The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-12-08
HOW A ROPE WALKER FEELS
Exchange.


is meant whether | feel tear or ner-
vousness must answer decidedly 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 seize me.
| also invariably keep time in my step
to the music the band is playing, and
| find that it helps me wonderfully in
preserving my balance. With my own
weight and that of the balancing pole
there must be about two hundred and
thirty pounds bearing on the rope,
which naturally gives considerably,
this sagging being one of the chief
difficulties we have to encounter in
keeping our balance. prefer to per-
form in the open air, for in a hall or
theater, even of the largest dimensions,
the vitiated air found at the elevation
at which my rope is always stretched,
is most unpleasant to breathe.
Nowadays | never practice, and even
my most difficult tricks, such as turn
ing a somersault over a chair placed in
the middle of the rope and landing
with my feet on the other side of it.,
are usually performed without pre-
meditation, just as the within seizes
me. This enables me without effort
TO vary my programmes at every per-
Torrance, and prevents them from be-
coming monotonous to me. | could
remain year or even longer without
ever setting foot on a rope, and then
go on and tread it as safely as though
L bod hanVR ~ NJ nAsan Ao
an illustration of the slight amount of
practice / require for a new trick /
may mention my bicycle act. Some
years ago, when bicycles were some
what of a novelty, it struck me that /
could utilize one in my performance,
and accordingly had one constructed
according to my directions, with q
groove in the wheels to fit the rope,
but otherwise of ordinary fashion. /
ordered it to be sent to me some time
before the performance so that could
try it, but 1t came just as l was max
ing ready to appear. l was as much
pleased as a child with a new toy, and
mounting it at once / rehearsed sue
cessfully in view of a large audience,
who probably thought had been
practicing for months.
never take any stimulant before
walking the rope and take no special
pains to keep myself in good condi-
ton. My attendants rub me down
carefully when my journey is ended
and then take some light refresh
ment. Otherwise only live plainly
and regularly, merely avoiding eating
heavy meal shortly before q per-
Torrance. Finally, may say that 1
prefer exhibiting without q net
stretched below me. / think that il
would make me so nervous as almost
to lead to the accident against which
it Is intended as safeguard.
II myself did not feel nervous l am
afraid the many persons l have car
ried on my back ACROSS the rope have
felt trifle disturbed, save when they
have been professional assistants. In
reality there is nothing in the world
for them 10 be afraid of. All they
have to do is to sit perfectly still, re-
frain from clutching me too tightly
around the neck and leave the rest to
me. When am carrying anyone over
for the first time / chat to him con-
tinuously on any Indifferent subject
can think about and try in this man.
ner to relieve his anxiety, and always
caution him against looking down.
ward when in mid air. Somehow,