New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-03

not disdain to introduce in their more elak+
crate works the figure of the peep show man.
He appears in several tapestry designs BY
Boucher, and he is particularly prominent in
that artists canvas "Fete de Champagne" He
is the hero no less Of the picture lie Charlie
TAM attributed to J. NJ B. Pierre, and he is
leading figure in Lancrets group of itinerant
merchants, figuring in the tripartite title of the
picture as ''The Optique Shower
The show was known to many lands, and has
been frequently pictured as the various titles
indicate. Opinion seems to hold that the first
travelling peep show men were the Savoyards.
A Dutch dictionary defines the Snowman with
the box as "a Savoyard with the rare-kiek."
The English variety may be studied in the books
already named and in Hogarth's Southwark,
Fair and Richardson's Characteristic Sketches.
French interest in the peep show has been
plainly Indicated, and there is almost as great
interest manifested in contemporary German
literature. Dutch series having The Ker-
messes for general title reveals in a clearer
degree how truly the germ OF the movie Law
latent in the raree. There are lively scenes of
couples meeting and the gallant Hollander ask
ing ms talr one to accompany him to the magic
peep snow. She accepts, and we are shown the
pair approaching the box, paying down the
ptennIg or two, gluing their eyes to the peep
hole and finally the pictures they had the
rapture Of seeing.
Frank Wetenkampf has written an enpros,.
ing monograph on peep show prints in which
ne quotes from Mayhem, who had an inter-
view with Snowman. Thus speaks the show
man: There are two kinds Of shows (peep
1nJ y no1l eEn
back shows are peep shows that stand upon
trussels and are so small as to admit of being
carried on the back. The scenery is about
IL inches to "a inches long and Is inches
high. They have been introduced fifteen or
sixteen years. The back shows generally ex-
hlolts plays wot's been performed at the
theayters lately. | has some other scenes as
we'll. I've 'Napoleon's Return From HeIba'
Napoleon at Waterloo The Death of Lord
Nelson,' and also THE Queen Embracing to
Start for Scotland From the Backward at
Voolich.' In the country I works my battle
pieces. That there, tell EN-, SIS fine pantn'
representing Lord Nelson at the Battle of
Trafalgar. In the center is Lord Nelson in
ms last dying moments, supported by Captain
Hardy and the chaplain. On the left is the
explosion of one Of the enemy's ships by fire."
THE peep show" says DR.. Weitenkampf,
was the central figure Of some works Of
popular literature, such as Mogridges Ser
geant Bill and his Raree Show, and The Peep
Show Man: drama, in two acts, by Thomas
j. Williams. In this play Jack Trudget car
RES the show on his back and introduces
grand broadsword combat for the champions
ship between the Emperor Napoleon and the
Duke Of Wellington, at the battle of Bunker's
HILL"
Peep or raree show it was in England and
the United States, optieue it was called in
France, guckkasten was its title in Germans
kIek~kasten, or perspektivkasse in Danishs
rare-ziek, or kijk-kas in Dutch, but in every
land and under any name it was always
the same thing-a lot of prints or pictures
colored without much art, but boldly, SO as sS
make an appearance of brilIiancy and depend
ing greatly on the skill of the Snowman in two
ways--how he pulled the strings ard what
he said about his pietuges--for their effect on
an audience. The history of the peep show. in
Whatever land it is sought, is mysterious, pria-
clpally because it sought out untrodden ways
for its exploitation.
To-day" says the latest authority on this
history, ideas concerning the peep show are
already dimmed and confused, so that the
word is getting TO be as loosely used as the
abused term 'hurdygurdy,' which is custom
arlly and quite erraneously applied to tho
hand-organ of the piano type. About all that
remains of this form of amusement is pie
lures OF the show and prints that wers used
for it,