2. That the most skilful equilibrists come to us from the land of the fakirs, from India, Japan, the East;
3. That all the European subjects that attain exceptional dexterity are at least neurolopathic. [p232]
To quote but one instance: Erminia Chelli, the queen of equilibrists upon the trapeze, is a natural somnambulist.
From May till July, 1887, Paris possessed this charming [p233] young girl at the Cirque d’Été, and her departure has left us inconsolable.
I shall never forget the emotion which her performance caused me at our first meeting.
I at once begged M. Franconi to introduce me to her father.
M. Chelli and I exchanged cards.
I have copied the document here as an extraordinary monument of acrobatic and paternal pride:
EMILIO CHELLI, EX-ARTIST, GYMNAST, AND CLOWN, FATHER OF THE CELEBRATED AERIAL EQUILIBRIST, SIGNORINA ERMINA CHELLI.