The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1892-11-24
ENGLISH WOMEN OUT OF DOORS.
Where and When Most Of the London
Beauties Can Be Seen Abroad.

where and When Most of the London
Beauties Can Be Seen Abroad.
That part of the famous Hyde park
known the world over az Rotten row
which has received the name of the La
dies mile, presents splendid appear
ance when thronged with riders dur
ing the fashionable hours on each day
I during the season. In its own way
| it is as unique as Ascot, for its display
of skillful equestriennes Is larger and
finer than any city in any other country
can boast. The women who throng the
Ladies' mile on horseback are most OF
| them absolute mistresses OF their art.
| So gracefully do they carry themselves,
| 60 firm is their seat and SO thorough
their control over their steeds that one
might almost fancy they had been born
in the saddle. No matter what tho
| horses pace-whether he be cantering,
trotting or walking-the perfect grace
and mastery of the fair rider are alike
apparent.
There seems no end to the gay process
sion of these ladies, who appear In
countless numbers in 'the row." dur.
ing the hours appointed by society, and
with their handsome faces, becoming
high hats and well fitting habits, delight
| the onlooker and
| Witch the world with noble horsemanship.
Love of outdoor exercise was at all
periods special characteristic Of Eng
lish women, as well as of their Scotch
and Irish sisters. Towalk ten or fifteen
miles day was considered no extraor-
binary feat for one Of them to accom-
plish, and powers of this sort enabled
them to take kindly and rapidly to the
growing fashion for open air sports.
Rowing was fast coming forward as
desirable recreation for ladies. About
twenty-five miles from London, on the
banks of the Thames near Maidenhead,
was and is still situated fine old inn
dating from the posting days, when her
majesty's mails were carried over the
country in red painted coaches and rail-
roads were unknown.
This inn, known as Skindle's. was for
years favorite meeting place for select
parties from London and from private
country houses along the river. People
of society came down there to dine and
enjoy few hours boating. The lawn
of the old house sloped to the river edge,
and there, under shady trees, pleasure
boats of all kinds were moored to slip.
Later on the brigade Of guards had its
boat club house right across the road
from the inn, the catering for the club
being done by the latter. In 1881 and
for some years after an old time sim.
plicity distinguished the arrangements
at Skindle's. The bill Of fare did not run
above roast and boiled joints, ducks and
green peas, bacon and beans, whitehall
and gudgeon, chickens, etc.
There was no elaborate menu, and nc
stronger liquids than cider cup OF
sherry. The inn was conducted as il
always had been, and this fact consti
tuted its great charm. The river reaches
above and below Maidenhead are of sur
: passing beauty. Nearby are Taplov
and Clifden woods. There the rive
bank is fully 800 feet in height ant
covered with grand trees hundreds o
years old. The beautiful residence o
Clifden is now owned by the Duke o
: Westminster. Gay boating partie
were constantly fitting out from tn
y slip at the old inn, and it was an ordir
. airy thing to come upon fair damst
: rowing along in skif or to encounts
= = crew Of robust girls skimming owe
u the water in four cared shell. Skinal'
q has greatly changed since those day
d All sorts and conditions Of Londone
. have replaced the former small parti
- of society men and women, and gre
~ mixed crowds affect the place, whit
70 has lost all its ancient simplicity.-Cc
!. mopolitan.