BLONDIN AT MELBOURNE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1912, 7 December 1874, Page 3

BLONDIN AT MELBOURNE.

Fboh the account in the Argus, of Blondin's performance we make the' following extract: —" It was to some extent unfortunate that Blondin's first display in Melbourne should be cut short in the midst of a storm of thunder, lightning, and rain ; but such' was the case on Wednesday, and the audience were losers of much that was set down in the programme for tluir entertainment. But to the per* former it did not appear to matterwhether a dust storm was blowing at one time, or a squall with rain at another, any more than it did while performing in Moscow before a crowd of bel'urred Russians, when 10 inches of snow gathered on his helmet during his show, and his march along the rope was impeded by hundreds of crows that settled on it, to be carefully kicked away as he. advauced only to return to it again ia the most affable manner as he passed to his resting-place on'the mast. His first ascension was made to the tune of the Druid's March in > orma, and his transit across the rope was with stately and measured tread in strict lime with that well-marked measure. Arrived at the middle of the rope (the rope is about 200 feet long) he saluted his audience as he balanced himself on one foot. At all such stoppages as these, and on arriving at either end of his journey, M. Bloodin was heartily applauded by the spectators, whose interest in the dis- | play was from the first excited to the highest pitch. The rain, which began to descend at this time, rendered necessary a re-arrangemeat of the side lines ia adjustment with the changing tension of the main rope. M. Blondin changes dress under a little umbrella kind of tent on bis landing-stage which can be easily opened or closed. His second act was in the tight-fittiug shape of an acrobat. During this he danced on the rope, knelt on it, turned a back somersault on to his feet on it; and then ran away to the far end of it as' if in his opinion there was nothiug fixed on earth so stable as the narrow traok presented by his rope-not half the width of the sole of his foot. The return journey was made blindfolded, and with.his head and body covered with a sack. There were open, ings in this at the sides for the arms and hands, which grasped the balancing pole, the constant companion of his perform* ance thus far. This was a terrifying journey for those who looked on at it. it is true that they expeoied to see at soma time or other 'those trioks of stumbliug and missing the rope, an accident the reality of which is imitated with alarming realism by the practised performer; but when these .tricks uf his art were shown, they produced that shudder whioh is the delight of thecro vd whioa experiences it, the fearful joy of the pleasure seeker, and the great aciiievement of the show. Alter falling (bliudfold) on his back, and then getting up again and (still blindfold) dancing home to his star.ing poiut, and making by the way a deal of comical pantomime, M. Blondin changed again to the dress of a French cook, and his stove and paraphernalia were sent up to him. But the rain was now falling heavily, and the thunder and lightning constant. The cooking act was abandoned —the stove sent down again amidst the approving plaudits of the audience, who were moving away in great numbers, as there was no shelter for them,* out to give them one nure act of his betora thoy went—an act which everyone had heard about— .VI. Blondiu took his secretary (M. Niaud) upon his shoulders and stoutly walked to the piiJdle of the ropo, where the intrepidySeototary waved his hat to the crowd ft ho rest ot' the journey was done with that perfect ease and selfpossession whioh distinguishes M. Blondin's erery movement in the practice of his art.