BACK TO THE ROPE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3900, 29 January 1929, Page 3

BACK TO THE ROPE.

AMAZING PERFORMANCE. THE DOMINION’S BLONDIN. An amazing exhibition of tightrope walking was given by the “New Zealand Blondin,” Mr. H. Morris, whose age is i 69, at tbe Ashley George Domain (before an attendance of about 500 people, Who had gathered from Christchurch and from the country districts:

The rope was stretched between two 30ft. poles. 84ft. apart. Every precaution had been taken to ensure safety and success. When he stepped on to the rope, Mr. Morris made a picturesque figure. He was clad in sky-blue shorts, and a jacket fringed with gold lace, with a sky-blue cap on his head. With his little white goatee -beard, he appeared frail and old, and the -crowd was amazed that such a man should attempt the task of walking the tight rope.

Many years had passed since'fast Mr. Morris gave his performance, and lie began rather gingerly. His first crossing was successful, and then, gaining more and more confidence, he accomplished seemingly impossible feats. He stood on his head in the middle of the rope, lay on bis -back on it, and sat on it. He crossed the rope blindfolded and with a pillow case over his head, and then went across with his feet .fixed in two petrol tins! He carried a little girl about 14 years on his back across the rope. With a petrol box strapped on each -foot he made another wonderful trip across. Particularly for an old man of nearly 70 the feats were little short of miraculous, and the crowd was generous in its applause. Mr. Morris’s career as a tightrope walker began long ago (states an exchange). He was born in Lancashire in 1859, and came to New Zealand when lie was four years old. He lias lived in Oxford for the last 60 years. He gave his first exhibition of tightrope walking in Oxford about 50 years ago. Mr. iMorris built up a big reputation all over the South Island. He walked at the 1882 International Exhibition in Christchurch, at the Calcutta Exhibition, and at the New Year Games at Southland and Dunedin in 1883-4. He has been proclaimed as better than the original and famous Blondin whom he saw in Christchurch in 1876. Mr. Morris gave up tightrope walking when, lie got married, and it was 35 years last Boxing Day since he set foot on a rope.