Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-01-30
a "egApeR.sr CONFESSIONS.
A Fair English Coniortionist Of Nineteer
Tells OF Her Profession.


The other day called on a bender, q
lady not gentleman who is we'll known
as most serpentine contortiOHist. !
wished to ask Mile vomare few qiies
tions abont her art with a view Of throw
ing some Eight on the training Of little
boys and girls for the profession The
lady Was sitting before the FIRE with her
sister who has abandoned bending her
self and exhibits troupe Of highly edu
Gated poodlea A huge wicker basket con
tanned her dress and other -etage habits
From its depths she produced a bundle Of
photographs Of herself tied and knotted
into all manner Of curious folds
That is the business Of bender The
body is thrown into score Of unnatural
Pastures. which appear to the audience TO
BE- achieved BY disiocating every joint in
the human frame and 70 te effected at
great risk 10 limb and life Artists are
generally enthusiastic aiJoatt their esaiIirgs.
and ! must say that Miss Vorlafe declared
she would rather he bender than a
queen 81 something 70 that effect She b.
gas Al at 81 she Was tefors the public.
and remains a tender still My father
saw coutortioihs; dTle night on the stage
and be asked himself zhy he should not
teach me aged | was PIT into train
ing at oifce and enjoyed the fun, as q
child will enjoy anything new Was
/ beatenf was ! starved No seemed 10
take TO it like a little duck takes TO
water You see We we're family 81
athletes and besides was q daughter
and not ar apprentice II the father Is
the trainer be may not spare the rod but
he Is cruel only to he kind Ny expert
ence is that less rod ard more kindness 10
the best plan Father ssed to bribe Us
into dong the different tricks To be sue
eessfHl means years Of hard WORK pFac
tice and performance am 10 nov. aid
my performances keeps me in capital train
ing
ia the business Of contortion the FIRST
lesson is the back ward bend frst with
the arms and then without You stand
On long mattress Sc that there IS ~
danger and at FIRST your teacher controls
your movements With q belt Il Is much
( the same with other forms Of acrotatis
work and the cruelty often takes the form
Z 1f taking away the mattress. which
creates a sort Of panic IN the pupils mind
& II he has really tried his BEST and failed,
! be IS SO terrified that be il almost certain
4 to fail unless he has a great deal Of pluck
/ II he has only been sillking it may bring
7 him 20 his bearings OF course. children
are often stubborn and try the patience
/ of the teacher to its utmost limit
4 The art Of eoniortion continued Miss
4 Vonare. is learned ty degrees First the
I back y ard bend then the dislocation.
Z then the splits and so on What we
{ call closeness distinguishes the best
/ bending To the audience bending seems
/ most difficult experience no discomfort
or Inconvenience vas a puny ckiId
/ You see me now The lady bender 9as
certainly most healthy and cheerful. stout
in body and ruddy in complexion, and she
strongly maintains that all women would
be greatly benefited If they took 10 bend
ing 1t is quite mistake to think that
we put cur limbs out Of joint or that we
suffer from lie curious nature OF our per
Torrance OF course after ore OF more
difficult positions ole may suffer a little
pain but 1t goes in no time In some at
titudes can only remain foi twenty sec
0nds a. the breai hing becomes difficult
But these are triiiug Inconvenience ]
practice a few minutes every day 70 keep
myself loose here III uly room and that Is
about all need DO Pail Mall Gazette