It only requires an extension of the trapeze "stunt". Travelling in the air
by means of airships or aeroplanes is tame sport in comparison
with bird-like flights, whether with or without artificial wings.
There are many advantages in being able to travel in the air.
One is a clear and pure atmosphere such as cannot be obtained
in a railway car, or in a cabin on board a ship; another is
the opportunity afforded of looking down on this earth, seeing it
as in a panorama, with the people looking like ants. Such an experience
must broaden the mental outlook of the privileged spectator,
and enable him to guess how fragmentary and perverted must be
our restricted view of things in general. There is, however,
danger of using such opportunities for selfish and mischievous purposes.
A wicked man might throw a bomb or do some other wicked nonsense
just as some one else, who really sees things as they are
and not as they seem to be, might employ his superior knowledge
to benefit himself and injure his fellows; but the mention of the trapeze
and its bird-like performers has diverted me from my theme.
I suppose that a reference to the circus would be incomplete which overlooked
the clowns, those poor survivals of a professional class of jesters
who played what appears to have been a necessary part in society
in ruder days, when amusements were less refined and less numerous.
The Chinese have never felt the need of professional foolers,
and I cannot say that I admire the circus clown, but the intelligence
which careful training develops in the horse, the dog, etc.
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