THE NEW ZEALAND BLONDIN.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2533, 22 May 1882, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALAND BLONDIN.

Ou Friday evening Mr Henry Morris made his appearance at the East Oxford Town Hall, as the rival to Blondin, after a long period of retirement. It appears from the Southland “ Daily News" and the “Times” of April Ist, that he appeared at Sloan’s Theatre, before a largo audience, meeting with a warm reception. After appearing in tho first scone, somewhat in the character of a Red Indian, and walking the rope to th* cadence of appropriate music, he next appeared in tights and trunks, then proceeding to the middle of the rope, he stood on his head, then laid at full length, sat on the rope, and raised himself with great ease and dexterity. Morris next carried a youth over on his back, who seemed rather to enjoy the feat. He next crossed the rope blindfolded with his head and body in a white bag, and next, completely encased in a white bag, being previously blindfolded. Some of his steps were so well feigned that some persons who were in [close proximity to the rope changed their position to what they considered a more secure one, in case tho acr.sbat should come to grief. Then taking a common kitchen chair, he balanced it in every possible way—on its front legs, side legs, back lege, mounting and dismounting it in each position with apparent ease, and finally balancing it on the rails stood ou his head upon the seat. His next feat was his lunoheom in mid-air. ~ Carrying with him a table and chair, together with a bottle of wine, a gloss, and a plate of biscuits, he arranged the table and chair with the greatest ease and expedition. Seating himself in the chair he arranged his wine, glass, and biscuits, pouring a glass as steadily as if ho were on the ground, and drinking it with equal composure, and with equal dexterity, stood up and carried away table, chair, and remains of luncheon without the least apparent trouble, Next ha brought on a cooking range, with frying-pan, plates, knife and fork, eggs and bacon, lighted the fire and put on his pan, his costume as a cook was perfect, but a lesson or two in cooking before he performs in mid-air would be advisable, because in cooking bacon and eggs wo are told the eggs should not be put into the pan first, and as a lady remarked be would be sure to spoil the eggs and pan. This, however, is considered to be the moot difficult feat accomplished by him, and from the motions of the range and tremor of the rope must have been a most trying feat, Blondin concluding by wheeling a youth over the rope in a wheelbarrow. During tho entertainment he was warmly applauded, and several present remarked that there was no comparison between the cooking feat of Morris and Blondin, as Blondin has a grating screwed to the rope ou which to set his stove, whilst Morris has nothing but his balancing pole to aid him. Morris came up from Southland to show in one ot the court yards of the Exhibition, but found it was not high enough, and as he oould get no place in Christchurch to show in for a considerable time, made his way to his native place, and was induced to show as above.