The Natchitoches enterprise., 1896-06-11
some Peculiar Entertainments.
New York Dispatch.


of sensational business to the cracl
rife shot, Mile. Dianna, who recently
fulfilled London engagement. Bu
the analogy is not complete. 1t is nj
LOVING, fearful father that takes aim a
the "apple" lin this case an evil-smell
ing, hollow globe of resin), but just {
Winchester rifle of uncertain habits, and
addicted to the vagaries and cussed-
nesses common to all firearms.
In the first place, the resinous ball il
suspended in mid-air Dy string. and
then the stand is rugged up with its rife
The latter Is then sighted by the expert
WITT scrupufoUs care. 50 as to cover the
pendant globe. After this has been
done, Mile. Diana takes up her position.
rifle In hand, exactly beneath the sap
PIE" and blazes away at the trigger ci
the other gun. Simple, isn't it? The
discharges are practically simultaneous,
and the lady's dark hair Is IN most cases
instantly powdered with particles Of the
shattered ball of resin. say "in most
cases" advlsedlY, because it sometimes
happens that the bullet passes over or at
the side of the 'apple," and on one oc-
casion the rife ball actually passed be-
tween the globe and Mile. Dianna's
scalp, the weanon having been aimed a
shade too low.
II mus. say" remarked the lady rife
shot, ''rhat 1t wants o lot Of nerve to
face and fire at that rifle. You see, the
slightest deviation in sighting may be
fatal; and then, again, the cartridge may
be poor one, causing the rifle to hang
fire. In such cases the first thing to be
done, of course, is to get out of the line
of fire without a moments delay, for
the rife may 20 off Immediately on its
own account, as, indeed, it has done
more than once.''
Now, was ever such an opportunity
given an experienced angler as that sug-
gested by my next picture? And he is
an experienced angIer-perhaps / ought
to say a professional angler-who has
played bigger salmon in the Fraser River
than ever Scotland produced. And
surely this is novel angling contest
Rod US. Woman. / witnessed the inter.
esting event In a specially arranged
swimming bath, the "fish" being the
well known expert. Miss Annie Lnker,
whose father trained Captain Webb, and
who is herself engaged at this day IN
imparting the natatorY art to couple
.nf thnnsand London Board school chill
swim from Kew to Rotberhlthe.
This angling contest is tremendous
finn. The salmon-llne is hooked IN the
lady,s belt, and she certainly gives nne
nlav. Sometimes the line breaks. some
times the rod. Occasionally the fair
s,fishn IA too much for her would-be
cantor, who nolens volens, Is drawn IN
TO what is emphatically not his element.
IF Miss Luker is landed in the corner
within Ten minutes, however, the vac"
tory is given to the angler, wno' u Is
sienlfcant to note, does not stand a. the
shilling side Of the bath. This Is, OF
course. in order to be drawn quite close,
and then dashes away through the wa
ter, splashlng frightfuIly, the sixpenny
public only Ept the benefit Of whatever
moisture may be gong aboutI
A very different kind Of entertainment
is provided by the bIindfold child plan
ist. Jennie Gabrielle, a Birmingham girl,
who, at the age Of seven, could positive
IL pIav anything that was set before her
A few years ago the child was taken e
the Gaiety Theatre to sec burlesdue
end next morning she surDrised her pa
Gents by sitting down to the plano anc
blaying off the whole score-songs anc
all.
Not only Ii Miss Gabrielle blindfO ldet
by any members OF her audience Wit
may wish to undertake the task, but tn
KEYS Of the instrument are completely
covered with silk; and yet, under tnes'
dIfacult conditions, you may give ne
elaborate pieces from such masters q
Beethoven, Mendelssohn. Bach, an'
schubert. which will be rendered witt
surprising accuracy and dclicacy Q
touch. 81
Chimah was born in Ningspo MT
seven years ago, and, briefly, be may .
described Is dsmlnulive man wilt
monstrous ideas. I saw him In kon
and MIddletors Museum Al Chlcage
AZ 4 rule, the Snowman gives an ex
haustfye and sometimes exhausting dea
lcrIption Of each individual freak IN ID
shcw. The bearded lady beams benign
Inv. while the length Of her hirsuie ap
Ipendage il measured for an apDrecia
| tive public; and the armiess man pain'
dexterousIy with his toes, what tim
the Snowman indicates ahe beauties
the landscape that Is growing under b
artistic foot. But Gilman needs q
one to ten bis story. His height is e.
actly "A II inches. and In his best "a
be received nearly s50O week; for.
!. the potent ATTRACTION Of bis diminuti'
stature, be added the great repusatis
Of recontaur skilled in the lore
| many lands. Also, be smoked ciga
nearly Is big as himself; and his app.
. site was prodlglous. | have seen hl
eat d great dinner. whereof = pouud q
! han steak was but part. Last sun
aer Chimah bought 4 farm Of 20 9
--... q. r1a.i., and nnInhrata1 his esfal