Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-02-14
WALKING THE ROPE.
BIondln Writes About Himself and
His Risky Profession.

made. l myself, he says, began TO
toddle along rope when 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 q
usual thing, no doubt, for the appren-
tees in a circus to be taught rope walk
ing among their other lessons, but only
a few of them ever get beyond the
rudiments of the art: The usual sys-
tenn of teaching is 10 make the pupil
walk along IA 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 q leading rope
walker uses appears in the public eyes
to be simple enough, but III reality
it has to be constructed and arranged
with the greatest of care. The rope i
generally use is formed with a flexible
core of steel wire, covered with the
best Manila hemp, and is about an inch
and three-quarters i'll diameter. 1t is
several hundred yards in length, and
the cost may be $500. The rope is
coiled from either end on two large
windlasses, and when supported by two
high poles the windlasses are turned
until the rope is stretched perfectly
taut. 1t takes me, as 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 a small plat
form, for the purpose of resting; and
on one Of these platforms | usually
place a temporary dressing-room, where
l 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 a 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 q rope
walkers feet are exceptionally large or
muscular. Mine, ] am told, are rather
below than above the ordinary size.
The balancing-pole, l suppose, fairly
comes within the classification of
apparatus. In my own case it is made
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 to 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 it is, | am
forced to carry great deal, and when
j visited Australia years ago | remem-
Der carried over sixty tons Of baggage
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
song, as the humor may sieze me. |
also invariably keep time in my step to
the music the band is playing, and !
flN that helps me wonderfully in pre-
serving my balance. With my own
weight and that of the balancing pole,
there must be about 230 pounds bear
ing on the rope, which naturally gives
considerably, this sagging being one OF
the chief difficulties we have TO EN-
counter IN keeping our balance. pre-
fer TO perform 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 al
ways stretched is most unpleasant to
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 reconciliation, just
as the within seizes me. This enables
me without effort TO vary programmes at
every performance, and prevents them
from becoming monotonous to me. l
could remain year, or even longer,
without ever setting foot on a rope and
Jllcll W Ou 1tuu bIOtu ~ 90
though I had been in constant practice
As an illustration of the slight amount
OF practice require for new trick, L
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 a
groove in the wheels to fit the rope. but
otherwise of ordinary fashion. ORDER
cd it TO be sent TO me some time before the
performance, so that could try it, but
it came just as i was making to appear
/ was as pleased as a child with new
toy and, mounting it at once, rehears-
ed successfully in view OF large
audience, who probably thought | had
been practjcing for months.
i never take any stimulant before
walking the rope, and take no special
pains to keep myself in good condition.
Ny attendent rubs me down carefully
when my journey is ended, and then L
take some light refreshment. Other
wise only live plainly and regularly,
merely avoiding eating heavy meal
shortly before a performance. Finally,
/ may say that prefer exhibiting with
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