The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-07-21
|nteaest In Bicycling Is Increasing
In The World
BIG FEATURE OF CIRCUS PERFORMANCE
THE MOST DARING PERFORMER
is SAID TO BE AN AMER
ICAN WOMAN.

(Harriet Quimby in Leslie's Weekly
That the interest in bicycling is in
creasing is proved by the popularity of
the wheel on the stage. One of the
most entertaining acts in New York's
far famed Hippodrome is that Of a
troupe of pretty girls who do seemingly
impossible feats with the iron steeds-
the most skittish and unmanageable in
the world to inexperienced riders. Doz-
ems of trick bicyclists are engaged at
enormous salaries on various vaudeville
circuits, to entertain the theater-loving
public, which enjoys nothing more
than thrills produced by nerve-rack-
ing and death-inviting turns. The most
daring performer in this line in Amer
lea, and one of the daintiest profess
sional riders in the business, is Min
ME Kaufman, the worlds champion
woman rider, and the leader of the
troupe.
| There are more Germans practicing
tricks on wheels than people of any
other nationality. Just why this is so
no one seems able to explain, but the
bicycle and the danger involved in
mastering the spectacular tricks ap-
| pear to possess a particular fascina-
ton for the daring German. Miss
Kaufman is a German, although she
was born in Rochester, N. Y, 20 years
ago. She has lived abroad the greater
part of her life, and since her ninth
birthday has been practicing varied ac-
robatics and trick bicycling. Paris is
full of gymnasium schools where pro-
fessionals practice new and startling
acts. There are schools of this descrip-
| ton in cities all over the world a
very large one being located in New
York. In these schools are many queer
/ looking pieces of furniture-bars, lad
ders, tables and heavily built chairs.
From the ceilings are suspended long
ropes which run over pulleys. These
are known to the professional world
a beginner would be very much at sea
and would have to expend twice as
much time and energy to master some
feat in balancing as he would with one
There is scarcely a trick practiced in
which this rope or sliding mechanic
does not play a part. When practic-
ing in the air, on the bars or on
trapeze, the performer has it fastened
around his waist, and by it's use he
is saved many a severe fall.
The trick of leaving the saddle,
crawling under the handle bar, coming
out on the other side and up in the
saddle again without even a waver of
the machine, requires perfect equi-
poise To learn this trick the begin
ner leans the wheel up against the
wall or a chair to practice; or some
times, as in learning to ride, an assist
ant holds the wheel and gradually al
lows the performer to balance alone.
To accomplish this takes month of pa
tient work and a wonderful muscular
control. The "pirouette" is learned by
means of the pulley-rope, which holds
the machine upright, and another
which runs along near the ceiling.
With a strap about her waist, her
hand on the rope above, the performer
rides around the room or stage with
the wheel in this dangerous position
If she loses balance or nerve she
grasps the rope above and let's the ma
chine glide on. The trick is practiced
in this way until perfect confidence is
gained. The assistance of two or three
persons is necessary in acquiring the
most difficult of all the tricks-that of
taking a running start and turning a
complete somersault over a table and
riding off on the other side as if moth
ing had happened A table and a set
of cushions must be at hand to assist
the daring performer.