New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-28
BLONDIN WRITES ABOUT HIMSELF.


From his paper in Lippincotts Magazine
A rope walker IS like poet born and not made
myself began to tOddle along rope ye ~ngn cave sas
special exhibition the high rope before the hing at
Turin IL Is usuai 5I issng inf Walking among
their other lessons, but only lew OF them even eet
beyond the rudlments OF the ART Inc usua - SILL
of teaching is to make the pupil walk along narrow
board the width Of which Is daily decreased until
barely thicker than an ordinary st rUPe are an9i
IN tn manner, and finally the pupil is introduced u
the rope Itself. ,,.
uses appears in the public eyes to be simple
enough but In reality It has to Dc con consul s'e
and arranged with the greatest Of care Tue rope
generally use IS formed with a flexible core OF
steel wire, covered with the best Manila hemp, ana
is several hundred wards in length, and tho cost may
be $500 The rope Is colled from either end on
two large windlasses, and when supporter py wv
high poles the windlasses turned until the rope
IS stretched perfectly taui II taxes me, as RUE
several days adjust this simple appal atus 10 per
fection-a fact which caused me to abandon my per
formances staten Island where II was Necessary ~
remove the rope after each exhibition Az the
top of each pole Is small PLATFORM for the purpose
OF resting: and on Of these platforms usually
place a temporary dres sing roOm where can mahe
necessary changes in my attire, l may mention here
thar the suit Of armor in which 1 first appear is
of great weight and exquisite workmanship, the
Cauntets having once belonged TO the celebrated
tenor Mario As rule my other costumes arr are an M
ordinary pair of fine leather ones, with soft soles
Is has popular sfpUa large or muscar
Mine, am told, are rather below than ABOVE the
| ordinary Size.
The balancing pole. suppose, fairly comes within
the classification of apparatus In my own case III !,
Is made Of ash Is about twen'ysN 1eot pns sde anu
three pieces, TO be easily taken apart and to
occupy but little space when am trave1 tS c Nd
zed world have taught me 10 reduce my baggage TO
forced carry great deal, and whom visited Aus.
tralis years ago / remember l carried over sixty
/ am often asked as to my sensations when walk.
Ing the rope; but II by that Is meant Wiener a. iee
negative When walking look some eighteen or
twenty feet ahead Of me, and whistle softly or nun
I also invariably keep time in my step 70 the music
the band is playing. and ind that helps me won,
dcrnlly in preserving my balance. With my own
weight and that Of The balancing pole there must
be about ESQ pounds bearing on tee rope sr ane
If the chief difficulties We have to encounter IN
heering our balance prefer to perform IN , me
largest dimensions, the Initiated air found al the
elevation at which my rope IS always stretched IS
Sovaiays / never practise, and even my. most
difficult tricks such turning somerssult t LAYER aver
win my feet the other side OF II, are usually
performed without premcditation Just as me whl II
my programmes at every performance, and prevents
| them from becoming monotonous to me. could re-
man a year. or even longer, without ever setting
foot on rope and then go and tread II as safely
as though 1 had been IN constant practice; As an
illustration OF the slight amount OF PRACTICE re
1urc for new trick I may mention my bicycle cycle
act. Some years ago when bicycles were somewhat
Il
performance and accordingly hal one constructed
according to my directions. with groove in the wheels
to ~ the rope. but Otherwise OF ordinary fashion.
ordered N 10 be sent TO some time before the
performance so that ! could try II, but IL Just
as was making ready to appear. was as pleased
as a child with a toy, and, mounting at once,
rehearsed successfully in view Of large audience,
who probably thought l had been practising for
months. =,
| / never take any stimulant before walking the
| rope, and take special pains TO Keep myself IN
| good condition. My attendant rtbs me down care
fully when my journey is ended and then take some
| HIGHT rcfrcshment. Otherwise / only live plainly
| and regularly, merely avoiding eating heavy meal
shortly before a performance. Finally, i may, say
that / prefer exhibiting without net stretched be-
| low me- | think IL would make nervous as
almost TO lead TO the accident against which II Is
Intended a safeguard -. a,
! II | myself do not feel nervous. am AFRAID the
many persons | have carried my back across the
| rope have felt a rlfe perturbed, save when thcy
have been professional assistants. In realty iheie
| Is nothing In the world for them 10 DO AFRAID OF
Al they have 10 do Is 10 sit perfectly still, refrain
| from cluiching too tightly around the neck Au
| leave the rest TO me- When am carrying any on l
over for the first time / chat 10 him CONTINUOUSLY
on any different subjects can think about anu Wy
| In this manner to relieve his anxiety, and aiwa{
| caution him against looking downward when " mn
| air somehow. though, he never seems guitc happl
| and / always detect gasp Of relief when the enc
| ~ the rope and the platform are reached hofe
| than once the victim has devouty exclaimed, never
| agalnp