BEAUTY SHOW IN LONDON

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 13, 9 February 1909, Page 4

BEAUTY SHOW IN LONDON

CHUI3BY CHEERFULNESS AND STATELY DIU-NUTi'. A really beautiful beauty show" large, varied, representative, admirably arranged, and with a decision " broadbased upon the public, will" was that which opened on December oth at the Empress Hall, Earl's Court, London, reports tjic Chronicle. Among the several hundred competitors iu this genuinely " international" show were previous prize-winners from Newcastle, Hudderslield, Folkstone, and Sunderland, not to mention beauties from Paris, Berlin, and other Continental cities—and even from India. Of these over .50 sought the suffrages of a huge audience, numbering several thousand. The actual "showing" was done in a monster picture frame, within which the beauties posed four at a time, standing shoulder to shoulder in tlic lull glare of concentrated limelights. Before the actual ordeal, the whole bevy marched in slow and imposing procession round the great hall. It was a true " beauty parade,and its variety was quiet inspiriting, for absolute freedom had been allowed as to " style/' Mincing little ''llappers" in full toques; tall, stately queens of tile ballroom in evening dress, piquante coquettes in summer blouses ; rosy, dimpled country hoyden, and pale-browed aesthetics with a sad, sweet smile all marched, two by two, with rivalling grace, while the band played a stately melody, alterwards merging more jovially, and amidst rousing cheers, into " Put ine among the girls." TRESSES 01' THE MATRONLY. It may be noted, by the way, as a little touch of feminine pathos, that it was for the most part the more matronly among the beauties who had seen lit to appear in flowing tresses. As it turned out, the voting itself was uneventful. The audience judged with keen attention, though the number , which each fair one 'bore at her breast , would find itself hailed now and then by , some sudden and possibly unknown ad- , mirer, whereupon a gleam of unconcealable delight would shine upon tlic face ; above. Among many noticeable charms, it may be remarked that the tallest beauty of all came from Ballam. She [ is only 18 t and carries her srx-foot-one • ■with most winning grace. One may mention also that two of the most delightfully chubbby. lively, thoroughly "English-looking" beauties in the whole galaxy were, as a mutter of fact, a pail' of American girl students, who had come from far-away Utah, on the verge of ; the Rocky Mountains, to spend a merry Christinas in London. It was common knowledge during the evening at the head of the 20 ladies elected out of the first round was Miss Mewse, a bright-eyed, dainty little dressmaker of 18, who had come all the way k from her native Newcastle to enter the competition. High up upon the list, too, ' came one of the Utah sisters, and a rcal--5 ly bonnie London girl from Blaekheath. In the main, cheerfulness, (rhubbiness, ' and sheer health scored everywhere agaiust chiselled features and sad brow.