The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-05-03
My Experiences as Tight Rope
Walker
(By r. Patten)

10y II. 1. fdLltuJ
Seemingly slight circumstances
sometimes change the course of hui
man events. Long before | ever had
anything to do with newspapers ! be-
came efficient as q tight rope artist.
never got out of the amateur class
and never progressed far enough in
the art to know whether or not l
could have made 1t renumerative but
did have experience sufficient to make
certain that there Is nothing super
natural or specially wonderful about
walking along a well steadied rope,
provided you have a fairly level head
and good heavy balancing pole.
An interesting experiment Is readily
made illustrating the principle made
use of by the tight rope walker. The
materials required are knife. pre-
ferably having one small blade, and
pencil with an eraser at one end.
First, lay the pencil on table or
desk with 1t projecting as far as 1t
will go beyond the edge without fall
ing off. 1t will be observed that
at least half of the weight of the
pencil must be on the table for 1t
to keep its position. Nowa fully
open the knife and stick the point
of 1t into the pencil at right angles
about one inch from the eraser end
with the cutting edge of the knife
toward the eraser. IL the attempt
is now made to lay the eraser end
of the pencil on the table, with the
knife hanging down, 1t will be found
impossible to make 1t stay In position.
Now half close the knife. Having
following this direction you should
find that the blade of the knife Is
still at right angles with the general
direction OF the pencil While the nan
die extends several inches beyond the
eraser end. Now, replace the eraser
end of the pencil on the, table with
the knife in its new position hang
ing below. You will, find that, quite
to your surprise. 1t Will stay In posi-
ton, both pencil and knife apparently
being mysteriously supported. The
explanation is very simple. The weight
of the knife, arranged according to
Instructions, carries the center OF
gravity below the point of support.
II the tight rope walker has bal
ancing pole equal or nearly equal
to his own weight he can keep the
center of gravity SO low that there Is
no difficulty In maintaining his bal
ance. He could step OFF or slip on
the rope of course, but otherwise his
footing is as secure as II he were
walking along the middle of a street
or sidewalk.
rs hn a U l.
ments done by myself and boyhood
playmates were not at high attitudes,
There was a cattle show ground near
the school building where l attended.
This was studded all over with posts
about seven feet high, to which the
cattle were hftched during the an
nual show. We borrowed a rope
from somewhere and stretched 1t be-
tween two of these posts, extending
beyond them, in a. gentle incline to the
ground. Then we got good heavy
hardwood pole about Is feet long and
put the biggest pumpkin we could
fnd on each end of 1t. With this out
fit we could walk UP the inclined
rope, to the top of the post. then
along the rope between the two points
of support, thence down the 0ther IN
cline to tile ground. Very properly
we never tried anything more risky,
hut no doubt one could learn readily
enough to do the same thing way up
in thes air. Doubtless tight rope
walking would not be considered
among the high-brow or classical en-
ploylhents. Nevertheless. with the In
creasing demand for entertainments
at fairs and other outdoor shows
there Is real market for talent OF
that kind.
A man who could cross over Water
street on tightly drawn rope could
undoubtedly earn $50 for haif an
hours work on July 4th next and ne
could get plenty of engagements at
the Maine fairs from August 20 to
october 15 1t would really be worth
while for some athletic youth to get
into the rope walking game.