The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-03
THE PLAYER FOLK.

1t takes nerve OF quality akin to that
owned by a "broncEo buster" to be- a pro-
fessionaI trick cycle rider and employed
in presenting an act like the keith cycle
sens; tion.
I've done almost everything in the
vaudeville line" said Baker. OF the trio.
Armstrong Brothers and Baker who are
the riders that have startled the bike
and vaudeville worlds. But when l first
went mp against this riding on my head.
] said 1 didn't think Ia make a good hui
man bike fly
Motor cycle riding is risky enough. and
so was my ride down the west Capitol
steps a few years ago. but all those things
faded into nothing when was introduced
to the track used in the act I'm now
working in. I'd have bet $4,000 no hui
man being could ride st. a spoCk yes,
or a dummy. equally, but not something
or some one with bones to smash Why.
the Armstrong Brothers felt the same way
about il. and you've heard OF what they've
done in the way Of chute shooting on
cycles. There's hardly anything risEier
than that But. you see. none a. us knew
anything about this centrifugal force. and
it took many tumble and bruiso 90 con
vince us that il was real enough to permit
US 10 ride on a wheel with heads almost
straight downward That's why there's
truth in the old saw that fools rush in
where angels fear TO tread It's the rush
that saves them, much as it's the Hmpness
saves a drunken man when he falls heels
/ over head of the back Of a car. We
/ gave the fellow that got US together a
/ good hearty laugh. and told him We were
/ as wise as he was, and could see that
/ the was no possibility of any man get
/ ting around it alive Lots Of other riders
/ talked the same way. but at length when
We heard that foreigners had done it, We
made up our minds that We could, too.
/ Then it was a matter Of some hundred
/ dollars a week for the three Of US. and we
] started in 20 learn all over about riding
/ wheels upside down
In the first place We couldn't see how
I we could get started on the steep Slated
path. and then We were almost certain
in our minds that once on we'd soon
/ enough fall It was discOuraging to
I say the least. We thought, too, five
did yet on and get going fast. we'd
become dizzy and then run over the pick
cts In such a 'ase the tendency always
is TO ride higher and on this track IL
I would be certain death, All this time we
hadn't tried 10 but like big boy about
/ 70 take a cold bath we had stopped TO
/ raise all sorts of objections
Finally Doc Armstrong padded him
Er rr-Fra Ia ~
. several times around the stage and then
. Garted up on the track. He went back
ward faster than he went up For three
mortal hours he kept that up and al last
he made one rush that was the key
note Of success, and on he rode II was
the fool rush that did the trick and
soon Arthur and I had the thing down fine
But there was many fall and brulse
for Us before we could ride safely
enough for stage purposes. Even
now. when we are riding. the least mis-
. chance would send us crashing forward.
The starbucks." a new play by Opie
Read, is said to have scored a success In
Chicago, where it is being presented by
the Dearborn stock company The piece
is in for an indefinite run in the Windy
City.
Harold Blake has been engaged to sins
the tenor role in The Chaperons." sue
/ cecding Templar SAKE. the English actor
who was seen here with the company.
A spring season Of English opera viii
be inaugurated in May at the Grand Opera
House, New York under the management
Of James ". Morrisey- The productions
Will be in charge Of William G.. Stewart
and Paul Steindorl viii WELD the baton
B8lossy Kiralfy mas returned - Ameri
ca from Paris. where be went 90 stag.
the spectacular production. Queen Bal
kis."
a juvenile dramatic company viii D.
sent out next season under the manage
ment Of Philip Benedict Virginia GIyn
don. who is now a member Of Grac
Georges company in Under Southern
skies" Will head the Benedict players
Henry f. Dixey, who went TO Londo
TO play the leading role in The WhirI O
the Town" is filing engagements in tn
English halls by giving limitations O
I famous actors. His imitation Of 81
Henry Irving is being highly praised b.
London critics
Tenwick Leach. who IS well known her
through his long association with the Car
] roll Institute Dramatic Club and who ap
, peared in important roles in support o
, Mile. Rhca and 900