The St. Johns herald., 1891-06-11
TRICKS OF AcRoBATs.
Au Old-Time Tumbler Tells How to Turn
 a Somersault.


 "What man or boy ever went to a cir GUS or variety show, where troupe of acrobats were on the bills, without hav- ing a vague sort of hanlzering to be able to throw pretty sonersault or a series of neat 'hips'? If his blood ever does flow through his veins at times faster than at others, it is when he sees a neat 'brother act wound up with the roll over,' accompanied by the familiar Hi va! Hi-ya!' of the performers, and the band playing as if crazy"
 These remarks were delivered by short, stout little man, as he sat at table in the bar of one of the quieter of the uptown hotels. Not ten years ago his name appeared on three-sheet posters in letters a foot high, says the New York Sun.
 ''Hard to learn? Why, bless you, no. All the talk about having to be double jointed and without backbone is bosh of the worst kind. A man certainly wants the stiffest kind of a back, and good strong pair of legs, or he will never be a. tumbler or leaper.
 ''Mind you, l don't allude to this con- tortion business; that's different. When I say the stiffest kind of back don't mean one that can't be bent to a reason able extent, but one set up with good strong muscles-muscles which, when called upon for little extra effort, will respond with some vim. We have often heard that it requires constant practice for years, dating almost from the cradle, to become a finished acrobat Why, I never did flip in my life until was eighteen years old, and if there was anybody in the ring who could throw a higher somersault, or get over more ele- plants than could when was twenty, I never ran across him.
 ''How did 1 learn it all? Easy enough. All you need is set of 1unges' and mattress.
 ''May be you don't know what 'lunges' are. Simplest arrangement you ever saw. Just broad leather belt, with ring at each side, from which two light manilla cords run up through coupleof pulley-blocks screwed into the ceiling. The ends of the cords are held by some body who knows what he is about, and that's all. With this rigging you can learn all there is to know about tumbling, from plain handspring to the three-high somersault down to the bottom mans shoulders, and not risk your neck nearly as much as you do go- ing down a toboggan-slide. Give me a man who is ordinarily active, who has little pluck and perseverance, and will teach him to jump up and turn over be- fore he is two days older.
 ''You see, man is heavier from his waist down than he is up above. When he gets into the 'lungcs, no matter how awkward his attempt is, he is bound to flop around right side up, providing the man who holds the ropes don't ease up on them too much. Why, it's as simple and safe as eating your dinner!
 ''The ability to throw somersault, forward or backward is the foundation on which all tumbling acts are built, and this is how to do it: Stand squarely on your feet. Don't keep them too close together, and be sure you have good balance. Then rock forward a little until your weight rests on the balls of your feet, then give sharp spring up- ward, at the same time lifting with the arms and shoulders. Practice this lift few times until you get the idea. You will find it will add foot to the height of your jump. Now you are ready to turn over. The next time you jump up throw your hands high over your head and give your head quick jerk back ward at the same time. If the instant you feel your feet leave the ground, by drawing them up under you you will find that they will swing around so as to meet your hands, if you want to reach for them. Just catch hold of your knees and give little pull and you are over.
 "That's the back The forward is on the same principle, only the head and arms are thrown forward after the lift The only hard part of it is to make a neat landing and not, after ac- complaining the somersault, strike on your feet, and, pitching forward, fall all over yourself. A little practice will en- able you to know just when to expect to land, and then you can begin to put some style into your work. You are now in fair way to become gymnast. All the rest is easy when you once get command of yourself.'