The herald., 1897-03-14
! A BORN ROPE WALKER

Blondin was the best example of the
man of one attainment that have ever
seen. He was born rope-walker, the
child of family of strolling acrobats,
who journeyed from village to village,
giving exhibitions Of jugglery and rope
walking In the market places and send
ing round the hat for contributions.
Blondin himself told me many years
ago how he first essayed what after
ward brought him fame and fortune.
Il was about 4 years old" he said.
"and was journeying about Europe with
my parents 1t was customary in those
days to stretch the rope from stake
driven firmly into the ground to some
high, strong steeple. and on the incline
thus made the performer would dance
up and down to the music of our little
band Of three pieces. My eldest sister ex-
celled in this art and was indeed one of
the best. of the rope dancers. as they
were called then, to be found In any of
the migratory companies. one morn
ing we were all assembled in the market
place Of the little town In which we were
stopping, and the peasants gathered
about US to see the exhibition. The
music starred up and my sister, with
her balancing pole in her hand, leaped
upon the rope and went skipping and
dancing away toward the distant
steeple, where the rope was fastened.
sudden impulse seized me to pursue
her. l seized my fathers cane, climbed
up on the roof and dashed off after her,
using the cane as a balancing pole and
running-so they all said-as easily and
securely as an old professional. When
my sister saw me high above the heads
of the people, with cane in my little
hands, she was so frightened that she
almost fell to the ground. and how my
parents managed to get me down from
the rope 1 have never known, but do
know that my father said 1 was born
rope-walker and from that moment my
career was mapped out for me-"
That Blondin was natural born rope
walker is evidenced by the fact that
during a professional career of more
than half century he never had the
slightest accident and never knew what
it was to be nervous while in mid-air.
He was the only one in his calling who
always impressed every one of his spec
tators with the fact that he was in no
personal danger while accomplishing
his feats.
He travelled with his son as his main
stay and companion, carrying ropes and
other apparatus to the extent of several
tons, and always worked himself, in his
shirt sleeves, when putting his appar-
atus into position. He declared that
unless he actually helped to put up the
ropes and poles he was not entirely sure
that everything was all right.
But outside of his own peculiar call
ing he knew scarcely anything. He had
lived nearly quarter of a century in
England and America without acquir
irg the English language, though he
managed to forget good deal of his
native French. He had journeyed all
over the world, giving exhibitions in
such remote countries as India, China
and Japan, and coming in contact with
a great many noted persons. who were
in him because of his unique
genius. Nevertheless it was impossible
for him to talk entertainingly or even
with ordinary intelligence about his ex-
periences. None of his children inherited
his talent. His son lives in England and
is engaged in commercial pursuits. His
daughter became the wife of Frank
Pastor, the brother of Tony Pastor.