The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-08-04
A" GIRL SHOW" IN LONDON.
A Parterre of Loveliness.-Barnum
Outdone.

OutdOne,
The "girl show p" in London described
below, out-does anything Of which Barnum
ever conceived. Reading the account,
one can almost fancy himself revelling
amongst the houris that people Mahome-
dan heaven:
We all remember Barnumis baby show,
don't we? and also some grave reprOof
therefor, received from our discourse
Mamma-land here Yet Barnum's idea
seems to have taken root in this country,
and on Saturday last bore its fruit in an
exhibition which / dare say is unique in
the history of the human race. It was
nothing less than a prize exhibition of
young girls-a little over the age that
Barnum's babies might be, if living at this
time. It occurred in the gardens of the
Kensington Horticultural Society-a most
aristocratic place and institution. 1t was
at the close of grand flower show.
The splendid band of her majesty's 1st
regiment of Life Guards discoursed the
rich music to which the hundreds of throb-
bing and expectant hearts beat time.
Looking down from some high terrace, the
exqu;sitely dressed girls seemed so inter-
mingled with japonicas, roses, lilies, and
so on, that one was at some loss to know
whether the girls were flowers just liber-
ated from stems, or the flowers were
folded and spell-bound maidens, and one
feared to speak or cough, lest suddenly
the fairy troop should hide back in the
thousand buds and calyxes from which
they seemed to have emerged at the mystic
invocation of the music. Among these
palpitating plateaus of human hues
there walked, unrecognized as an official
parsonage, man with iron gray hair, and
cold, discriminating air-one who, to boz
row a phrase, had can appearance of be-
ing as thoroughly married as any man in
England" He glanced without seeming
to glance; he fastened his eyes-invincible
dog! He was not at all in hurry to make
his decisions. At last, at wave of his
terrible hand, the music ceased the crowd
of eager mammas and aunts approached
his throne, each with her darling. A
graceful bow, distant hint to the exist
enoe Of Mrs. -, "a pretty woman I'll
warrant, } and the judge lays before him
the three first prizes to be awarded The
first prize was an exquisite bracelet en-
crusted with diamonds and opals, value
1925. o! how many diamond eyes and
opalescent fushes there we're! Alas!
only one could get it, "Mary c."
calmly calls the Judge, "born June, 1s47
exhibited by Lady G., of fO-Manor,
Hants" Glowing, blushing, snow-pure
complexion; chestnut locks, all flushed by
tint of sunrise beaming from the cheek
eyes that might mislead the day; of a
height that would just bring her forehead
up to the lips of fellow standing six
feet in his shoes. Such was Mary C-,on
whose fair arm the judge clasped the
bracelet, with a feeling that made one
wonder if Mrs. were present. The
second present is very fine white lace
shawl, valued at $525, to receive which
the Judge calls forth: "Lady Harriet
D.; born August 1874; exhibited by
the marchioness of -" Stately,
queenly. as if bonied forth from one of
Tennyson's Idylls, came forth this young
lady. Worthy she was Of the Ohio poet
Howells delicate line:
"The curved stock of the lilly hath not her
slender grace"
The third prize was q .jeweled bouquet.
holder, valued at 1915, which was awarded
to Laura NJ" "born May, 1S4S, ex-
hibited by Mrs. N -, of Windsor, "a
brunette, with great luxnriance of tresses,
exquisite tOurnure, and, as to her eyes,
Sweeter eyes were never seen,
Eyes so fiery and serene"
1t was not in human nature that there
should not be few mois, eyes and pout-
ing lips; and there was general regret
that there were not more prizes; but the
judges DEGREES were universally approved.
YYY-