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Newspaper Accounts of Sylvain Dornon's Stilt Walking Stunt

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The following is a translation of a newspaper article on Dornon's departure from Paris, which appeared in the March 10, 1891 edition of the Le Voleur Illustre

Dornon

It seems that even as transportation methods improve, there are some who take pleasure in returning to ancient methods of travel. One man just made the journey from Vienna to Paris in a horse drawn buggy, while another traveled hundreds of miles in a wheel barrow. Today it's Mr. Sylvain Dornon, who is leaving Paris for Moscow, mounted on stilts. The newspapers having already covered the trip of Lieutenant Winter, who walked from Moscow to Paris, Dornon resolved to surpass this audacious feat by making the same journey on stilts, accompanied by his dog Bergere.His arrival in Moscow will coincide with the opening of the Moscow Exhibition.

Dornon is a native of Gironde, which borders the Landes region. He is thirty-three years of age, and just a little above average in height. He is lean but very robust and has the stamina to achieve his goal.

Dornon claimed that he did not attach any importance to his exploit and that he is only going to Moscow on stilts to get some exercise. His departure last Thursday from the Place de la Concorde, in Paris, attracted a crowd of about two thousand curiosity seekers, eager to see this eccentric off.

Mr. Dornon arrived on time, and began donning his stilts while sitting on one of the balustrades that circle the square. The stilts, which he built himself, are simply constructed out of white wood and are about 1.3 meters high and a foot wide. He also carries a spare set of stilts, in case of accident. He is dressed in a traditional Landais costume consisting of a pair of trousers and sheepskin vest.

"I intend to make about eighty miles a day," he says."I could easily do more than 100, but I am not going to Moscow to set a speed record. I am going to enjoy the trip and take the time to enjoy my surroundings."

And then he is off - the police clearing a way for him through the crowd, pursued by running and cheering children.





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