Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-26
SEASON FOR Stills
SPORT OF ANCIENT ORIGIN In
DULGED IN BY BOYS.
Custom of Flock Tenders of Both
Sexes, but Prevalent In
Most Countries.

This is the season Of the year when the
small boys of Washington have taken to
walking on stills. and in every section Of
the city you can find young America perch
ed nigh In the air on two poles with cleats
on them. When poles are not available
they use cans some times, with strings tied
to them, sometimes the cans strapped to
the feet American boys enjoy this sport
somewhat, but do not keep it up very long,
for in a short while they will be on vacant
lots flying kites and playing foot ball This
Is probably because they know little Of the
sport Of silt walking, as compared with
the experience of boys Of other countries.
and again because they do not have to walk
on stills at any time from necessity. Take
the French country boys. for instance:
Away down in the south of France stills
are necessity to the people, who are
mostly shepherds. They must walk on
stills in order to oversee their vast f1ocks
OF sheep as we'll as to pass through the
boys.
These shepherds-men. women and chill
dren-walk continuously on stills from six
to eight feet high. These stills are merely
fastened to the feet. Sometimes the stills
have upright readings as far as the knees
and bound firmly to the legs.
Generally these shepherds and shepherd
esseS carry long poles, which they can use
either as balancing poles or as supports
very long canes as it were-reaching to the
ground. They become expert in silt
walking that 1t is no unusual sight to see
shepherdess striding along stills that
raise her six feet above the ground, with
her balancing pole strapped to her back
and her hands busily knitting socks for
husband, son or brother.
The complete unconcern with which these
country folk make their way along on stills
the children have stills given to them in
stead of cradles.
Small Boy at Giants Height.
These shepherd silt walkers have had
their influence on boys throughout France.
Paris is a great city for holidays. and on
many of these holidays a part of the cele-
bration is a parade. In these parades silt
walkers always play a leading part. One
such procession was led by gigantic and
grotesque figure not less than twelve feet
tall Afterward when the procession dis
banded. 1t turned out that this figure was
really a boy about sixteen who was not
more than four feet six inches in height.
Not only had he made the long march
on high stills but he had still further in
creased his apparent height by binding
long stick to his back This reached
far above his head and bore on its upper
end a large false face. A cross bar just
under 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 pa
rades, and on this occasion the boy on stills
won the first prize
Strange stills are those used by Japanese
and Chinese boys. Instead Of having side
blocks like the American boys, they have
foot rests mortised on the silt stick and
projecting backward These stills can only
be used where the Japanese boys feet are
bare. for the silt stick must be grasped
between the first and second toe Of each
foot. 81. -
Spanish boys are great silt walkers. and
they invariably use sticks that reach to the
hips and are strongly bound there well
at the ankles. ST..
In some of the islands of the south Pacific
ocean very rough sport is engaged in by
boys on stills. Perehed high on their thin
supports and with their faces and skins
grotesquely painted, these semi-savage
lads-sometimes as many twenty at a
time-meet and try to trip each other up
or knock each other down.
Like most sports and games silt walking
of very ancient origin. Cut in the stone
which forms one of the Oldest Pharaoh's
tomb. there Is a crude picture OF a man
leading a procession and walking on stills
This ancient silt walker must have been
very skillful. for he Is holding no side
sticks. but is using both hands in holding
great horn to his mouth, which he Is
apparently blowing.