The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-19
THE CURIOSITY SHOP.
Ladies on Horseback in MediRval Times
The Side Seat for state.


The animated discussion which has been
raised respecting the safest and most com
Portable seSt FOR q Lady on horseback has
donelittleto throw light on the question
as TO how English women rode whsn good
roads were scarce and when riding was the
only method Of travelling for those who did
not wish 20 journey on foot.
The London Queen tells that in the early
illuminRtions which depict ladies riding
they are represented Us seated sideways,
generally on a saddle resembling a Pilllon,
without pommels; and Thomas Wright, IN
his History Of Domestic Manners and
Sentiments Ia the Middle Ages. states II
as his opinion that the side seat has never
been abandoned from that time TO the
present. In Archbishop Aelfrlc's transla-
ton of the Pentateuch lady Is represent
ed seated sideways on a hGrse, holding
whip in her hand, with four krotted
lashes, like a scourge. In the same AIS,
when Jacob ross up audset his sons and
his wives on camels, tEe find tbs women
seated sideways on the very extraordinary
animals that are made 10 do duty as cam
els. When we come to feudal times, how
ever. there Is equally clear evidence that
another style of hor=emauship was pre-
ThrouShout tho whole period usually
called the Middle Ages the illuminated
manuscripts which depict ladies' bunting
and hawking parties invariably represent
the huntress a. seated sstride the horse.
The frequency with which the picture re
ours shows that hisuset bod Of riding was
not merely Occasional sandit is well known
that hawking formed one Of thesmast pop
no ia uff D. q
ladies. Siu1ilarillustrations Da yebegleaned
from French sources, ladies' rlaing astride
being depicted on numerous ivortes and
Examinations. As a rule theTHiersuse short
stirrups.
It would seem. .theFeforeS that1wo meth
DDS of riding were pracEaoec by Iatfies an
the Middle Ages. For state. occAs1ans he
side seat was considered most beuOming
but when activeexeFoisoa and sport EEere In
question horseBOu1en thrsEg appearances 70
the winds and boldfybestrodet their stoeds.
Hand shakingsaDSf otfferi snfutatiOns.
In reference-to thsss F,Fasstjess Of shaking
hands. d good aHsharfoy traces theseriglD
to the TnovenBeutUf one PersOnstrying 10
kiss aDothef's hand tbaisis endeay eTed 70
be withdrawn Among TsIgtsnio' nations
only il at customary to shake hands In
France it IS regarded $50 vulgar English
innovation. and Is discouraged by the
higher CLASSES.
From the Mohamnnezlan. =. thesfghting in
habitauts Of India. comes .Sttosslld appeal,
the military salute lie raises his night
hand 70 his forehead and makes the I'm
gers touch IT, Tbs. IL I1sy be supposed, IS
a su tystitute on the part of q stsrched and
sturdy soldier for bow Of prostTatIon.
The salute oftbo ssbjsct. passive Hlndoo
Is indifferent In the pFessnoe Of a Brsh-
min be raises his fGldsd hEnas 20 his fore
head. touching It witbsths balls Il has
thumbs mHchzD0Sre. noua prcisensiEe and
submissive style Of satsEtation-aad utters
At the sans moment ths wsrd ''prostrA-
ton" Ia south India tie inferior pros
trates zfiIrns4lf With extEnssd arms In
Ceylon. besides the sus'szl eastern STfshss
for good health and sioDa aife, eots On,
i galese and ANIL have q curious Eubs2itu
/ ton for good 10y. Il ls. VIII go AID
I come"