Welsh Newspapers
Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles
5 articles on this Page
Hide Articles List
5 articles on this Page
« FEMININE FANCIES, FOIBLES,…
News
Cite
Share
« FEMININE FANCIES, FOIBLES, AND FASHIONS. 0 [By" Muriel."] [ALL RIGHTS P, Dining-table Illumination and Decora ion. Just now flowers, whether cut or used as f S' a^.e Ver^ eiPer>3ive ornaments for 1<*« 4V,t> C"* ,° ^.e ^re(luent entertainer no ai7 the wise chatelaine who does not litraill the beat for company's use alone, but likes to make home attractive to She home circle, I can recommend nothing more eoononlical nor more beautiful for the decora- ion of the table than Fairy Pyramid lamps. J-nejare fitted,if occasion demand, with menu cards designed on purpose, but these are not pissed at the family board and are .easily ad- justed at other times. Four of these pretty lamps will spread a pleasant glow over a small table luffici(-nt for the purpose of illumination, unless a very bright light is required. In such case the Pyramid lamp is an agreeable lopplement. There are two varieties of these lamps-one costs 59., which includes an liable menu card. It is a circular lamp, *nding ou an ornamental base, which sup- nd+ trouSh for flowers. Springing in the idst is a cone shaped shade of ruby or other ]° ou^ fluted glass, beneath which the smoke- h%S,? ^'ghtappears. The second variety as he centre slightly elevated. On either side Th ° tubes for holding cut flowurs. ese on their own bottoms, and form Th°1^ or snPP01'^ f°r the lamp proper. cost of such a lamp is 8s. Gd. 0 ecoraled 2s. more is charged. Nor is it of ^i?n hospitable board that this means light miriation aPPears to advantage for just 11 dark corners, or for providing Quiet' enouSh and not too much where a j]j l'etreat demands only a suspicion of lllu?lt!on, nothing can be in better taste, t; Ura* flowers soon fade in close juxta-posi- for* ^'ght, though the troughs allow We f]Water to sustain them, but dried sea e 18 atl admirable substitute, being in a f nse eve,'lasting. Deodorised first and care- lo J 'Se!ctt>d arranged, we get the most ak' tints, ranging from dark red that is ha^i 'J,rown palest pink which is y .to be distinguished from while. The quusite feathery appearance of the weed nothing so much as fairy coral, d the indestructible nature of prepared eaweed ranges on the side of economy. During the summer it can be stored away to Inake room for the more perishable, but hardly more lovely, flowers of the garden parterre, whose smiles are the sighs of the evening air. Decorative Flower-pot Coverings, I have seen another tasteful way of rehning what may be termed by certain folk ff the grosser pleasures of the tahle "-not necessarily gross, since, as everyone allows, a good dinner is a great redresser of grievances, and, according to unquestioned authority, causes even "enemies to foregather." I am sure, however, I need offer no apology for the suggestion of such a recognised redresser and reconciler as a good dinner,and so will proceed to describe a way of lending exterior grace to it. Assum- ing you have pot plants in bloom that you intend to utilise, make some bags of pongee silk, say pink, and line with soft willow- green or other suitable contrasting colour make a wule hem at the top put the flower- Pot inside the bag, draw the upper edge above rU^i °f the pot' aU(i tie lt in Position itu rib-jon and. a handsome bow to finish. Sateen of two colours may be used, if considered too costly, but the thicker textile not take the same graceful folds as silk. does it keep clean so long. The wide hem a ling over the tie loosely allows the con- rlr)9trgco-°?r to appear. Green, lined white; oth pin^ '3'lie an^ pi'^k—thesa and bn,er colnb:nations will naturally be suggested, hut s(Ilectlo'rl must or should, depend on the tha*U co^°uring of the dining-room no les3 j n °nthat natural to the flowers used to tut°la"e" ^ess effective, but a good subati- p 0^'are P°t covers made of coloured tissue raui1'1'. '^ust now this soft paper is proau- Icro tv!" eveT shade of colour. I think it costs in u kalf-penny a sheet. A little dexterity the a 'uo this tissue paper will enable! hr>i,i decorator to form verv tasty aiSoers ^ov pots, and I have seen shad 8<°tTle ^ove^v" hmp-shades made of two °t red. green, or coral paper. First, a| he b la,ni° **> tit the globe of the lamp must! etter"1" •' he paper that is to form the! °Ver !?r 13 hrst accordion pleated and laid then r ams> being secured to it by gum aQ,] a ruche of the two colours is made, fioaU^ClireC\0 ^ue Par^ ^01 the chimney 'ininS to the shade is put in and thi u to position. With ordinary skill, **°t b* accoR1P^shn'!ent of the task would SUcce6 f l0alt' an(^ achievement, when more than re-pavs the trouble of action. Bar2aiils that are not Bargains. the rp nud~winter sales have commenced, and fromS|la' aniount of rubbish is being dragged ?rj 3ts hiding place and sold at increased >uider the seductive title. ''Bargains. t° be°h Sa"T ^^ere are no bargains whatever t, fesol a(^' 'JU': have never repented my So-can 'T1 Uo^ t° enter shops when "sales'' to bu are going forward. I may be tempted y wbat I do not want, which is dear hurrvV!! the reduced price mav be. In the the LarK\ press I lose sense of dignity, and in that Crani^e am often hurried into a purchase cooler judgment would have' t^ en-, We are distinctly told Hot b ar^Icies sold at such times may iuvar: returned, but, as the auctioneers ^nit Se'c f°rth in catalogues of household f*ultsUre> the goods must be taken with all Boye and errors of every descri ption." fop fi,8 bargains seldom have time to look SQe»e same defects. u., nat a Lot It Has to Answer For. influenza made a very inop- tftost ;6 aPPearauoe at one of the largest and ^^ortant emporiums in town in the othets f Ceding Christmas. I, with many at°^d it almost impossible to get the errand boys and cash boys in*finl° imPromptu service made grievous one Ver^eQt errors, of which, it is hoped, fpj"48 niean enough to take advantage. iliCaPAeit 6*r ^an hands were utterly distressing prevailing inquiry yesterday I heard that K °w thea^IDan^' were ^°° return. r the barely convalescent employes will Me» extra strain of the annual not- ,PorariIy postponed on their behalf, n°t know. poor fhillga » fr ° # «°»rBe Fog!! Fog 1' oriCf* wrote that the presence iti ttla^e her feel as if she were 3h?*.0Un»; c^lninej. That is jast the impres- rne» who for days have been [. lamplight—days so oalled by 4: j°ne> «inoe the houses on the road ^ave n°t heen visible fora or after noons, A. more soul-depressing condition can hardly be imagined, more particularly if one happens to be devoid of all cowpa-ni'°eAUip except that of domestics. The Victoria Gallery. 'Tis true that great and varied provision has been made to enliven the dwellers .1 this fog-haunted capital. But of what use to know that by going as far as Regent-street you may be amused, if the innumerable humorous and grotesque works of art now on view at the Victoria Gallery can rouse your sense of the ludicrous and so excite your hearty laughter ? True, some or the draw- ings, while passing as humorous, are actually painful to the thoughtful. Many of those by Hogarth, for example, which face the entrance, are patheiio in their display of infinite knowledge of the vices and faces of the human race. The broad humour and the coarser exhibitions attract and repulse each in their way, and om>! passes hastily on to the productions of Hogarth's contemporaries and other, and more recent artists, including past and pre- sent contributors to Punch, the Ladies' Pie- tonal, and many other serials which have their comic pages severally. For some short time I lived in the same house with Baxter, the inimitable, if rather broad, contributor to the serial rejoicing in the title of Sloper, with prefix Ally, On the staircase of that house is the original of one of the most successful cartoons :Mr. Baxter ever drew for the weekly serial that, whatever its merits, is scarcely to be entitled a lady's paper. The eminent dranghtman presented his landlady with the drawing, duly framed and glazed, j and that worthy person, quite unable to appreciate the value of the gift, and, truth to tell, rather shocked at the boldness of the sketch, hung it on the landing near the] drawing-room I temporarily occupied, asking me first if I objected to its presence in that oil position. Since the. artist's sad and early death I fancy that many admirers of his genius would be proinl and glad to give I snch a treasure a far more honourable position. There are in the gallery of the art exhibition I name some most amusing groups in terra cotta, to say nothing or innumerable interest- ing and laughter-provoking sketches. The interior of the Victoria Gallery is most attractive. Carpeted with vivid red matting and grouped with rare pottery, statuary, and many articles beside of "bigotry and virtue," j the place presents a most cheerful and inviting aspect, and will well re-pay a visit. Only in a fog so thick as I have described who is to verdure out in search of amusement? Or, if the place indicated be found in the blackness of darkness, also, who may hope to recognise its best caricatures in this fog-beclouded atmesphere, gas and other means of illuinina- tion only serving to make the darkness visible? The Tudor Exhibition, Only a little lower down Ib-gcnt-sireet. at the New Gallery, the Tudor Exhibition is on view, and a remarkably interesting exhibition it is. In the entrance hall we have splendid specimens of coats of mail, &c. Thero aT e i-p, also several unpleasant portraits of Henry ^II- ciuel, scornful, and rapacious he looks in most of them. Jiis wife, the White Hose of York," is nut a very attractive speci- j men of the ladies of the period. The por-! traits of the women of this famous line are more interesting to lill, than those of the men, not excepting the pointing of 1 I Ulueheard, bluff ]\ in: Ilal himself.! Among the more noticeable female portraits are those of Katherinc of Arragon and Anne Boleyn, who wears a roguish expression, | described as one of her greatest charms, and she is certainly the fairest of Henry Vil L'sl wives. Anne of Cleves, coarsely nicknamed i the "Flanders Mare," in this exhibition is | curiously confounded with another of Blue-j beard's wives. There is Jane Seymour, f plump and prim; Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr; then there is the great Flizabeth herself and her sister, known to i posterity by the unpleasant sobriquet of Bloody Mary, as Elizabeth was and is by the title of "Good Queen Bsss." Very interesting is the painting described as the "Dancing Picture," representing Henry A- If f., the Duke of Norfolk, and his Grace of Suffolk dancing in a meadow at Greenwich with Anne Boleyn, Mary Tudor, and Margaret of Scotland. Because my space is limited I cannot p'1l'- ticularise further, but the interesting collec- tion of portraits gathered together in the ioan exhibition at the New Gallery includes, not only the fair dames of that age notable; for force of character, heroism, lofty station, misfortune, and personal loveliness severally, but the men equally or more famous for their naval or military prowess, their intrigues, political, and private, the men of letters and other qualities, noble or the reverse, which served to give colour to the history of the famous period when the! Tudor dynasty was paramount. Nothing serves so much to impress on the mind facts it is desirable to remember'as their embodi- ment in connection with the persons who enacted them or were instrumental in bringing them about. I believe a ohild taken to the Tudor Exhibition, duly initiated beforehand into the mystery of the period iilus- itrated, would never forget the parts played by the people depicted, and we, their elders, find it wonderfully refresh- ing to the memory to see an embodiment of these actors of the past—a past so pregnant with the history of the future, And Other Shows. Then there is the interesting collection of works by old masters at Burlington House, j and, again, the exhibition of Waterloo relios, which to people young at a time when the fate of England hung on the issue of that famous battle must be rich in memories, as re-calling the well-placed fear and dread of that great soldier who at this time appeared to comqiand the destinies of Europe, but who died a broken-hearted prisoner and exile only a few years afterwards. But with all Londoners are not Happy. It will be said that we Londoners need not be dull with so much to amuse and entertain, but what with fogs, influenza, and othe' drawbacks, among which attention to stern duty is a chief hindrance, one finds it not always easy to avail oneself of the rich intel- lectual and other treats spread before us. The pantomimes afford a capital evening's amuse- ment, pure and simple, to those who desire an unmixed draught of jollity. Never have the Christmas pantomimes been so replete with fun and frolic. » Fashion at a Standstill. Until after the mid-winter sales there is but little to note in connection with fashion, unless one goes over old ground,, and that I do not oare to do. Admired Costumes. Velvet gowns made with jacket en suite for out-of-door wear, bordered with ftir-close fur preferably— are the most dainty of toilets. A bonnet of velvet to correspond and a muff to match the bonnet are still further agree- able additions to such a pretty suit. A petunia velvet dress, bordered with golden 1 otter fur, and green passementerie laid just beyond the fur, was greatly admired. The muff bonnet were all in character, — Sensible Opera Cloaks. The new opera cloaks are sensibly large enough and long enough to envelop the figure. They are made on the lines of the Russian circular, and may or may not be lined with fur. Those I prefer have the double fronts, and the cloak throughout is lined with quilted satin-white preferably. The hood at the back is of the gipsy kind, lined with satin. Such a wrap not only preserves the dress, but the wearer from chance of taking cold during a long drive to or from a place of entertainment or during the inevi- table wait before the carriage appears. An ideal wrap is of white satin, smocked on the shoulders, and trimmed with wwajlku) fur. Double Skirts Return. Double skirt. are likely to be worn again, [ observed a gown of fawn coloured vicuna made with a double skirt. The under was banded with brown velvet, whilst the upper bad a narrower band at the edge. It 'de was considerably raised a little to the left of tilti figure, the diagonal folds crossing the front. The sleeves, collar, and half the bodice were of brown velvet, with deep cuffs of vicuna, The corsage was more than three parts covered with vicuna, cut to form a tab at the waist near the left hip, and crossing the bust diagonally, with galon to border, was gathered on the left shoulder seam under a buckle. This dieae was both simple and effective. # Veils with Patches. The newest things in veils is a fine black illli net with black velvet half moon and several stars upon it. The half moon is worn on either cheek or just resting on the hair, Thi. veil is made in imitation of the patches worn by fashionable ladies many years ago, and some ladies are inclined to copy the fashion now. [ know a shop where black velvet patches with adhesives at the back are procurable, and it is surprising how a judiciously fixed small patch will enhance the fairness of the skin, even where powder is not used to enhance the effect. We all Like Them. The useful zouave jacket is likely to remain a favourite. Worn over a low-necked dinner gown, it transforms it into a demi-toilet, A high, square Mcdicis collar at the back is a good addition. A velvet bodice, made with high back, cut heart shape, and without sleeves, is a very useful addition to any lady's wardrobe. Net or lace sleeves set in full, and tied with narrow velvet just below the elbow where the sleeve terminates and midway between shoulder and elbow, can be changed at will. From the square, high collar termi- nating at the shoulder seam, the new pointed lacs or folds of silk or other material is laid to outline the V. Crossed folds of crepe de Chine can be laid beneath, thus raising the bodice to any desired height, while the dressy appearance of the V remains. To Correspondents. The Angora rabbit wool gloves cost os.lid. the pair-—not a low pvicj certainly, but valuable at any cost to those who suffer from chilblains or rheumatism, since the hands! are quite impervious to cold when protected by this particular make of hand coverings,
TEE PARNELL-O'SHEA SCANDAL.
News
Cite
Share
TEE PARNELL-O'SHEA SCANDAL. u Labby Loses his Character for Impartiality, BY WESTMINSTER."] There is a flaw, it would seem, even in Mr Laboachere's character for perfect indepen, dence and impartiality. I opened last week's Truth with a good deal of curiosity, expecting' from the very high moral tone which the j paper has recently assumed in discussing the private affairs of other people, that it would favour its readers with some candid and racy remarks on the scandal. But I never a word says Mr. I.abouchcre. Is he, too, a party to the silly conspiracy of silence maintained by those Separatist journals which have been in the habit for a good many months past of speaking of Mr. Parnell as if he were a little higher than the angels ? Nn doubt, it is a shock to their feelings to have the slightest doubt cast on the character of a man who has just been crowned with a halo of sanctity by the Divine Figure of ITawarden. Still, one might have thought j that journals professing a love for fair- play woald not be pat ties to an idle device for hushing tip a matter which urgently demands investigation. One explanation offered of Mr. Labouehere's silence is that since his success in exposing Pigoit his ser- vices have been in great demand as a private detective, and that he is now engaged,! along with Mr. George Lewis, in unravelling the threads of the new conspiracy against the reputation of the Irish leader. But I remember that Mr, Labouchere always spoke his mind very freely about Pigott in Truth before the confession of forgery was extorted in open court, so that this explanation of the mystery comes to nothing. j n I suppose my morality must be below the a' standard of the present age, but I really cannot see what there is in the story to make such a fuss about, or why the followers and admirers of Mr. Parnell should think it necessary to pass ridiculous resolutions before the trial, affirming that the charge against him must be un- j founded, as if, even supposing it were! true, his guilt would disqualify him from being a great political leader. If the charge were proved that be had been carrying on all intrigue with Mrs. O'3hea for the last three years, those are the very years in which he has rendered inestimable services to his party. His record of public work will remain unaffected by any reproach cast upon his private conduct, and an attempt to drive him out of the leadership of his party because he had yielded to temptation in a matter entirely unconnected with politics would deserve to fail. The London correspondent of the Fret/nan's Journal says that Sir Charles Russell has been retained by Mr. Psrnell. Mr. Parnell is convinced that the fact of the lodgment of the petition was intended to have been kept secret until a day or two before the trhl of the libel action against the Times, but friends of Captain O'Shea thought it desirable to burn the captain's boats, and the initiation of proceedings was accordingly pre- maturely divulged. The Laiv T'imes stntes that the case Parnell v. Walter stands No. 355 in the list of special juries, and will not be taken before the 20th iost. j
Advertising
Advertising
Cite
Share
LAWYERS whose Professional labours necessitate long intervals between meals, nothing will be found so exhilarating, comforting, and. capable of sustaining exhausted nature as CADBURY' COCOA. It it abso- lutely pure. oi
--_-----!THE EISTEDDFOD. 0
News
Cite
Share
THE EISTEDDFOD. 0 [BY A PHILISTINE.] (' wl;t,l I)eirdd a cliaiitorion, enwo.,ioii o fri." IKUAX AS The Forthcoming Big Eisteddfod at Llaneliy, I am informed on good authority that the committee of this eisteddfod purpose ap- pointing two adjudicators—one a AVelshman and the other an Englishman—and that the names suggested are those of Mr. D. Jenkins, and either Signor Handeger or'Mr. Barnby. With either of the two Englishmen— especially Mr. Barnby-I have reason to believe that our choirs would be satisfied, but as to Mr. Jenkins, all I can say is that I know two choirs who will decline to enter the lists if he occupies a place on the bench. Engaging Adjudicators- n 0 Several of our best adjudicators have spoken to rue on this subject. They complain that many eisteddfod committees send round the country to inquire the terms of a large number of men—good, bad. and indifferent-, for adjudicating at their meetings, and that it is a rule for the committee to select the lowest tender, without taking into considera- tion the abilities of the man, or whether he is capable of fulfilling the duties in a satisfac- tory manner. The post of adjudicator is thus often filled by a pure ignoramus. Our com- mi(tees should remember that the cheapest adjudicator is the dearest in the long run. A good man who can and will do his work thoroughly expects fair remuneration, and that is quite reasonable. The principle of asking for "quotations" like some business firm should be strongly opposed. -k Welsh Harpists. There can be little doubt that there are not as many harpists in Wales now as there were a few decades ago. Wc are, in fact, begin- ning to look upon the harp as a barbarian instrument. We think it more becoming to cultivate a taste for the pianoforte, the Ger- man flute, or the nigger minstrel banjo Our eisteddfod promoters are in the main respon- sible for this, but it is to be hoped that the splendid success which has been achieved by two Welsh harpists will act as an incentive to the rest of our people, who still cherish a fondness for what is, after all, one of the sweetest instruments ever invented. Mr. Tom Barker, of Caerphilly, who accompanied the Welsh singing party through the United States about two years ago, has just arrived in Melbourne, Australia. lie has been engaged by the Victorian Govern- ment to play for five years at the State con- certs in the Colonies, for which he will receive, in addition to travelling expenses, the sum of t2,000. Master Fred. Barker, of Caerphilly, who was engaged by the same Government to play at the Melbourne Exhi- bition in 1888, has now been engaged by the Glasgow Choral Union for two months to give a series of harp recitals at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Paisley, Greenock, Sunderland, Newcastle, Brighton, and Bristol. Miss Llywela Davies. This young lady seems destined to shed fresh lustre upon the 11 land of her fathers.' She has been known as an accomplished pianist and accompanist for a long time, although she is not yet eighteen years of age. She was engaged as one of the accompanists at the Brecon Eisteddfod, where her performances g-avegeneral satisfaction. About two years ago Miss Davies competed for the John Thomas Scholarship at the Boyal Academy of Music, and after a severe struggle she secured it. 'j his scholarship was tenable for three years. So well did Miss Davies pursue her studies that last summer she was awarded a silver medal. Just before Christmas the welcome intelligence reached her home at Brecon that she had succeeded in passing the in- termediate examination for the degree of Bachelor of Music. Naturally enough, the news created the liveliest satisfaction at Brecon, and Miss Davies has received con- gratulations on every hand. She is the first Welsh lady who has passed this examination. Miss Davies has still one stiff ordeal to pass before she can append the mystic words "Mus. Ihc." to her name. I refer,of course,to the final examination, to pass which is no child's play, but those who have watched the young lady's progress have no fear that she will not suc- t'ed 111 obtaining her degree. '-Nl i,,s I)aN,ies is the daughter of Mr. lihys Davies, of Brecon, #* The Bridgend Eisteddfod. -t • The good people of Bridgena have in the programme which they have just issued made a good advance upon the record of last year's meeting. "Dyfed," no doubt to his own un- bounded satisfaction, will not be the adjudi- cator on the refutations. The English recita- tions will be decided by M'r. Edward Fletcher, the geuial lessee of the Theatre ltoyal, Cardiff —a better selection could hardly be made. A rev. gentleman from Swansea will be the adjudicator on the Welsh recitations, and Dyfed,"r as heretofore, will decide the prose and poetry contests, In I Iw musical section of the ei.iteddfod the adjudicators of pron,ious years arc succeeded by Messrs. John North Joliii Thomas (l.lanwrtyd), [ and David W. Lewis (Brynamman). Mr. f SyJney Fifoot, of Cardiff, will be the band adjudicator. In regard to one item on the programme.f. think the committee might certain^ have done better. Beethoven's j Itondo in G forms the test in the piano- forte solo competition, and competitors up to 2'1 years of age are eligible. I think it a decided mistake to fix the limit io h* A player of 20 is no more fit a rival for a chi!d of eight or ten than a man of 30 would be. Besides this, the rondo is scarcely the piece one would select in a competition for adults. I would suggest that the committee should retain the rondo for juveniles let the limit of age be fifteen or sixteen, and let another piece be chosen for all above that age. The committee act wisely in including an alto solo competition in their programme. This is too often neglected by | the promoters of eisteddfodau. The male voice choral competition is sure to be a gr&t success. The test piœe is the well-known and highly popular Martyrs of the Arena," and there are two prizes, of the respective value of £ 15 and £ 5. The prize in the brass band competition will remain £ 10, as at the last eisteddfod. i/<(" New Music. From Messrs. C. Sitkaiu) and Co., The Musical Bouquet" Oflice, High Ilolborn, London :—" The Last Chance," a bold, heart- stirring song in honour of the "oheer the Trenton gave at the escapo of the Calliope in the Samoan hurricane. The Weaver and H Together are too easy songs, with no particular claim to notice. (i The British Tars is a spirited naval march of the true John Bull type, Beyond the name of the march and the publishers' the front page is a perfect blank! The same atrange title-page is characteristic of the II Cliiqjf Cfcwig Waltz," a decidedly good piece of dance music. (< Orchid Blotsoma WaItz" and The Eiffel Polka are oharming pieces, and will find a warm weloome in the ballroom. As publishers of cheap musio Messrs. Sheard have no rivftli, Thoy have ioat issued their Christy Minstrel Comio Song and Danos Albums for 1890. Each book contains 4Q pages, full music size, and are capitally printed on stout paper. When it is reraem* bered that nearly all the contents are copy- j right, it seems little short of marvellous that the books are sold at Is. each. The annuals are, without a doubt, the cheapest music books in the market. 0 0 Jottings. The l;ortO and Cymmer Choir, conducted by Mr. Taliesin IIopkin, is rehearsing Handel's "J oshua," which will be performed in February. About the same time Mr. Gwilym Thoma; and his choir, at Ynyshir, will give a per formance of the "Messiah. It is rumoured that "Eos Cynlais" wit not leave the Rhondda for Llaneliy after all, although arrangements had been complete; for his removal to the tin-plate town. Mr. D. Jenkins, Mus, Bao., is to take th* bass solo parts in a performance of hú operetta, The Village Children," at Cwm- 11% park, Rhondda, during this month. The Dowlais Harmonic Society, led by Mr John Davies, will very likely enter the lists al both the Bridgend and Llaneliy eisteddfodall A choir from Treherbert and district, con. ducted by Mr. Howell Ho wells, also purpoOI competing at Bridgend.
SOME CIRCUS SECRETS .0
News
Cite
Share
SOME CIRCUS SECRETS .0 How Riders and Horses are Trained, An interest is always felt in the methods cap ployed to teach public performers their art. Thft is especially the case with circus iiders aed acrobats. The Pall Mall Gazette representative, it order to obtain some information on thesf points at first hand, interviewed Mr. William Showles, at Olympia. Mr. Showlej rejoices in the title of "The Champion Bareback Rider of the World," and wears upon his waistcoat a handsome gold medal, about the size of a crown piece, prosented to him by tb$ Brothers Sell?, the great circus proprietors of Sr. Louis, settiog forth his claim to this title. Mr. Showles is celebrated in the United States both a a rider and a trainer of riders, and also as S trainer of horses. Only Way to Ride. I come of a circus-riding family," said the her? of the Jockey Act," and was brought up to th< business from childhood. In my belief that is thj only way to make a successful rider. After 4 certain time a person's limbs are set and the nervei are not controllable but if training is begun in childhood both these difficulties are overcome. The first thing to be done in training a child is to teach him to do on the ground exactly what h, is expected to do when he finally gets on horse. back and performs in the ring. Thus he must b4 able to dance, pirouette, tumble, jump—in fact, do everything. This much learned, he may begin tc ride. Now there are two methods of teaching on horseback, with and without the mécanique.' This is an apparatus erected in the centre of the ring, with a long arm and a cord attached to the rider, which always prevents him falling to th-i ground. For my own part, however, I am inclined to believe that the employment of this apparatus is a mistake. A child, or a grown person, taught with it, or constantly practising with it, becomes so accustomed to the absolute safety it assures that when he comes to perform in the ring with- out it He Loses Confidence, looks about for its wonted support, doesn't find ifc, gets nervous, and is almost sure to get a nasty fall. On the contrary, a child who has been taught without anything of the kind acquires confidence, nerve and daring, and is afraid of nothing, is ready to attempt anything, and generally succeeds. Well, having learned all his intended feats or tricks upon the ground, he is put upon a horse's back in the ring, and, begin- ning from the simplest and easiest, practices on the moving animal, standing up, dancing a few steps; sitting down, kneeling, and all the other littl< tricks you liava seen us do. Then comes somer< saulting. When this is begun the pupil is alwayi in the beginning carefully protected on each sid4 by competent assistants, who watch him closely, and stand ready to catch him if he appears likeli to be going to fall. Presently this safeguard is taken away, and the pupil practices unprotected. Some Trainers Brutes. Cruelty ? Yes, indeed, some trainers are brutes; but I never knew a cruel trainer turn out one good rider or clever acrobat. Boys are gene- rally stubborn and obstinate, especially if they have any grit in them, and often when they get a little tired they will not do tricks that they can do with perfect case. A trainer will then employ a hundred and one cruelties to make them do what is wanted. If he is clever with the whip—and most ringmasters can do just what they like with the whip—he is able to hit his pupil at any place lie likes or wishes to. Tita boy is not holding up his leg or his arm or his head exactly as his trainer wants him to; in a second he gets a stinging reminder from the end of the lash, and not un. frequently gets a piece of flesh cut right out of him. Then trainers will pinch their pupils in a most brutal manner, all the while smiling and insisting upon the smile of the pupil. iiut, here I want to say again very distinctly a cruel tnir.ov nover turns out a good or clever performer. That kind of treatment breaks the heart of a bry, and when he has onco lost heart he may just as well give up the business he is only fit for the minor and inferior branches of his profession. I believe in spending a Ion,, time Oil the training of a child, putting a lot of patience ir,t) it, and giving him all the encouragement possible. My father trained me, and that was his method, and lie made a success of me. How Horses are Trained, "Now you want to know how horses ara trained for the ring. This is a matter requiring ]ust as much care, and is of equally great im- portance \iith the training of a child. It will take a year to train some horses, whereas now and again you get or.e who takes naturally to the work, and learns his business in half t-he time. The first thing to teach him is that when he has gone round the ring he must Int go right out of the door, but he must first go by it, and then turn round and go back to it to get out. This is absolutely necessary, because if a horsa were from any unexpected cause to be frightened whilst, siy, a rider was making a jump, or jtiit after, and were to turn sharp off out at the door. the rider would be shot off his back to I can't say what. distance, and would be terribly, if not fatally, injured. The next thing is to Teach the Horse Not to bt Frightened by anything. This is a long and te-lious job. The whip is cracked in his face, all over him, without touching him; paper-covered hoops are broken over his head, noises of every con- ceivable description are made around him, When I was training the horse I ride hero every day I had a big drum with cymbals fastened on to his back, which I played upon and made a terribla noise, until at last he found it didn't do him any harm and lie made not the 811ghlt objection to it. Why, he actually slept with it on ht back for several dajB !-and in fact everything we could think of that, would frighten an ordinary hcrsfs out of his senses is practised upon fch« circus horse until he gradually literally does not know what fear is in the ordinary sense. A word or a slight blow is thereafter quite suffici-us punishment, and either or both must be given at the very time the fault is committed. Ten to one he will never commit the same fault again. Bareback Riding. The next thing is to teach him to stand a ban* back rider on him without flinching. Now this U difficult, because it hurts him when a rider, after thro wins a somerrault, comes down uo his back. Some horses never get tcoufl- tomed to th's—their backs get quite sots under the skin; but others get hardened to :*t and a good rider is able to choose the right plac« to come down on, and to alight softly. The gre»f thing is to do everything by degrees. The rid« must know his horse thoroughly, and the liorw must know his rider. The success, and eves the life of the rider depend upon this mutual acquaitf* tance and confidence, and horse and man must bt absolute and perfect f;imds."