GOD & TEXAS: Rope walker

Corsicana, Texas, was once considered one of the wealthiest cities in Texas and was one of the first cities to use natural gas for fuel and lighting. Established in 1848, Corsicana is where oil was first discovered west of the Mississippi River. But now, it is best known for delicious fruit cakes from Collin Street Bakery, and Wolf Brand chili. 

In the 1860s, Corsicana was home to a thriving Jewish population. The railroad industry created many jobs, and immigrants came from across Europe to start a new life. The Jewish community of Corsicana established a congregation in 1871 as retail businesses flourished.

In 1884, one of the newest stores was Meyers & Henning Dry Goods Emporium. With the slogan “We have it,” they celebrated their grand opening by inviting a one-legged tightrope walker to entertain the crowd. The advertising promised an “astounding, astonishing, amazing, unbelievable, never seen before or ever again act of strength, gravity and defiance of common sense.”

A rope was stretched across Beaton Street from the second story roof of the Emporium to the second story roof of Jackson’s Saloon and Gentlemen’s Relaxation Salon. To add to the drama, the high wire ambulator placed a notch in his wooden leg to fit the rope, and strapped a cast iron stove to his back. Hence the mention of “defiance of common sense.”

Half-way through his walk, the rope unintentionally slackened, and the audacious acrobat fell to the ground under the crushing weight of the stove. As he writhed in pain, he asked for a rabbi to pray with him. Since no Jewish clergy were available, grocer Benard Simon knelt to hear the anguished daredevil pray the Shema in perfect Hebrew. The last request of the fallen aerialist was to be “buried with my people.”

And to this day, visitors to the well-manicured Jewish cemetery on West 2nd Avenue, can view the tomb of the unnamed funambulist who defied common sense. Amid many unanswered questions, the grave marker simply reads, “Rope Walker – 1884.”

The Hebrew Shema is repeated on various occasions such as a bedtime prayer or a deathbed confessional. In its entirety, the Shema consists of three paragraphs based in Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21, and Numbers 15:37-41. The first words are “Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G‑d, the L-rd is One. Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever.”

Midway through the Shema are the words, “Take care lest your heart be lured away, and you turn astray and worship alien gods and bow down to them.” It concludes with, “I am the L-rd your G‑d who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your G‑d; I, the L-rd, am your G‑d. True.”

It was reckless for the rope walker to challenge common sense. But it was profoundly wise for him to embrace the true God as his sovereign Lord. May we learn from his failure and benefit from his wisdom. Amen!

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