Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-08-22
HAMMOCK LORE.
WILES OF THE TREACHER0US SWINGING
NETs
A Summer Institution Which Causes Far haidens
Much Tribula6On- Often Succeeds
in Trapping for Them
Slow Lover.
L,0Hisrins Oburid-yOarndi.

Louisville CburieT-yOMrfidL
The hammock rs a summer institution
has never been equaled by the inventions
of genius It's devotees claim that in CON
veniencc of size, transportation and adap-
liability to all possible exigencies of sum
mer travel or soiourn, it is without paral-
lei in the devices for human comfort.
1t is impossible to conceive of any we'll
regulated summer resort without its COM
plcmcnt of hammocks, whatever may be
its side attractions in the way of scenery,
water or society Even in wayside country
places the hammock has become an incvi-
table feature of the domestic landscape,
and is apparently as dear rs TO the rural
heart rs to the urban.
1t is however, an acquired taste. The
hammock is of retiring disposition, and
does not thrust itself upon the acqulnt-
unce of mankind There is nothing more
misunderstanding more discOnccrting than
the first plunge into one of these innocent
looking swing nets.
1t is header" without the subsequent
"bob" 50 happily sung by the poet. Where
the dob" does occur il is matter OF eX-
IRENE difficulty, and is never serene. The
first swing in hammock is almost rs much
of a surprise to the adventure rs the first
smoke. Once securely and comfortably III,
there is still fScling of unsteadiness, an
abiding sense of treachery somewhere, but
not precisely located, which is the reverse
of pleasant, and gives place TO confidence
only after long and intimate acquaintance.
Confidence by no means implies safety, for
THE HAMMOCK IS As FULL OF MALICE
Us a trick mule or bucking pony, and
frequently sets at naught the arts and
graces of the most accomplished expert,
ana the movement often induces sensa-
ton of drunkenness without the pleasure
Of getting so.
When, after assduous cultivation, one
has learned the art Of being comfortable IN
hammock, the art of making "A graceful
appearance is still to bc acquired, and an
effective position often demands sacrifice
of comfort and restricts the freedom Of
movement. The man who sells you u
hammock always has a number of colOred
Autographs, showing the different styles,
i'm each and all of which rcpOse woman,
with bcatiiic smile radiating from her
facial disc, and an artistic arrangement Of
drapcrp floating over the edges Of the net,
while the extreme tips Of two very pointed
slippers escape from the lower edge. IL
seems the cOsicst thing i'll the world to
copy that position. You take the ham
mock home, hang it to some convenient
balcony or tree, and with the Autograph
in front of YOU begin your course Of train
ing. You find the most graceful position
is attained in the hammock without a
StrctcheT. You take out the sticks, ar
range the pillow where you think it should
be, and cautiously seat yourself on the
/ edge. The hammock tits, the pillow drops.
You replace it, tumble in ut random, and
! by desperate effort succeed in getting one
! foot in, while the other bangles aimlcssly
over the edge. Another supreme effort
brings in the other leg. Then the net COM
plctcly closes into knot, leaving the full
length Of your stockings exposed to pub
lie view: the pillow, too, is ut least half n
yard from your head You struggle into q
sitting posture, reach around for the pill
low with one hand, which disturbs the
centre of grayity, the hammock tits in the
opposite direction, and
/ DUMPS YOU WITH AS LITTLE CEREMONY
rs ifyou were scrap-iron. You repeat this
experience until You are covered with
| bruises, and final tumble more painful
than the rest drives you from the field to
bide the healing Of your flesh before recon-
mencing your cXertions.
! 1t seldom happens that the study Of pO-
sitiOn can be prosecuted with the aid of a
mirror; it is, therefore, largely. a matter Of
guesswOrk, and it is frequently the case
after the most ardous and persistent effort,
the attitude adopted and cultivated with
40 much care is anything but graceful.
| Indeed, the more one studies the subject
the more certainly it appears that the art
of posing effectively in hammock is a gift
but sparingly bestowed upon the human
species.
Ofcourse all the difficulties are to be met
and overcome, like most Of the other diff
cultie- in life, by the female Of the species.
A man has 10 drapery to be. arranged,
an it is a matter Of little consequence
what he does with his feet One of his ex-
elusive privileges is that of being ungrace-
! full, and when he has learned TO get in and
out Of q hammock without turning peril0us
sOmersaults, and engaging in inconceiveable
trapeze manPuvres. and 10 make himself
reasonably comfortable when in, his course
of training is about complete. He may
hang his feet over one side or the other,
over both sides at once, or he may hoist
them in the air like the arms Of windmill
1t makes no difference With woman il
is quite otherwise. Even if her childhood
has been spent in q hammock, she has
everything to learn again when she il put
into long dresses, and the
ADVANTAGEOUS DISPOSITION OF HER FEEr
becomes problem of no small considera-
ton.
The most treacherous and malicious
hammock ever invented is made of q
straight piece Of canvas, with hem al
each end, through which runs the streteher.
1t is an invention of the most guileless and
deceptive appearance. II is 50 fiat and
spacious, and it possesses what all Other
hammocks lack, surface expanse that
seems to permit unrestrained movement,
an infinite variety Of positions, all of them
more or less easy and graceful. But be moi
deceived. Getting into canvas hammock
is as nice an operation as hitting the bulls