The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-03-30

A semi-twilight filled the stage and audito-
rum of the big variety theatre. Row after row
of vacant seats stared onesomely at the reporter
as he stood upon the stage gazing curiously
about him. There were several groups of per-
formers engaged in rehearsing various especial
ties as they term their acts, the stage beside
him. A banjoist sat strumming upon his in
strument near the footlghts accompanied by
the crashing orchestra; q song-andda man
here and there went through the ntricacies of
his doubleshufIie or breakdown; "knockabout'
comedians, with solemn, uninterested counte-
nances, were repeating their gags and jokes;
sentimental song-warblers under cover Of the
orchestra hummed their tales of woe, while a
couple of contortionists writhed and twisted
their serpentine selves into all possible shapes
imaginable.
Chow does one learn to become q con-
tortionist 20 said the timber man, repeating
the reporters question. 'Well, don'tk as
there is any special manner of becoming one, or
any peculiar line of training to be undergone.
OF course, 1t is necessary to begin while quite
young, when the muscles are soft and pliable
and the joints supple. began when boy
of perhaps thirteen by turning handsprings and
performing other similar feats that known
to all school-boys Soon found that could
bend easily in any direction pleased and that
my back seemed to operate If on hinge.
Then, to excite the envy and admiration of my
playfelows, l would tie my legs around each
other or stand upon my feet and bend my body
backward until the head would appear between
the knees; then spread the arms out and let each
hand grasp leg. This is feat common with
most contortionists AS practiced very reg
ularly kept my body in an extremely supple
condition, and from time to time added fresh
features to my contortions, such as bending the
body into peculiar shapes that would give me
serpentine appearance.
s'It's rather curious, "he continued, ''but most
Of the contortionists come from small villages
and towns throughout the country, having re-
ceived their inspiration to become contorton-
lists from witnessing performances in the cir
cuses The advent of circus in a small town
is great event in the lives of the small village
lads They attend in great numbers, and when
the circus has left GO home to practice the diff
ferent feats performed by the tumbers, clowns,
and contortionists. 1t is usually their one am
biton to become associated with circus, and
to this end they will tumble and twist until
their poor little bodies are sore all over. Iknow
how it is myself. l was kept pretty well
bruised up when first began to mimic the per-
lOIulSIS IA CuC CHCuoco. 1uGlu IllS llldu-
ner these small boys manage to become able
performers, and by the time they have become
quite proficient circus happens along, they
seek an audience with the manager, show him
what they can do, and if up to his standard are
engaged, and the youthful aspirant skips off
from home. Very few of the contortionists are
city-raised men.
''Does it take very long time to become a
cOntOrtionist ?' asked the reporter
SIT isn't so much agquestion of time as of
steady practice. Practice is everything, and a
man must keep at it constantly, not stopping to
rest day. He must practice regularly also, and
never be afraid of doing too much of it. Does
it affect the health? No, hardly think it does.
/ have never been i'll day since can remember.
In fact don't see why it should hurt us any
more than the exercise taken every day by
trained athletes. 1t is nothing more than that.
But to return to the boy contortionist who has
joined the circus. He is placed in charge of
some experienced contortionist, who teaches him
all the little tricks of going about the business
he knows, and those which will elicit applause
from the audience When November arrives
the circus usually goesinto winter quarters, so, of
course, the boy contortionist must seek another
berth. Generally the dime museum attracts
his attention, and he applies to them for work
until the circus season opens again. The va
riety combinations are always watching these
museums to see if any real good performers are
to be found in them-performers who have hit
upon some unique idea in twisting or novelties
in acrobatic fCsts. In this manner they get
upon the stage"
"Do you find it necessary to be careful about
your eating and drinking?'
''Hes, in measure we must be very careful
about what we eat, and seldom if ever are wines
or liquors drunk. Immediately after eating it
would hurt a man badly to begin his comforting.
Some hours should elapse between the time of
eating and performing, generally wait fully
two hours before making move. We do not
diet, but are careful not to eat of too much food
that is not easily digested"
"Where do the mass of variety people come
from 90
"Well that would be pretty hard to answer.
They come from all walks of life. AS rule
most of them are of Irish or Dutch descent.
Many on the American stage come from the
music halls of England. The management of a
variety troupe is different from that of legiti-
mate company. The members are hired at a
certain salary, payable weekly, and travelling
expenses are allowed them, but when city is
reached where performance is to be given
they are expected to find their own lodgings at
hotels or boarding houses, and pay for it, too,
out of their salary. Board and lodging usually
costs from So to So per week, although some of
the tony ones, as they are called, on large sal
aries, viii spend $40 or Sl2; but the first are the
prices generally paid"
''Are variety actors as a rule disspated ~
asked the reported.
''Yes; most of them, women and men, drink,
especially the funny men, The contortionists,
the facts have just told you. 1t is case OF