New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-18
ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE.

AN AERIAL GYMNAST.


OF The reign OF Isabella Queen OF SPAIN but such
is really the Up 10 that time sroling players
anu monniebanks appeared from time TO time through
ou' The country, beating tambourines and playing
upon the harp, while one Of their number threw
himself Into extravagant poses before the admirins
village folk. Such simple tricks throwing
'omersault we've done by the court-eser In presence
Vi 'he King, for his diversion. One rainy day,
however, Felicia, fayoriie maid in waiting TO Her
Majesty proposed that all the ladies' should assemble
III one OF the large rooms Of the palace aud play at
caisihenlcs. Old-fashi0ned dresses were dragged
odi oil their cedar chests and Topped up with ho"ers
ana feathers, and the young ladies' attircd themselves
III these quaint costumes Of their grandmothers.
Then the old musician was LOT into the secret, ard
they mproysed dainty dance to delciousy seductive
ana dreamy spanish music. Felicia, carrying
tinseed wand, held it up while the jester eapt over
IT, Then he sprang upon swing and ccVeriy
twiried himself over the bar, TO the delight OF the
young girls. After these were reheafsed
until they perfect the Queen informed and
this innocent diversion served to while away tedious
ana rainy afternoon, and at the time introduced
the fashion for acrobatic performances After that,
by special command of Isabella, company Of gypses
was assembled at the palace and trained TO dance
and entertain the court. Worry the demand for
such performers became general and the feats became
gradually more intricate and difficult. Thus, under
the protection OF royalty they resulted in the modern
aerial gymnastics known to this generation. What
progress has been made in this delightfully."- dangerous
ant may be from the personal narrative OF we'll
known woman "trapcze artist7-a tIapezlum Mrs.
harrington would say.
Sc shall forget how eager | was" said She,
" to 60 into the business. And right here let me
tell you that, unless is fond OF the work. he or
She will never achieve real and grace To succeed
1t is necessary 10 be daring and determined made
my debut rather earlier than most performers, for
! had but three months Of actual training. MY
husband had been from childhood an acrobat,
and he reluctantly consented to teach me.
lie rugged up a gymnasium in largo upper room
OF our house. The first thing did to get my
strength; that IS, to hang by my hands and slowly
raise my body til my chin touched the bar. Then
began the routine Of tricks These weo ten in mum
Der. IL is always best begin this practice young.
say from twelve to sixteen years for then the muscles
arc flexible and the body more plant The first feat
was 10 circle the bar. viz 10 grasp the bar win
palms outward and swing directly over IT, bringing
the feet the head the hands sliding around till
the first position was gancl second to hang by the
knees. Third extending the limbs, and by the nstep,
catching the s'de-rOpes F0u Ill., 'ciiclng the rope
which is difficult 10 describe and YOU have to do 1t to
understand H. Fifth to hang by one knee, AMI change
10 the Other Sixth sknnlng the cat or disl0cailon.
This effected by throwing oneself the bar with
ont changing the position Of the hands. II gives the
effect Of dislocaton. and Is difficult and painful
trick. Then. to recover. IT leaves you hanging In
position number ono. seventh. doing the scale
that ls slowly raising the body till IL is extended
horizontally beneath the bar. This is done by both
hands and aferwarl by one hand. Tho eighth IS to
hang by the toes shifting from to the other The
ninth Is 10 hang by the heels Thon came the tenth,
spring from pedestal into the net. There you lani
on the small Of your back. and You bound once or
twice into an upright position. This leap you increase
gradually the distance being from twenty five TO thirty
feet with drop of feet finally. when you do the
leap for life from the rapeze.
IAN the foregoing the practice acts When It
comes 10 performance the theatre, tho routine Is
lust a, you desire 10 make It usually, though, be-
ginning with the simplest and ending with the most
difficult tricks the whole occupying about eight min
MES When 7 I'D the double act, however, 1t ran 70
seventeen minutes. This combination OF the
fests mentioned and ! did one OF the most orglhai
acts known 10 the profession. II consisted IN plae-
Ing nv instep directly over my husbands and swing
ing ont sideways while he SWING back and forward
This used 70 bring down the house.
"Thc style of costume ! wore consisted OF wha' Is
,rovr A. the Icotarl' II was a bodice. with very
short trunks all in piece. and Is now used mostly
bv umbers and contortlonsts. The present style Is
tInIc trunks and SASH with tights, and for the feet
cttbor nurnus or boots These last are made OF I'M
DRESSED kd with thin solcleathcr bottoms. maze
rough. and rubbed with rosn. They are auou 'ho
! thickness Of a glove laced, and mostly WITHOUT
heels II costs 80 and upward to get a good par.
The pumps are cheaper and some mare heIS VI
canvas and wash them after each performance lho
silk fights are always in need Of repairs the friction
NJ tbe rope soon DESTROYS them, and 1t costs ABOUT
s,5 a month IN keep your wardrobe In good ol'lef'
The demand for women performers Is greater than lor
men Tie public are more Interested III sc'"s
woman do dangerous act, 80 In consequence one WIN
q an ryDcrt can demand and receive mghrr sdlsIS
than = man. The best paid Of all are those who DO
7 .d,,,bc art: two women, for instance IN Such
c..o tho salar, would he all the way from Tl"o 10
500 a week IT takes about TWO years OF uh'ca9'hs
rpac,ice TO do the routine Of acts win thcl c'o'
.re J, f,rY. one Acquires grace in the eNecu'loh'
The first effect upon me. ply scaly, was upon III,
nerves Of my owes. effect such as one ""''' i'0'
who had uicd to read in the twilight II i ''i' "p'
-, ,,,,,co rear .yl,trdnc-, and there are few gym
nayts who can distinguish readily objects 4"o var"
av.ar II f. dangerous 10 eat a hearty meal before
working 2, II seems 10 cloud ones percepuohs' anu
adds to the weight | seldom partook OF he%'y
meal iii afterwarl ] think. too, that the WORK Is
an, - affect fine action Of the heart. The hIehse
rc,,ous strain before going the sense oil dansor
all that masses away when one Is actually OIL "'o '
but II Is apt to react upon one when IL Is o'eH
fines II appeared 10 me like panoramic u'o~"' W
rows upon rows Of spectators. the silence u'" A
cue which consisted Of a certain strain Oh huS'' '
I appeared my heart beaiing time to 'he ".
One quick glance to If the suy-ropes Nole az , .,
propr tension then the swift. upward ghue uPV" .ID
rome to the top Of the theatre. once NY %1"s
clae ped the bar I became machine inous"' 49,, ',
none only the unconscious thOught which Wv" '
body to obey my will. Down beo" se1 ,,,
away The world seemed distant ioit -,
ringing In nv ears and the son whrring rush Oh 'r7
hot air set in motion, bzhins Ike 1ule' pas ac
The rhythm Of the music soothed mo ana n'ei. n
work easier Indeed true artist can "o'N
II: # lends harmony 10 each movement ! v"'- No.
describe 10 you the peculiar DfulIho i",o eheo
aerial arts give one. The body seems ,ho act
,.,aI. ,,,ho,,, veirbt. The excitement OF the aet
atos ono indifferent 70 slight bruse or wrench OF
train But afterward-oh, aftcrwaid the acli ,
wrists and the tender skin between Inc hheoi' ~, ~
frequently bceds in the first years oil y ii" 80,
: = ~. r.hnlc hnAX gradMally bccOIneo haIu-