Wichita eagle., 1888-06-29
TRAPEZE PERFORMERS.
SUPERSTITION AMONG THE LIMB AND
LIFE RISklNG CLASS.

A Bit of Sentiment INDUCED in Just Be-
fore the Performance-Danser Dreaded
Is More Than Half Invited-Japanese
JuggIers.
The vaidi sisters are two pretty English
girls who do some very good trapeze work
One of them performs a dive, head fore
most, from the very top Of the prosce-
MUM arch, dizzy height. into 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 more dangerous than a
number of things that they do together
on the trapeze before that finale So long
as the performer comes down into the net
there need be no fear. There is more
danger IN the breaking of a tightly
strained guy wire at a critical moment.
by which the trapeze might be violently
jerked out of place and the performer
thrown off. away outside of the net, to
fall upon the backs Of the orchestra chairs
and be picked up mass of broken bones
and mangled Sesh, 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 is
all gone over and examined before each
performance. This. with the stretching
of the net, takes several minutes.
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 cloals 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 hiss each others hands. After that
they dart out on the stage, and moment
later they are up in the air risking their
necks. If that little bit of sentimental
business were done in public, it would be
understood as tawdry conceit for effect,
like many other things in which gym
nasts and acrobats indulge. with view
to impressing the spectators. But it
is not. The embracing and kissing
are al done Gin the wings" where
it is only by accident that person near
the footlights in the parquet on the oppo-
site side of the stage may perchance see
it. The general disposition to ascribe to
superstition of some sort the motive i'm
polling people to do somewhat unusual
things naturally suggests that as a reason
for the yaidi girls demonstration. But
upon inquiry it is learned that this is
prompted by simple affection. nothing
more Each knows that it is we'll within
the range of possibilities that the slipping
of her hand, the failure by hairs breadth
Of the others grasp or break Of the ap-
paratus may cause her sisters plunge to
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
tenderer demonstration of the impulse
that prompts comrades. when going into
battle, to shake hands silently. 1t may
be for the last time, and they know it.
There is little superstition among the
limb and life venturing classes Of public
performers. far less than exists among
people in tho histrionic profession.
Whether it is that the vigorous life of the
former develops moro healthful and con-
sequently sounder philosophy, or that
their training has drilled them into q
higher confidence In themselves and ap-
probation of the possibilities of human
control over what weaker natures deem
fate and luck. need not be discussed hero.
The fact is enough for present considera-
tiop- Of course there are exceptions to
this. as to every other rule. but even
when they do occur they are not violent,
and generally have some pretty fair rea-
son back of the seeming superstition al
legged Matte Jackson, for instance, will
not ride in ihe circus ring on Good Fri
day. She svows fear that some acct
dent will happen TO her if she does, as one
did once upon a time when she broke the
rule. or perhaps before she made it. But
the fact Is that she has vague idea that
1t isn't right And several other well
known riders have the same notion.
4 DANGER DREADED.
It indeed appears that the dread of hsv-
ing q superstition is more rife among
circus people tlsn any superstition IS. for
ihs excellent reason Tnst they Know
Sanger dfesaea is more Jhsu haIf invited
4 mss whose nerves sre 20 the slightest
degree unstrung by expectancy OF sccidcn5
Is likely TO realize his expectation when
some feat that demands all the /
strength. skill, GOODNESS and nerve that he /
possesses. Very often riders perform !
ance is made timid and meaSurably in |
effective simply by grooms report to /
him that his horse docs not seem to be (
feeling all right" There Is nosuper.tition /
about that. but consciousness that If the 4
horse is not ''all right" and up to good re-
and observance of his training,
the breaking of his riders leg or perhaps |
his neck. may be the consequence
L msy hardly be fair 20 classify as |
the practice of carrying po- (!
fatoes or horse ohestnuts in the pockets /
rs fetiches against rheumatism If it is /.
30. then there is good deal of that sort /
Of superstition among show folk. but they |
vehemently affirm thas it is prompted by
knowledge of the proved medicinal virtues
nf tAass -artselas-