Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-09-16
BEAUTY SHOW IN LONDON.
saturday Night Attraction in a White
chapel 1heater.

were the attractions Saturday night at
Wonderland, a Whitechapel amuse-
ment resort. A young man came for
ward to state on behalf of Mr.. Woolf,
the manager, that the handsome man
contest" will be decided first by the
audience. 1t should be explained that
everyone on entering was furnished
with voting paper, and the fortunate
individual credited with the highest
number would receive a rolled gold
American keyleSs watch Gin easel"
while the second prize was hand
some gilded cigarette CO Sc and match
box Gin satin cast" Whether these
prizes did not appeal to the possessors
Of masculine beauty in Whitechapel,
or whether, as is whispered to be the
case, the lady or gentleman who dares
so greatly to attain them is the vic
um Of so much more than gentle ban
ter in her or his social circle as to de-
ter eager competitors, may be left to
speculation, for sure it is that only
eight We're seated in a row when the
curtain drew up.
Beyond some yells and boots there
was no personal criticism, and as
small boy who had been putting a
smoothing pat to the well-oiled locks
OF one of the competitors ran off the
stage those in front eagerly shouted
the number of the gentleman they
fancied most. No. 4, for instance, in a
frock coat, light trousers, a button
hole and a pointed beard, had many
admirers. The brown suit and good
natured face Of No. secured a very
large need of favorable attention, but
d rather poetic person with curled
and somewhat abundant hair, a suit of
rough-surfaced tweed, a Tyrolean hat
and obviously new brown boots. did
not win the applause that might have
been expected. Another gentleman, in
blue-gray and superfne satin tie, was
led forward, covering a very merry
bronzed face with his cap, and on
meeting a mixed reception pretended
to make hasty exit, which resulted
in recall and az accession of popu-
larity.
| Meantime, however, in consciousness
OF strength, sat No. 2. tall frock-coated
with dropping mustache and almost
Byronlc, superciliOus expression. Did
he not know himself to be feminine
idol, even before girls voices eagerly
went up, mo. 81 'No. 2, Mr.. Woolf
sir; it's e isn't it?" "Two's for me-"
and so on. Nor was the enviable Us
triumph complete even then. There re-
manned the adjudication by a Jury of
three ladies of ga handsome pair of
tan boots for the best-dressed man,
and after these had scanned critically
the coats, the ties and the hats thew
without hesitation led the popular
Adon1s to the foctlights for the audi
ence to indorse their verdict. The sex
| evidently did so unreservedly. but a
few masculine critics were disposed to
be dissentient.
Inc curtain was lowered to prepare
for the ladies' contest and when if
rose again dozen competitors were
were short and probably the average
was below 5 feet inches, which struck
one rather forcibly in contrast to the
very much greater standard of fem
mime height in the upper middle and
ar1stocrat1c classes. In point Of dress
the most captious critic could have
found no fault with it's taste. Dark
skirts and light blouses, some of these
OF inexpensive silk or crepe cottons,
were worn by many, and one was in
dark rife-green ve1veteen. with a
broad lace collar over the shoulders.
She was almost the only real blonde
of the group, and evidently commanded
a faithful troop of admiring SWANS,
who knew beforehand her number and
had been soliciting the votes of all
and sundry on her behalf The most
distinct was the one tall woman. who
had a large following. and whose fea-
lures and abundant golden hair were
rather markedly Scandinavian. It is
probable that these two will secure
''the handsome gold Geneva watch and
chain" and "the handsome silver
chased necklet and locket," which
were the awards offered for feminine
beauty, but for the reception which
each enjoyed as she was led forward
for the audience to judge of her at
fractions it is doubtful which will Sc
cure the premier place. The voting
papers, it should be explained, were
put into sealed box by each voter as
he or she left the building, and will
be counted during the week by half a
dozen, who volunteered to come for
ward and assist in this weighty task.
One detail only remained, and even
as the ladies had adjudged the merits
of the male raiment, so a committee of
ertlemen were to pronounce on that
Of the ladies' Then it was that the
tall and fair secured one distinction
over her rivals. AS she had taken her
place on the stage in a dark-blue cloth
gown and blue velvet cape, she was
wearing a really becoming black hat
and handsome feathers with pink
roses under the brim, and gave her
toilet the final and consummate touch
of elegance by carrying an ebony and
silyer-mounted stick But the hat
was objected to by the other competi-
tors, who were hatless, and had not
thought of the cane, which was audi
bly, pronounced "distingay." The
judges did not hesitate long, and con-