Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-02-08
WALKING THE ROPE.
Blondln Writes About Himself and
His Risky Profession.

From Blondin's paper in Lippincotts
Magazine it can be learned that rope
walker is like poet, born and not
made. i myself, he says, began to
toddle along rope when l was only
four years old, and in my eighth year L
gave special exhibition on the high
rope before the King at Turin. 1t is a
usual thing, no doubt, for the appren-
tees in IA circus to be taught rope walk
ing among their other lessons, but only
q few of them ever get beyond the
rudiments of the art: The usual sys-
TEN of teaching is To make the pupil
walk along "a narrow board the width
of which is daily decreased until it Is
barely thicker than an ordinary rope.
Posturing the assumption OF graceful
attitudes are taught in this manner and
finally the pupil is introduced to the
rope itself
The apparatus which a leading rope
walker uses appears in the public eyes
to be simple enough, but IN reality
it has to be constructed and arranged
with the greatest of care. The rope
generally use is formed with flexible
core of steel wire, covered with the
best Manila hemp,an is about an inch
and three-quarters in diameter. 1t Is
several hundred yards in length, and
the cost may be $500. The rope is
coiled from either end on two large
windasses, and when supported by two
high poles the windlasses are turned
until the rope is stretched perfectly
taut 1t takes me, as "A rule, several
days TO adjust this simple apparatus TO
perfection-a fact which caused me to
abandon my performances at Staten
Island. where it was necessary to re-
move the rope after each exhibition.
At the top of each pole is small plat
form, for the purpose OF resting; ana
on one of these platforms | usually
place temporary dressing-room where
/ can make necessary changes in my
attire. | may mention here that the
suit of armor in which ! first appear Is
of great weight and exquisite work
manship, the gauntlets having once be-
longed to the celebrated tenor, Mario.
As rule, my other costumes are OF the
least possible weight, while the shoes
are an ordinary pair of fine leather
ones, with soft soles. 1t Is, | think, a
popular error to suppose that rope
walkers feet are exceptionally large or
muscular. Mine, am told, are rather
below than above the ordinary size.
The balancing-pole, | suppose, fairly
comes within the classification OF
In, IL il m Ga
of ash. is about twenty-six feet long,
and weighs some forty or fifty pounds.
1t is made in three pieces, so as TO be
easily taken apart and 10 occupy but
little space when | am travelling. Nat
/ urally, my journeys into every quarter
of the civilized world have taught me
TO reduce my baggage TO the smallest
possible dimensions; but, as il is, | am
forced TO carry IA great deal, and when
] visited Australia years ago | remem-
Der carried over sixty tons OF baggage
1 with me.
am often asked as to my sensations
when walking the rope; but if by that
is meant whether feel fear or nervous
ness, | must answer decidedly in the
negative. When walking | look some
/ eighteen or twenty feet ahead of me
and whistle softly or hum snatch OF q
song, as the humor may sieze me.
also invariably keep time in my step tC
the music the band is playing, and
find that helps me wonderfully in pre-
serving my balance. With my own
! weight and that OF the balancing pole,
there must be about go pounds bear
ing on the rope, which naturally gives
considerably. this sagging being one o.
the chief difficulties we have to en-
counter in keeping our balance. l pre-
| fer TO perform in the open air; for in a
/ hall or theater, even of the largest
! dimensions, the vitiated air found al
, the elevation at which my rope Is al
WAYS stretched is most unpleasant &c
! breathe.
| Nowadays | never practice, and even
! my most difficult tricks, such as turning
"a somersault over chair placed in the
middle of the rope and landing with my
feet on The other side OF it, are usually
! performed without generalization, just
as the within seiZcS me. This enables
me without effort to vary programmes al
every performance, and prevents them
from becoming monotonous to me.
could remain year, or even longer,
/ without ever setting foot on "A rope and
/ then 60 on and tread it as safely as
| though had been in constant practice
] As 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 novelty, it struck me that
! could utilize one it my performance. and
/ ! according TO my directions, with d
! groove in the wheels to fit the rope. but
: otherwise of ordinary fashion. | order
! ed il to be sent to me some time before the
performance, so that could try 1t, but
il came just as was making TO appear.
| was as pleased as a child with "a new
toy, and, mounting ii at once, | rehears'
! ed successfully in view of large
audience, who probably thought | had
been practicing for months.
| never take any stimulant before
walking the rope and take no specia
pains to keep myself in good condition.
Ny attendcnt rubs me down carefully
when my journey is ended, and then
take some light refreshment. Other
I l;r-. ,,l.i,l- ap1 rnottla,.1,