MEETINGS AND AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 1858, 31 January 1876, Page 2

MEETINGS AND AMUSEMENTS.

T.LOKDTN IN All KLA.ND.

The first an «™™ -- Ji.,. celebrated P,l. ruli. jr. ..i,..a ~, _,v event Wlireil ih not fi!;cl/ lo be (quailed by any performer on thn high rope for many years to cone. In his particular, and singular erformonces, Blrndin wblsb aloft and alone Some m ti are horn to cxc. 1 ail others in the performance of sonic marvellous physic.l feat, great discovery, or mental effort, at which ordinary men c*n only gn__e ii (I wondor. As Shak^hiieare was the first ol' diannUsls, SuUrgoori tbe tirut of modem liaptist in-- .ushers and Jenny Lind the first of Bom-sters so Bloud n is the first of funambulists. La Cnevaler Blon.iu in his high-rope ascension, and various triumphs in th_ i_ir, has eclipsed and f>_r nirpasjed every imitator. Tho s->.. .aion he created in Hug land ut the time when he appeared not only at the Crystal I'aiacj, but in tlie pojulated skirts of England's cities and towns wl I not coon ba forgotten, and will ultimately iv fho course of time be a matter of history, as it was a mutter of universal conversation. On Saturday evening, the "hero of Ni.gara " appeared -publicly for tho first time btl'i re the people of Auckland, aud made his grand high rope iiacens on in tho large pus-tor .1 arena at the re .r of Go\ eminent Hojise. Considering the attr.tc-tioi-s of the Hegatta, arid fho number of cxnnrsions lo outlying d.Ktricts, the attendance at the Blondin arena was good, there being probably 1,600 pet-suns present On reading translations of Homer, a d Mr Grote's elaborate and beautiful history of '.Ore. cc, we learn that great things i Q the way of gymnastics were accomplished by tho civilised and scholarly Athenians, which seem lohave been instituted fox the two-fold purpof.o of blending amusement with tho lav mble means of acquiring bodily 6tr<!ngth with aetiyiiy, and in those days, previous .he dawa of Lhristiamty, the_,e feats of strength were conducted with much show and ceremony. The cohqurors alsti were honoured with marks of dibtuiction and lewards, and looked upon as persons distinguish, d abovo their fed >w. citizens Heuca we fled that the noble old Greeks were usually men of strong physical pow r, and on obsorving Chevalier Blondin on Saturday on the high rope, although the weight of years were upon him, we felt thai lie waa a hiring evidence of the effect if an admirable law which ob-aias-iu living bodies, that in l-roportiba to the exertion whteh it is required to make, a part increa-ts not only in strength and fitness hut also in iiiztt. Btoudin, in this respect, is a line example of the observance of this law,* as his finely developed and muscular powers te_t.fl..s An old lady who sat behind our reporter, munching a biscuit on the sweet grass, exclaimed, ' How wonderful is all .Ms, hut what is the use „f Blondin's dangerous ventures?" A word thus carehssly dropped may be indue- tial for good "What Is the use of it?" It would be be loily for young people to attempt to imitate Blondin m the high rope, or Ihe population would soon be thinned, ( and coroner's inquests increased, but on a limited scale, on some general system, all physical exercises might be followed with beneficial results. Evidences of the good .ffects of gymnastics or ph>sicai exercises are seen every d»y. A person is called upon to engage in some new avocation, in which muscular exertion is necessary, ami in a short time ha improyes in strength and dexterity, and this influence reaches the mind. If the exertion be not carried so f*r as to produce excessive fatigue, all other parts of the body sympathise with th« improving condition of that part which is chiefly exerted ; the circulation, being exdted from time to time by the exeicise, acquires new vigor, and the bhod being thrown wi h greater force into all parts of the System ah the functions are carried on with speedier activity, the general heaitu ot the person improves, and tne uiiud, if juaieiottSly cultivated, acquires strength: and is renuered more capable of prolonged exertion. The weather on Saturday was' "ex-> eeedingiy favourable for Blondin's extraordinary feats ; the Bky clear, gentlo breezes slightly^ rallied the leaves of the surrounding trees, and for some time before the grand ascension the well-dressed portion of the community began tj take their seats in the centre of the breezy arena, and others-in the outer places of the green and commodious enclosure, imong those present we noticed hir George Grey, the leading notabilities of the city, and members of the press Fivei o'clock arrived, the hour named as that in which the dexterous .rope-walker would appear, and as the moment passed a. glow of waiting anticipation sat on every silent face. . some fifteen minutes, however, passed before Blondin made his apDearance in his peforming dress, he haviug been careful previously to examine every rope and fastening connected with his safety. Presently Mr Impey's Band sciuck up; a general hum . f voices was heard. •' aeie he comes," hung upon the lips of the assemblage ; eight men rushed forward from the canvas tent, there was a lattle of pulley* and ropes, and up the pillar went the funambulist with locomotive speed, while his splendidly spangled Knight Templar dress and plume of feathers ghtte.ed in tho broad sunshine, and the next mom-nt sto.cl liii. a conqueror lar above the people, with his finely developed limbs, he looked like one of those brave kniguts of -old. Tne band played a set tune, and the hero stepped fearlessly forward on to the rope, keeping time with the music. Having walked the length of the rope, which must have beed fift> fee. high, he returned at a trot. «t each end of the rope was a small dressing tent, in which Blondin .bitted and changed his clothing. Blondin's next performance was the walk blindfolded and in a sacK, and on entering upon this more difficult experiment, he pretended that he could not find the rope with his foot, and made purposely for the amusement of the upgazers, several Mse steps." • .._?Dg^ B** his foot u P°n the ™pc, he trotted along with the greatest assurance. He then put on the uniform ot a Parian cook a la Soj/er, and'lifted to his .back #. fully furnished stove every j cdnye_ienc<ymd^utensil for,-cooking .plates, 'dishes., fuel, frying pan, bellows;< Ac,.with:which he.sallied forth on his aerial pilgrimage, tod in the middle he

Jet it down on to a slight frame lit his fire, washe his pine's,' broke several eggs, ard cooked .in o-MDlette. Unfortunately for Blondin, while in th_ act of cooking an omelette, ■he wind. slightly shifted ard drove the smoke full into his face whtrhwas anything but pleasant Aft*r having made a second omelett he drew the cork of a bottle of ' luck" and politely drank the health of the ladies, and then passed the botile and the second "fry down io the gazing company, who were eagerly watchii g his every movement Tbe ■ est perform .nee an i apparently the moer. critical of all,- j«a» the balwcing himself on a common househo d ehur wlveh ha ca-ried half way over upon his back, wben he balanced the chair npon the rope, and this In Old with his feet, aa he wa3 compelled to suspend the balancing pole during the whole of his p<-rformances with bU two hands He shifted the chair into various positions, sat Upon it, and st last mom-tad it, standing with one lt_g on the cf-ntre of the chair seat and bowing to the people, who answered with a volley of i beers ar.cl other signs of approbation. The las. two performances of M. Bloudin wereecpiallv extraordinary in their way. The first was tiavelling oyer the ropS iv a splendid ornamented bicycle, and the carrying a ma-j alontt the rope on his back. '1 he performances of M. Blondin on Sa urday cc.upied nearly two hours, and every person who witnessed them fe.t perfect y satisfied of Blondin's W: n.lerinl ca abilities, and could oniy exrlaim 'It is all very wonderful, and worth seeing " Blondin will make his s.eond rope ascension tuls ovening in the gigantic arena at the hour of five o'clock. THK THEATRE The Prince c f Walei Th- atr. was full of spectators on Hatui'day everting, who won-, anxious to witness the flaalrepresentation Of the "Shau.hraun, 'in which Mr Wheatleigh has succeeded so admirably in the character of Conn. The play has had a successful fortnight s run, which cant.ot b. said of any previous representation at tins t. ealre for m*ny years. The players g rtcrdiy deserve prase lor their perfect rendering of 'his lively drama, 'I'hls evening " The Lotte-y of Lile" will b>_ produced, a irama of the same class as the "t-banghraun " hnd in which Mr wheatleigh will appei-- a-i the lea-Jiug character, and which will j. .s.i.ly have an tqual race with is predecessor. CITY HALO. The enlertainmer.ts at. he < ity Hall, consisting of ventriloquism, masic, soog, and gymnastics, besides the remarkable maiiue porformin c of Natator, the man-fli-i, wi,l continue dining the present week, after which Mr Davies wil take hi? farewell leave of the Auckland publio lor eve:-, as lit. at.nouncas his intention of visiting Chi a, and >hen nettling down in ■• Id roland Tor the remaining term of his life. The. feats of rs.i- Davies and his talented c mpany hive fully roilisea tl_.ir promises ; the Krnpsons have do ac their b_st to cheer with sober songs ; the brothers Dv i ilie have rend--red effectual service by theii ho.izontalb r a:d acre bit c exercises; andJM'SS Davies has acquitted utr.sc-lf admirably as the company's pi«.nisi; Mr. Woigbtman al«o came out at the season aa the minfish and at traced esp-ciU notice by his aqu.tic perform<Mice<i. D-vics'sis one of the best entertainments

among the many that have visited this city, and as but lew opportunities reimia of seeii.g it, we warn ou.- readers iht the la^t night is fast approaching.