Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-20

huge costumes with enormous wings and petals
at risk of their necks, it seemed to me.
Floats detached themselves from the maze,
their human burdens climbing on all them;
elephants knelt to allow their riders to get up
to their backs. Expecting to see some of the
men and women get trampled to death right
before my eyes, hurried into the tent to see
what it looked like in there. Around the track
the procession went slowly and unhurried,
sparkling and glowing and in the most perfect
order. I stared at it in amazement. At my
hospital I thought had a system, but here
before me was miracle"
People have sometimes asked me how it
feels to fall from a great height Such
experience is commonly supposed to be thrilling,
1t is when it is all over, and If the performer
who falls is still able to feel a thrill My past
life never f1oated through my mind during the
falls have myself undergone, was too much
occupied with the immediate present
know that all successful aerialists have a
sort of sixth sense that makes it possible for
them to keep a clear head and perfect presence
of mind while performing high in the air. I
know that am not dizzy on my rigging, or at
any height and that never was.
An aerialist from long and arduous practice
acquires keen sense of balance-so very keen
that any slackening of the rigging is felt at
once From the same practice comes the ability
to decide instantly what is to be done in such a
case. and also the instant response of a finely
trained body
An aerialist with a head full of fear and
wavering judgment will not stay in the air
very long. The perilouS moment that demands
quick thought usually finds the true performer
with mind in good working order. An emer-
gency comes, a decision is made and acted
upon.
Sometimes when the accident is averted the
audience sees what appears to be fumbled
trick, and again, when Lady Luck has day of,
it sees a fall. Occasionally the rigging breaks,
and that will come under the heading lust too
bad" But the percentage Of fatal and serious
accidents in circus life is very small, and the
number OF lucky escapes Is legion. For my own
part did my work because liked it. The
thrill of fall or two affected me little except
to make me more careful.
Once there was story of young woman
who desired to commit suicide. She chose to
jump off 16-story building, and she was soon
on her way to the sidewalk The paper said
that in some way while she was falling she
learned how to fan, the circus performer
learns.
An automobile was parked near the curbing
and she went right through the top of it and
escaped with a broken shoulder and a dislike
for high dives
WE circus people read the account, and after
a careful check-up in the dressing room
we could not find a performer who knew how
to fall. We agreed that you just fall and that
you usually land on what happens to be under
you.
Once I gayly balanced on my trapeze
when a steel ring at the top of the center pole
broke with a loud snap. The break, occurring
on one side turned the rigging and threw me
sideways and right toward the center pole.
did not think of anything at all-simply
opened my arms imploringly and met the POLE
and slid down its length to the ground, acquir-
ing Slivers and blue paint all the rugged way
and leaving little pieces Of my skin and tights
and the whole front of my white satin costume.
Down on the ground, gathered the remnants
of my tights and costume around me, took one
look at the tangled mass of my rigging on the
ground, and crept out of the back door to the