M. BLONDIN'S FIRST APPEARANCE.

Press, Volume XXV, Issue 3313, 15 April 1876, Page 2

M. BLONDIN'S FIRST APPEARANCE.

This renowned artiste made hid first appearance before a Christchurch audience on Thursday afternoon, when there was a very large attendance. Favored with exceptionally fine weather and no wind, the Chevalier went through his remarkable performance with great success andwas loudly and frequently cheered. He first appeared in a splendid suit of armour, walking majestically across the rope to the strains of a march ; then he changed to the costume of an acrobat, and went through feats on the rope with precisely the same coolness and certainty as if he had been on level ground. Standing otiTiie head, lying down on the rope at full length, crossing it with his eyes bandaged and enveloped in a sack, all were done successively as a matter of course, and as if to do all these things on a rope some fifty feet high, was the easiest thing in the world, so gracefully did M. Blondin go through them. The next item on the programme was the cooking of an omelette on the rope. With a small stove, fitted with all kiwis of culinary utensils, etrapped to his back, and attired in the correct costume of a French cTtcf, the Chevalier trotted briskly to the middle of the rope, where he deposited his bnrden and commenced to light his fire. This accomplished, the eggs, batter, and herbs were successively placed in a basin, and beaten up neatly ; to pour this into hie pan was the work of a moment, and then the Chevalier, resting from labor for a few seconde,'partook of refreshment in the shape of a glass of champagne, in which he pledged, the health of the company. Having done this, he turned his attention again to his cooking, and shortly after deftly turned out a nicely cooked tempting looking omelette. A tray was then lowered down containing it into the centre of the arena, and Mr Lyons, the agent of the Chevalier, handed it round to the ladies present. The Chevalier then replaced his stove on'his back and trotted to the opposite side, where hie dressing tent was situate. *■ Mr Niaud, his secretary, was tllen hoisted up to Blondin's aerial platform, and having got on to. his shoulders, was carried triumphantly across the rope, bowing his acknowledgements when half way over. Then came what is certainly the most .wonderful of all Blondin's feats, that of placing a common wooden chair on tbVrope, sometimes supported by? one and at others two of the legs, while M. Blbndiriclambered over-the back, lay down on it, and sat in it ; 8s comfortably as though in bis own drawing room. He was loudly cheered on the completion of this remarkable feat. '■ The last item was the velocipede perfor- ; mance, which was also a marvel of skill and grace. Seated on a velocipede of the ordinary make, except that the wheels were grooved to catch the ropey* the Chevalier crossed and re-crossed it; first at a slow pace, and afterwards at full speed forwards and backwards. The band 'then played the National Acthem, and the large concourse • d'spers2& To-day the Chevalier will' again perform, at 4 p.m. < ?;' |'