Mr。StanleySpencermadehimselfearlyknowntotheworldbyaseriesofparachutedescents，performedfromtheroofofOlympia。Itwasaboldandsensationalexhibition，andontheexpirationofhisengagementtheyoungathlete，profitingbyhometraining，feltfullyqualifiedtoattemptanyaerialfeatconnectedwiththeprofessionofanaeronaut。AndatthisjunctureaneminentAmericancyclist，visitingthefather’sfactory，suggestedtoStanleyabusinesstourinSouthAmerica。
Asanextraattractionitwasproposedthatayoungladyparachutistshouldbeoneofthecompany;so，afterafewsatisfactorytrialexhibitionsinEngland，thepartymadetheirwaytoRio，Brazil。Hereanascentwasarranged，andbythedayandhourappointedtheballoonwassuccessfullyinflatedwithhydrogen，anenormousconcoursecollected，andtheladyperformeralreadyseatedinthesling。Thenastrangemischancehappened。Bysomemeans，neversatisfactorilyexplained，theyoungwoman，atthemomentofrelease，slippedfromherseat，andtheballoon，escapingintotheair，turnedoverandfellamongthepeople，whovindictivelydestroyedit。
Thenthecrowdgrewungovernable，andthreatenedthelivesoftheaeronauts，whoeventuallywere，withdifficulty，rescuedbythesoldiery。
Thiswasabadstart;butwithaspareballoonafreshattemptatanascentwasarranged，though，fromanothercause，withnobettersuccess。Thistimeafuriousstormarose，beforetheinflationwascompleted，andtheballoon，carryingaway，wastorntoribbons。Yetathirdtime，withahotairballoonnow，aperformancewasadvertisedandsuccessfullycarriedout;but，immediatelyafter，Mr。Spencer’sAmericanfriendsuccumbedtoyellowfever，andtheyoungman，beingthrownonhisownresources，hadtofighthisownwayuntilhisfortuneshadbeensufficientlyrestoredtoreturntoEngland。
AfewmonthslaterhesetsailforCanada，whereforseveralmonthshehadamostprofitablecareer，ononeoccasiononlymeetingwithsomedifficulty。HewasgivinganexhibitiononPrinceEdward’sIsland，notfarfromthesea，butonadaysocalmthathedidnothesitatetoascend。Onreaching3，000