The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-01

more respectable calling, but the price
demanded by the latter is SO high as to
be practically prohibitive
The cases in which they have passed
from their professions into higher ones
are those in which great personal hero
ism has been displayed In many wars
and rebellions, acrobats. through their
great strength and endurance, have
surprised soldiers and officers alike and
thus obtained \ personal distinction
which became stepping stone to mill
tary and official position.
The Chinese acrobat begins his edu-
cation in babyhood. His training is
wider than that given his western
cousins. In addition to the regular
tricks, he practices with the sword,
spear, shield and fan. He masters
Chinese shuttlecock, singular game,
in which the shuttlecock is kept in the
air by being kicked with the heel back
wards or sideways. He learns also the
tight rope, slack wire, and other famil-
lar functions. He never ceases exer-
cises and practices which tend to in
crease agility and endurance. At four
years of age he is SO proficient that
alone, or with professional comrades,
he will give street performances and
make more money in day than the
average workman does in week.
Outside of his profession he receives
little or no education At full age he
can seldom read and write, and has no
ideas beyond the insignificant world in
which he lives and moves. He is very
superstitious, and in every town patron
ICES Joss house, where there is sup
posed to be divinity particularly
favorable to his craft
Take him all in all. he is better
acrobat than those of any other coun-
try, except Japan. He performs feats
which are seldom or never seen at
home. A common act, for instance, is
for the performer to fold his arms upon
his chest, sit down, and fold his legs so
that the soles touch the trunk. In this
strained attitude he moves about on his
knees as well as upon his feet, jumps,
hops on one stump or knee, springs up
stairs step by step backward and for
ward, and closes by throwing a back
somersault without unlocking his limbs
from start to finish.
Upside down work. is of common
occurrence. Two tumblers, each wear
ing breechcloth, appear upon tho
stage and begin walking on their hands.
They run races, make wide and high
jumps, and do nearly everything with
the hands that is done with the feet,
and vice versa. Among the more inter-
esting or. grotesque feats are jumping
into box or tub, jumping upstairs
backward, boxing. fencing and wrest-
ling. This style of work seems to in
crease the voluntary control of the
muscles of the feet. Nearly all the
performers can grasp objects, using the
great toe as thumb, and can grip and
pinch in the same manner with force
that will leave a black and blue mark
In Juggling they do some wonderful
work. One brilliant act is done with
the lights turned down. The perform
er juggles with three, four and five
balls, each of which is
mass of flames. This is trick. Each
ball is made of two pieces, the lower
half being cup-shaped and composed of
lead or pewter, and the upper half of
cotton or other tissue, soaked in in
oil. No matter how thrown
or curved the heavy half falls down
ward. As a further preventive from
burning the performer covers his hands,
arms, face, chest and back with alum
powder or some other chemical prepa-
ration.
Some day great Chinese troupe may
be induced to visit the United States. |
In such an event they will make more
marvellous sensation than did the IA
nous Japanese company with little
'All Right" thirty years ago Possibly |
some enterprising manager may make
Chinese acrobats feature of the |
worlds fair at Chicago Bed
loe, in n. Y. Advertiser.