It would be
as interesting and as exciting as, and certainly less dangerous than,
polo played in automobiles, which I understand is one of the latest fads
in the West. A modern horse-race, with its skill, daring and picturesqueness,
is the only modern entertainment comparable to the gorgeous races
of the Romans.
The exhibition of skillful feats of horsemanship and acrobatic displays
by juvenile actors, rope-dancing, high vaulting and other
daring gymnastic feats seen in any of our present-day circuses
are interesting, but not new. The Romans had many clever tight-rope walkers,
and I do not think they used the long pole loaded at the ends
to enable them to maintain their equilibrium, as do some later performers.
Japanese tumblers are very popular and some of their tricks clever,
but I think the Western public would find Chinese acrobats
a pleasant diversion. With practice, it would seem as if
when taken in hand during its supple years there is nothing
that cannot be done with the human body. Sometimes it almost appears
as if it were boneless, so well are people able by practice
to make use of their limbs to accomplish feats which astonish
ordinary persons whose limbs are less pliable.
The trapeze gives opportunity for the display of very clever exhibition,
of strength and agility; at first sight the gymnast would appear to be flying
from one cross-bar to the other, and when watching such flights
I have asked myself: "If a person can do that, why cannot he fly?"
Perhaps human beings will some day be seen flying about in the air like birds.
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