Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-06-10
HIGH-AIR WOMEN.
SUPERSEDING MEN AS PERFORMERS ON
THR TRAPFZG.
Not 80 Daring and Skillful, but Much More Grace
al-PiOnssrs in the Hazardous Profess
sion - Some Famous Per-
formers.
NelU York Sun.


The high-air trapeze business in circuses
and variety shows is now done almost en-
tirely by women, and the circus men cay
that male gymnasts, unless they possess
extraordinary gifts, ara no longer an at
traction. Woman is so much more grace
ful and picturesque when swinging in the
air than il man, and her daring deeds seem
30 much more difficult and 30 much the
more wonderful because they are performed
by woman, that the average spectator will
not look at a male performer if girl
chsnces to be on the trapeze at the same
time, Aud so the man has had to 60, and
the circus people seem to think that be
will not get back to his old.time popular
ity for long time.
II was at the Holborn Amphtheatre that
the first female trapezist appeared in the
person of beautiful young woman rejoic-
ing in the nom d'arena of AZslla, the nov
elty of whose performance and the grace
and symmetry of whose slender, supple
form aroused unbounded admiration. Fol.
lowing in the footsteps of the famous Leo
ta,6, sbe turned somersaults from a flying
trapeze, but instead of landing on spring
board like her predecessor heavy mattress
was spread under the trapeze which re-
ceiyed her at last and frem which she
tossed kisses aud smiles to her applauding
heholders. Azella was succeeded by Mile.
Pereirs, who exhibited feats of skill and
strength which astonished the world, not
40 much from Their inherent peril and
cleverness as from the novelty of a woman
displaying adroitness and proficiency 10
acts of daring hitherto manifested only by
men.
The long flights of the celebrated Jean
Price were next emulsted by pretty little
woman named HAYNES, who transformed
herself for professional purposes into Nine.
Senyah by simply spelling her name
backward. A pleasing variation of Prices
methods were exhibited by this lady and
her husband, the husband suspended BY
his feet from the trapezs and catching bis
wife she few through the air with the mo.
msntum acquired from the flying trapezs
on which che swung nearly within his
reach. This trick always produces
great applause, and yet it is one
of the simplest acts of the
gymnast, Zazsl, the daring leaper and wire.
walker of Barnum's circus, having done
this act when scarcely six years old. II
only requires courage and knack OF using
the muscles of the chest. Aerial athletes
leap with the chest instead of the legs, be
cause an aerial leap is one of main strength,
and there is no point of resistance from
which start can be made. 1t is q kind
of flying, and the performer throws back
her head, expands her chest and draws heI
feet we'll up in lesping, in order to hold the
direction Of her coarse, which would other
wise be downward.
The next feminine divinity In tights
WAS the child Lulu, who appeared IN 1876
with her father as the Flying Farinis, u
and was supposed to be a boy, as ut the
close of the act she came flying down out
of the pulleys and ladders and sang 8
catchy little song of which the chorus was,
30, wait until / am q man." Great as
tonishment was occasioned when few
years later she identified herself with hel
sex and crowned her exploits by aerial
flights excelling those Of the famous
Leotard and Niblo, during which she
turned three somersaults in the air, feat
never before accomplished and never since
exeelled. A rumor to the effect that
gymnast had succeeded in turning foul
somersaults before touching the ground,
but that he died from exhaustation as th.
result, has been circulated and obtained
some credence.
The most noted rope-walksr Of the pas'