Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-27
Miss Leitzel's Tragic Fate
Draws Sympathy of World

The hold that Lillian Leitzel had on
the imagination of the world is evil
denced by the comments that have fol-
| lowed the news of her tragic death in
| Copenhagen. Praise for the mastery of
her art, for her bravery, and for her
kindly nature is voiced by Americans.
The circus will come as usual Per-
haps there will be new and startling ex-
hibitions Of skill and daring. They will
not dim for many of us that vision of
| the fairyltke form in the feat known
| technically as the giant half-fiange, but
to the audience as that contribution to
the spectacle of the circus which could
be made only by the little lady who has
executed 1t for the last time" This is
the tribute OF the Boston Evening Tran
script to star of the circus. For she
was a recognized star in her profession.
AS the Hartford Daily Times says: Her
amazing art, her gracefulness and ut
! terly delightful charm of presence
placed her in undisputed right at the
very head OF her profession. Her ap-
pearance invariably put the touch Of
! climax to the afternoon or evening per-
| Torrance in the big top"
"Prima donna of the big tent is the
| title given her by the Indianapolis Star,
which points to the fact that years of
rigorous training and the discomforts of
pAO1eSS!oIdA lie pIeCeueu arrival at Lne
| peak OF her calling in the d-fanouS
circus" Strescing this point also. the
Charlotte IN O. News says: Her dis
! tinction In the tawdry glare OF circus
life and her dramatic end focus atten-
ton to that character which must lie
behind all distinction, whatever the
field. Here was a discipline of atten-
ton and rigorous discipline of body
which the ordinary human being, taking
the course OF least resistance in life,
must marvel at" And this paper, as in
dicating the full measure Of her fame.
directs attention to the fact that, when
she appeared, that plethora of fantastic
spectacles, of simultaneous appeals to
the eye and ear, stopped. Her act alone,
In circus history, was considered thrill
ing enough to stop the rest of the
show"
The Baltimore Sun, conceding that
regulations can be acquired by acct
dent or default" states emphaticallv
that Lillian Leitzel did not achieve
hers so. Very definitely she was an ar
tlst--at least as much an artist as &C
tress or diva or dancer is-at work in
realm of art which may lack it's
critiques and social 'cachet,' but that
wants nothing for history, audience or
significance.
Training was not all that contributed
to her success, for she had background
and personal talent, many papers de-
clare, among them the Houston Chroni-
cle which remarks: "She was trouper
Lillian LeitZel-a trouper like her mother
before her. A long line of acrobatic
ancestors preceded her into this world.
She was born with a flair for the
circus, born to wear SpangleS and glitter
under the glowing lights of the big top,
born to amuse and love, to give a fin
1shed performance, no matter what the
grief, the heartache, the physical fail
ings, the diSappointmentS which might
impede her progress through the air.
And she is dead. But many millions
who saw her and adored her will not
forget the little Bohemian who reached
the pinnacle of the show world, reached
IT TO swing through space for years, a
comet finally dashed to earth when de-
fective apparatus failed" concludes the
Chronicle
hagen, when the iron bar broke and
sent her brave form to the hard floor"
comments the Providence Bulletin,
which calls her "a courageous woman,
enduring what poor man would never
attempt, the greatest gymnaSt in the
world. The circus will be less glamorouS
without her." asserts the Bulletin.
She fell and waved to the specta-
tors" records the Albany Evening News. |
THE queen of the circus lots was brave
to the last and made her final exit |
as smilingly as II she were not MORALLY |
hurt" this paper continues. Hers was |
a brave and merry heart, and it Is good |
sometimes to remember how much these |
daring folk teach us in the spirit of |
making others happy"
Every day people die as they per-
form their tasks" reminds the zanes- |
Vile Signal. THAT was what Lillian |
Leitzel was doing" it continues. 1T |
was her job to put little sparkle into |
the march Of stodgy thoughts that go |
paradtng through most of our minds. |
Somehow, tasks were easier when pee-
pie knew that once in while there wa