Twain spends a paragraph in this chapter describing the tightrope walker Blondin's act in the garden before the dancing began. He describes the act as "too perilous to afford a pleasant spectacle". There are a number of references to Twain describing Blondin as "an adventurous ass" but he makes no such comment here. I have not found an actual citation for this remark and Twain must have known of Blondin before 1867 as Blondin had crossed Niagara Falls in 1859. The remark seems to be associated with Twain owning a share in the Buffalo Express in 1869. I think Twain much preferred watching the Can-Can that evening.
Mark Twain and Blondin
Twain spends a paragraph in this chapter describing the tightrope walker Blondin's act in the garden before the dancing began. He describes the act as "too perilous to afford a pleasant spectacle". There are a number of references to Twain describing Blondin as "an adventurous ass" but he makes no such comment here. I have not found an actual citation for this remark and Twain must have known of Blondin before 1867 as Blondin had crossed Niagara Falls in 1859. The remark seems to be associated with Twain owning a share in the Buffalo Express in 1869. I think Twain much preferred watching the Can-Can that evening.