The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-16
WALkING on Stills.
Skill OF French Pcasants-stilts Used All
Round the World,

Round the world.
American boys walk on stills, but as COM
pared with French boys. they know little
Of the sport
Perhaps the reason for this ia that in
one part Of France-away down in the
south OF the country-stits are a neces-
siiy to the people, who are mostly shep-
herds, They must walk on stills In OF
der to oversee their vast hocks Of sheep.
as well as to pass through the bogs.
These shepherds - men and women
both-walk continuously on stills from
six to eight feet high. These stills are
merely fastened to the feet There Is no
thought OF an upright by which the hands
and the arms may steady the progress.
Sometimes the stills have uprights reach
ing as far AZ the knees and bound firmly
to the legs.
Generally these shepherds and shep-
herdesses carry long poles which they
can use either as balancing poles or as
supports long canes, as it were.
reaching TO the ground.
They became 30 expert in stilt walking
that il is no unusual sight to see a shep-
herdess striding along on stills that raise
her six feet above the ground, with her
balancing pole strapped to her back and
her hands busily knitting socks for hus-
band, son or brother.
The complete unconcern with which
these country folk make their way along
on stills Is astonishing. One might al
most say that the children have stills given
10 them instea Of cradles.
race on stills In the south OF France
was one OF the sports to celebrate holt
day.
The course was about f,ur and a half
m nd ArxsI lwx ka fNu.<.
winners in the extraordinary time Of thirty
I'VE minutes, When you stop to think that
the average good driving horse does not
ordinarily trot as fast as this the wonderful
| skill OF these French stiltwalkers will be APP
preciated.
One Of the winners was a boy and the
other a girl. Both were about IL years
old. Entered as contestants in the race
were old men and women. as well as young
FOLK Third In the race was an aged
shepherd. who certainly looked as II he
had we'll passed his SEVENTEEN birthday.
These shepherd silt walkers have had
their influence on boys throughout France.
Paris Is great city for holidays, and on
many Of these holidays a part OF the cele-
stilt walkers always play a leading part.
One such procession was led by gigantic
and grotesque figure not less than u feet
tall Afterward, when the procession dis
banded. it turned out that this figure was
u
than feet inches tall.
Not only had he made the long march
on high stills. but he had still further in
creased his apparent height by binding a
long stick to his back. This reached Far
above his head and bore on it's upper end
this head formed false shoulders and arms,
and from these in long, loose folds hung
a calico gown. which reached TO the ground.
Prizes are almost always given for the
best marchers in these Paris parades. and
on this occasion the boy on stills won Arst
prize.
Strange stills are those used by jap
| anese and Chinese boys. Instead OF hav-
| ing side blocks like the stills used by Ameri-
! can boys. they have foot rests mortised
on the stilt stick and projecting back
| ward
| These stills can only be used when the
japanese boys feet are bare, for the silt
stick must be gra, p,d between the frvt
ard second toes Of each foot.
Spanish boys are great silt walkers
and they invariably use sticks that reach
to the hips, ard are strongly bound there
as we'll as al the ankles
In some Of the islands in the South Pacific
Ocean very rough sport In engaged in by
boys on stills. Perched high on their
thin supports. and with their. faces and
skins grotesquely painted. these semi
savage lads-so metim tim az many as twenty
other up or knock each other down.
Like most sports and games, silt walk
ing is Of very ancient origin. Cut In the
stone which forms the tomb Of one Of thu
oldest of the Pharaohs there Is a crud,
picture of a man leading a procession anc
walking on stills. This ancient still wake
must have been very skilf,il, for he is hold
ing no side sticks. but Us using both hand
I'm holding a great horn 10 his mouth. whic|
he is apparently blowing