The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-03-03
The Worlds Best Marksman.

From Baltimore Evening News February %.
The change from a human target to a
human sieve suggests an uncomfortable
train of thought but it ism t the least likely
thing which might happen to one of the
performers at the Monumental Theatre this
week. Chevalier de Loris, expert sharp
shooter, has an act which keeps the entire
audience on It's nerve while it lasts, for in
order to vary the ordinary bill of shooting
pipes and clay balls the Chevalier has en-
gagged girl-and pretty girl at that-to
stand up and let the bullets whistle about
her head and through her fingers without
moving a muscle.
On her first appearance the gallery
cherubs give vent to a low whistle of ap
probation, which Is a sure sign that the
sight of her is pleasing. Fully eloaked
and gowned, she steps on a slightly raised
platform. where the Chevalier, standing at
the other side of the stage, picks up a
Winchester, pats it lovingly and then,
taking careful aim, he fires right at Miss
Beauty. Bing! A button on her coat is
shot away Bing! Another follows it,
and 80 right up the front of the coat the
buttons are shot away ore at time, until
at last the coat falls away from the human
target ; shoulders, disclosing an evening
gown. Bang goes the gun again, and
once more the buttons and the stitches fly,
until a, last the gown falls apart.
But this is only part of this remark
able act, for the craftsmanship of the
| Chevalier is equally unerring in every part
| of the Performance. He shoots swinging
elay balls through ring held by the lady,
who again appears clothed in a new gown
he shoots into wads Of clay; ever his head
he does things equally remarkable, and
then be goes up into the balcony. From
/ there he shoots out one at Il time, dozen
/ lighted candles at the back of the stage,
after which he peppers with equal accuracy
a number Of objects of clay. On his re
turn to the imelight an animate Statue OF
Liberty stands before him at the back OF the
stage. With his trusty gun he shoots the
ravs ou. of the crown she wears, and then
As if in reparation, l. bullet strikes spring
somewhere behind the girl, and, with the
orchestra plxying the national anthem, tbs
Stars and Stripes fan in graceful folds be
hind the uncrowued Liberty.
4 feat then follows which looks so easy
that the difficulty of the act is hardly real
lied by the average beholder. With I
rife elamped and sighted in rack at ont
side Of the stage the sharpshooter goes Il
the other side and stands beneath a dang
ling clay ball Shooting the trigger OF th'
other gun, il goes off in turn aud strike
the bah above his head
Tiring Of this kind Of sport, he takes a raci
Of rifles, and with a lew accompaniment iron
the orchestra begins perfect fusillade oil
a piano. Without missing note, he play
the Intsrmczzo from "Cayalleria Rustica
na.
De Loris is an Athenian, and 1t was II
Athens that he first learned TO shoot. Ii
tirs, went into the Olympian games, wher
he shot successfully against all comers
Then ho went over the Continent an,
cleaned up al the prizes offered there 10
craftsmanship. Coming over to this coun
try, he did the same thing until at last b
could not find anyone willing to shoe
against him. For two years he taught tn
brother of the Khedive of Egypt how t
shoot; then he came to this country an
went into vaudeville.
Miss Norinne Fitzgerald, the young VIC
man who has the nerve to stand up and b
shot at, was engaged week ago in Me-
York city. She has no fear whatever {
the bullets whiz within an inch Of he
head. and she says that she feels safer wit
the rifle in the hands of De Lorls than
she held it, tor in her hands the gun Nigh
kick.