safe. I am not as dangerous as a bobtail ca. as means of transit"
 ''Whc.! yru crossed Niagara did you find the rusl. cf ,!c water below you a nerve try- ing thn:,:'
 ''No For 2 fortnight before I crossed used to g c,l,. look down and see the waters sweep over; but I found that they had no unpleas::lt effect on me. It has been a little annoyI.- hero at Coney Island when some friends nave taken me up into the tower and then as,,cd mo if I felt the height. I would as lief walk rope at ono height as another. The difficulty is in stretching rope securely at such great height"
 "Have you ever changed your method. at allF' sg
 No. My method is the outcome of expe- rience rather than theory. began walking when a child There is such a thing as a genius for rope walking as there is for every thing else. think have it," said Blondin modestly, ''Now my son, though he can get over rope, is not O rope walker. He is good all-round athlete, but he has no de cided talent for the profession, and would rather go over tight rope on my back than on his feet. ."-New York Tribune Interview.
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