The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-01
MAKING IN ACROBAT.
How the TortuouS Tumbler of
the Tent Is Trained.
Is TAKEN WHILE YOUNG
Finds 1t Easy Enough When
He Once Knows How.

view o. the Just opening circus season:
When the senior member OF an acgobatc
family finds MS top mounter'' growing
too heavy 10 be thrown gracefully from
shoulder 10 shoulder. and tossed and twirl-
ed like barrel on MS feet, ne looks about
for q promising younger boy 10 put in
training for the next season. II he has no
son Of his own, he picks up . boy IN an
institution or of the streets; or. more
frequently, takes as apprentice the young
son OF a friend. or the little brother OF one
Of the boys he has brought up. There IS no
apprentice law IN this country 10 protect
him; SO taat, If he does not feel inclined 70
adopt the boy outright and has an eye 10
keeping him, after he has made aim yaiU-
able. ais choice fails on one VINO is friend
less, or one with whose parents he can
enter into an agreement, with = reasonable
surety Of its being honorably fulfilled. he
VIII not take a runaway boy. FOR he knows
it would make trouble for am eventually;
and boys are plentiful for his purposes,
without running unnecessary risks.
Albert Miuette. Of the 'dHlette Family.
a French-Canadis1 "understander' (senior
acrobaD, who has been travelling the globe
over for twenty years, and IS famed IN the
circus world as trainer, has brought up
twelve boys in his time, and ascrabes their
success, not alone 10 care and good treat
ment, but 10 his judicious selection.
In the old circus days. when the law
gave the master certain authority, the ap-
prentices had no defence against abuse in
one form or another; but IN these days, the
boy has the upper hand. lie may run
away at any time, and the master has no
redress; and he has q sure safeguard
against beaungs. No ringmaster VIII per
nit a boy TO appear in the arena dis
figured with bruises; and every boy must
at all times be supple and strong If the
act is to be kept up to the standard re-
qUired. Boys are abused, even today; but
an abusive master is TIE rare exception,
and soon gains a reputation "in the pro-
fession" that makes a "top-mounjer" ex-
ceedngly difficult for him to obtain and
keep. The requirements Of his work make
the apprentice almost certain Of good food.
collections care, kind treatment. and con-
tinuous advancement up to the time when
he strikes out for himself. In the eyes Of
the circus proprietors he is as good as his
master, since he is usually essential 20 the
act, in the eyes Of the other performers,
he is a man as they are. for he does tee
same work. and lis quite as vaIuE BILE: IN
the eyes of the women of the show he is a
little boy, and is coddIed when a1ing
The only way 70 make an acrobat. ac-
cording TO the experienced trainer referred
to. is to inspire him with confidence IN his
mates, to whom he must trust his life and
limb twice day every day OF the season.
Some promising boys cannot be taught
this, and have 10 abandon the circus pro
fession or go into some other branch OF fl
that calls only for confidence in themselves
as tumbing or bareback riding.
A second and absolutely necessary re-
quirement Is the sustained confidence that
a somersault can be turned. always. by
certain physical movements. many boys
have to learn this. and others. VINO lose
heart before each trial. ere gwen up be-
cause they canEot learn IT, 50 far as the
body Is concerned. the boy must give pro
mise OF approaching nearly the familiar
acro5atic ideal; r be Is kuock-kneed or
thin-chested. or n1arred IN face or form IN
any other way, ne g not considered. II he
is particularly wei formed ms beauty"
as II Is called. works strongly IN his favor.
and be is almost always taken on trial. II
he Is to be trained Tor q ''t0p-nounfer'' be
must be short from the knee 20 the sole. r.
he IS TO be an understand ne must be
largA-5oned; Il he IS 70 oe \ "middle-mau''
he must be near the average
At ten years Ia thu best age 20 put boy
n training, but children born 81 the circus
learn 20 turn a "Gp-fap" soon after thev
learn 20 walk. and sixteen years r. not t00
late 70 begin. The time when serious
training IS undertaken e between the cir
Gus seasons. when the acrobat IS at home
with MS family and has time on h.s hands
a mechanic" is rugged IN MS room. this Is
a long rope. run through two nuE evs fas-
tened 70 the ceiling ten feet apart. re ro7,e
says 20 the floor between them. and at the
slack = wound round che BOYS vatst. The
acrobat stands the lad under tas p8geys
and between them; the1 na takes tae euds
% the rope in his HAND. gets good grip.
and pulls Il tight.
Put you- heels together" re says
Throw your shoulders hack. rut f~r4e Wfe
In yourself W-5en yor 3arnp gprinr high.
draw vour knees uo ana catch soar trle-s
with your hands. chen THROW vou- head
back ard you'u tgrn. Let yourself OF and
your laud OF your feet S5w. Raas I rag
20. tuuD"
TINS ts the point ~ witch the Roy loses
courage. He cannot fsG. fo~ re trainer
has tight grip n ths e-as ~ enc -r-a.
ard wori1 I,St hi10 ou- ~ danger e l- ape
Tea-ed that So WIS not ah1es fr 5lart cr
b = feet Ths h7~ arse r. aarF 20 commits
frqsa1f = tie strength ara zs~~--es= - -