Evening star., 1909-01-24
By w. R. G, Latson. M. D.

THE appeal of bodily Prov By w. R. c,
essis widespread. From
the hero of the baseball field
to the latest thriller" at the circus, crowds
gather to watch and admire feats of strength and
skill The performer who perfects and
spectacular act is sure not only Of large money
rewards, but of that renown dear to the
heart of stage folk. For this reason there
a large number of applicants for glory in this
difficult and dangerous field, and some of their
performances are not only picturesque and in
teresting. but seem to many people exceedingly
mysterious.
Many of the most sensational feats of skill,
however. depend for their spectacular features
upon some simple, natural force unknown or
unrecognized by the majority of the audience,
For instance, the whole class of acts. from the
original loop the loop" to the act of Mad
emoisele Theirs, the young woman who sits
strapped in an auto car while it turns somer-
sault in the air. require little skill on the
part of the performer. Mechanical forces. in
ertia, momentum and centrifugal force do
the work. In fact. to design such an act re-
quires only moderate mathematicals and en-
gneering skill.
Centrifugal Force Used
SPEAKING of centrifugal force recalls an
interesting act recently introduced by
a strong rejoicing in the title of THE
Modern Hercules" The performer. man of
impressive physique, takes across his shoulder
a bar about ten feet long, to each end of which
is harnessed bicycle and its rider. The
riders propel their machines slowly in a circle
bounded by the ends of the pole. while the
giant in the center turns as on a pivot to cor
respond with their speed. Gradually the pace
is increased. until the bicycles and their riders
are swung clear of the floor; and the athlete
in the center, spinning faster and faster, whirls
them about in a wide horizontal circle. After
a few moments the speed is slackened, the
bicycles again touch the floor, and the act is
ended.
While nosone can deny that this is a most
interesting and impressive act. it is far less
the center must, of course possess great strength
and fine muscular control; but the principal
factor is centrifugal force, which causes the
cyclers to swing off like ball whirling at the
end of string.
The same principle is accountable for the
various acts of the basket whirl. and globe
of death" variety. The basket" is made of
Stats arranged in circle about twelve feet
wide The cyclist rides round on the inside of
this structure. gradually higher and higher
until at last he is actually riding in a circle.
while his body and machine are on horizon
tai plane.
The globe of death is merely sphere of
similar construction inside of which the cyclist
rides in rapid circles sometimes passing round
in vertical circle as. for moment. to be
head downward. In both these acts high
speed IS, of course, essential. and this and
certain amount'of practice are about all that
Is required.
A spectacular variation of the basket
whirl" was introduced by Herr Schmidt, a
noted strong man In this act the princi-
pal performer is the "strong man" who bears
on his shoulders basket" inside of which
the cyclist rides.
The act presents peculiar difficulties: for
not only must Schmidt bear the weight of the
basket" and the whirling rider: but he is
obliged to keep the entire apparatus balanced
during the riders erratic circuit.
Chapuis' Unique Feat
DERHAPS the most picturesque and daring
feat of skill on record is one that is also
unique because performed. not by a profess
sional gymnast for gain but by scholar. an
instructor in the University of Geneva, for
pure sport.
The name of this daring gymnast is Gustav
Chapuis; and his performance differs from
all others in that it is given in the open air.
with the sky for canopy, great towering
mountains for property" and a few
stricken Swiss peasants for audience. Another
unique feature of Chapuis' feat is that it is
done not for money or notoriety, but merely
for that love of adventure that lust for danger
which is SO inherent in the nature of all nor
NAL, red blooded men.
IF