The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-09


that ian acrobat must have his legs with
him. wearinsss uttacks thu learner il
the knees, anu practice must then be
abandoned for tho day, for the boy can
not 'sprinR from the feet when he u
leg weary" aud to continue would be
to no purpose.
General exercise has no part in tho
scheme Of training; Il Is considered a
waste OF time and strength. The mus.
Giles calleddnto play grow and harden as
the special work poee along; and their
| strength Is all that is required. Assa
matter OF fact, ho- ever the physical de-
velopment OF a boy in training is sym
metrioal; be gains strength in everg
part, aud surely progresses towards the
possession OF the splendid physical
strength OF his master. This Is true of
circus performers generally, with the ex.
oeption OF contOrtionists, whose lines are
laid IN hard places and whose lives nre
short; but II Is peculiarly true OF aero.
| bats, for they dare not overtax them.
selves, and they never need TO diet, or
rub themselves with some mysterious oil
as common tradition has It, to keep
Timber"
From the single somersault the ap-
prentice proceeds TO the double; and
there he stops so far as somersaults are
concerned. for, as Aiillstte said, s'every
acrobat knows that the body can't be
controlled afterra double turn Then
trick" after trick" Is taught NJ fast
as the lad can master them; and, at
length after some years OF hard train
| ing, the apprentice becomes au accom-
plishsd anrobat Long before that time
comes, he can be tossed about like
ball-"It's just like playing catch with
him., Millette said, without any con-
siderable danger II he keeps his wits and
his courage about him." He Is not re-
sponsible for accidents; If he is thrown
nranaNr 49, $50. a. ~ -
thrown truly and caught fairly, ami his
responsibility only to turn and recover
himself He is taught to bother his head
with nothing else: and IL he Is wise he
attends strictly to his own part. for his
meddling would be sure to result serious
~. when there Is q "iniss," he must not
try to save himself; his mates are alto
gether responsible for his safety, and are
conscientious in this obligation. They
are bound BY code of honor which they
respect to save 1.-THE kid at whatever
cost TO themselves They are disgraced
II they fail seriously; aud they seldom
do They boy may slip from the upper
most man of pyramid" of three, and
fall head downward, but he is almost In
yariably caught by the ankle and held
tight before he touches the ground. He
knows that all this watchful care is
about him; thus only can no do his part
surely and fearlessly.
AN ninbitiOud TAU MUS Lno uNppieGt
day OF his life when he puts on his first
suit OF bright-oolorsd silk fieshines and
bespangled trunks to appear Sin the ac5''
at last. This he is permitted to do as
soon as he can contribute somersault
or two: for the very bow and smile of a
child viii strengthen an act immensely
Then his education In grace or "styi-,n
as 1t is called. is begun. Ihis is of ex.
treme Importance; he is never called an
artist until he can do his work grace
fully, or, as an acrobat said, meat and
NICE" Skill is only s'cleyerness;" grace
makes the artist. Smiles, gestures, and
all are traditional, and are considered a
part OF the professional equipment ana
not FOR use in private lite. To turn
your toes out and throw your shoulders
back Is the first thing TO learn. Then
take side step, throw your head back
smile, and look about the arena; still
smiling, wave your hand to the left and
your hand to the right, take two quick
steps to the rear, and bow, from the
waist. !" Then it is point to the mat and
to work" with never thought of the
audience; and when the "triok" is over.
extend both arms, smile, nod the head,
and backaway In quick, short steps,
Acrobats looking on at others at work
are Interested. as a matter of course,
In the tricks" but it Is the 'sstyle"
that calls forth their signs of envy or
their sneers, for they appreciate the
di tficulty of being graceful through
laborious quarterhodr
Accidents happen occasionally; and the
event is usually the fault of the boy,
though, to be sure, it may lie with any
one of the team. Slight miscalculation
of distance, momentsry distraction of at
tention, sudden loss of courage, a little
hurry in making ready to leap, may SO
result.
An apprenticeship of four or five years
makes boy an acrobat; then he can
command good salary through the sea-
son. and possibly pick up many an en-
gagement during the winter.
N. d.