Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-06-04

f. 0tG OF SenGlHicDE tnGuthSu ia Ouos oS-
fore the Perfosmanoe-Dnnger Dreaded
rs More Than Balf rnvlted--Japaness
Jugglefs.
Tho Vaidi sisters sire two pretty English
girls who do some very good trapeze work
One of them performs q dive, head fore
most, from the very top of the prosce-
mum arch, a dizzy height, into a 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 If any mere dangerous than a
number of things that they do together
on the trapeze before that finale. So long
as the performer ONE down into the net
there need be no fear. There is more
danger In the breaking Of a tightly
strained guy wire at o 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 q 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 10
all gone over and examined before each
performance. This, with the stretching
of the net, takes several minutes.
A BIT OF SENTIMENT.
While these things are being done the
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 off
their cloaks. Then the two girls embrace
and kiss each others hands. After that
they dart out on the stage, and a moment
later they are up in the air risking their
necks. II chat little bit Of sentimental
business were done In public, it would be
understood as a tawdry conceit for effect,
like many other things in which gym
nasts and acrobats indulge, with a view
to impressing the spectators. But II
Is not. The embracing and kissing
are all done Gin the WINGS" where
1t is only by accident that q person neal
the footlights In the parquet on the oppo'
site side of the stage may ~perehance see
1t. The general disposition to ascribe tc
superstition of some sort the motive i'm
polling people to do somewhat unusual
things naturally suggests that as o reason
for the Vaidi girls demonstration. But
upon inquiry it is learned that this i:
prompted by simple affection, nothing
more. Each knows that 1t Is well within
the range Of possibilities that the slipping
Of her hand, the failure by a hairs breadth
of the others grasp or a break of the ap
paratus may cause her sisters plunge tx
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 I
tenderer demonstration of the impuls,
that prompts comrades, when going init
battle, to shake hands silently. 1t ma,
be for the last time, and they know it.
There is little superstition among tn
limb and lite v~enturing classes Of publ
performers. far less than exists anon
people In the histrionic profession
Whether it is that the vigorous life Of til
former develops a more healthful and cor
sequently sounder philosophy, or thu
their training has drilled them into
higher confidence In themselves and az
probation Of the possibilities of huma
control over lwhat weaker natures deer
fate and luck, need not be discussed here
The fact is enough for present considers
ton. OF course there are exceptions t
this, as to every other rule, but eve
when they do occur they are not riolent
and generally have some pretty fair re'
son back Of the seeming superstition o
legged. Matte jackson, for instance, wi
not ride in the circus ring on Good Fir
day, She avows q fear that some acc
dent will happen to her If she does. as OF
did once upon q time when she broke tt
rule. or perhaps before she made ii. BIZ
d the fact is that she has a vague idea thu
1T isn't right. And several ether we
known riders have the same notion.
8 a N DREADED.
1t indeed appears that the dread of ha,
gno n qunerstttion ia mora rifa amor