The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-25
THE MODERN GoDIvA.


Coventry Correspondence New York Herald.
The all-important question, who shall
be Lady Godiva." had been happily an
swered by the engagement of an equestrian
STAR from the Theater Royal Astley's-
Miss Maude Forester. I left her down stairs
an hour ago, enjoying well-earned chop
and some brandy and soda. The fete was
ushered in auspiciously by a satiric Header"
III this mornings Times and clashing peals
from the beautiful steeple of ST. Michael's.
This steeple, by the blythe highest of the
three tall spires'-would alone more than
repay a visit to Coventry. The ancient city
had been gayly decorated over night with
huttering pennons, evergreens and devices
more or less appropriate. From many
gable dating back rs lar as the time of Queen
Bess hung waving pictures OF the sweet
lady and her spouse, varied here and there
by designs showing us the wicked tailor and
by the city arms-an elephant and castle;
the castle atop of the elewhant.
The inns were crowded by the influx of
10000 visitors (among them large party of
Americans), and it was no easy matter,
found, to get a bed when ] came down in
the dead of night from London. The process
sion was to start, agreeably to immemorial
custom, from the courtyard of st. Marys
Hall, a building which does duty as kind
of marie. Thither l repaired and having
shown my credentials to the helmeted police
man at the door was ushered into the his
toric room, where l found the costumer and
motley throng OF knights and gentlemen
busily engaged in fitting on breastplates that
wouldn't be fitted. and swearing at slashed
velvet hose which were somehow always
little bit too large or small for the wearers.
Lady Godiva herself was dressing in a
room, to which, after some coy but excusa-
BILE resistance, l was admitted. II hope L
don't intruder l inquired timidly, with
vague souvenir of Paul Pry in my mind, no
doubt, as crossed the sacred threshold and
found myself face to face with very plump
and portly ''lady"
the lips of her lightly clad but shapely lady
ship. Pm not quite ready yet, as you see,
but you must excuse that"
1 excused her willingly, for nothing was
lost by her unreadiness. Tout au contrairie.
Godiva was Just then standing in front of her
glass, adding a little gauze to the somewhat
too scanty upper part of her flesh-colored
satin corsage. But for this garment, which
fitted like glove a pretense OF satin drapery
about the waist, and the very transparent
tights" which encased her symmetrical il
perhaps rather exuberant legs clothing she
had no more than the original Godiva. In
trice, however, Miss Maud had wound some
muslin about her and letting her long gold
en- tresses down over her shoulders, had fully
prepared herself for the approaching specta-
Gle.
Don't you feel nervous?' said noticing
IDaC unuer the PINK on ner CHEEKS
she seemed pale with anticipation.
mot very" said the lady" "but hope
it won't rain. don't know what Ishall do
if it does though haven't so much on to
spoil"
ibid you have a pleasant welcome when
you arrived" / continued.
"Oh, very pleasant" rather bitterly replied
Godiva. Very pleasant, indeed. Crowds
of little boys at the station, and that sort OF
thing, shouting, oh, my eye, amt she just
fat@''
To account for the rudeness of those bad
little boys should explain that Miss Maude
Forester is a handsome blonde weighing
23S pounds, and looking every pound of it.
She carries off her size bravely when she is
on horseback. but when You sit next her in
a drawing-room, or are privileged TO admire
her unmounted in the deshabille of Lady
Godiya" costume, her charms do certainly
impress an ordinary mortal as slightly over
towering.
AT last her ladyship was seated, The mus
! lin drapery had done much for propriety,
but she was still so like real life "unadorned,"
and so adorned the most" that she would
| scarcely have dared to venture on stage,
either in London or Paris. without adding to
| her costume. We viewed her esthetically,
happily, and did not waste time in fault
! finding So regarded, she more than an
swered popular expectation. She is singu-
| larry fine woman, of rather prononce char
acter, and sat her horse with a consummate
| elegance which showed she had not thrown
away the experience gained in the circus
| Then the bands of music scattered at different
points of the procession struck up their
loudest and the bells rang out from the
| Coventry steeples. A mounted policeman
ana gentleman in scarlet hunting costume
were sent on ahead to clear the way. The
| kings and queens clapped their tinsel crowns
| on their heads and clutched their horses
names more firmly, and, as the clock struck
II In st. Michaeps tower the cortege rode
| forward, cheered at every step by seething
populace.
| First came the city guards in the ancient
armor belonging to the city. Next the Rugby
| town band and some tiny three-year-old chill
| dren tastefully dressed as princes and
| princesses on horseback. Then came ST.
| George. glittering in scale armor, with a
painted dragon on his chest and his visor
quite in order. Next an ornamental car with
a lot of whte-robed Druids inside it, and
then more bands, more guards in armor-
with their corduroy pants visible under
neath-and tiny children on horseback.
And soon after we saw Robin Hood with
Maid Marian, clad all in woodland green,
| and followed by stout Friar Tuck and Little
John. The kings and queens with their
escorts came next-Richards and Henrys
Marys and Margarets, and Virgin Bess-till
at last we beheld a grinning Jester, and i'm
Inediatelv behind him Lady Godiva, followed
by Leofric and long array OF trade deputa-
tons.
Whenever you read of a very old person.
you invariably find that he always gets up at
clock, works at all sorts of drudgery all
day. eats only of the simplest food, and never
goes anywhere or sees anything. This is
probably the reason why 50 few people are
willing to stay above ground long enough TO
I Al Al. Ill. ]