The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 3, March 1810
History
The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 3, March 1810
Drama -- Periodicals; Theater -- Periodicals
At Wilsden Green, a hat, and a purse of twenty shillings, were played
for at backsword, and, as an encouragement for young players, five
shillings were given to the winner of every head, and two shillings to
the loser. On the umpire’s proclaiming the game, a hat was thrown into
the ring (being the ancient mode of defiance) another soon followed, and
the owners entered and played several bouts with much good humour, till
the blood trickled down the head of the least fortunate. Other gamesters
followed, to the number of seventeen, affording most excellent sport to
a numerous and well-dressed field. The prize was won by a Dorsetshire
lad, who, by breaking four heads proved himself to be the best man.
CURIOUS PEDESTRIANISM.
A very extraordinary wager was decided upon the road between Cambridge
and Huntingdon. A gentleman of the former place, had betted a very
considerable sum of money, that he would go, at a yard distance from the
ground, upon _stilts_, the distance of _twelve miles_ within the space
of _four hours and a half_: no stoppage was to be allowed except merely
the time taken up in exchanging one pair of stilts for another, and even
then his feet were not to touch the ground. He started at the second
milestone from Cambridge in the Huntingdon road to go six miles out and
six in: the first he performed in one hour and fifty minutes, and did
the distance back in two hours and three minutes, so that he went the
whole in three hours and fifty-three minutes, having thirty-seven
minutes to spare beyond the time allowed him. He appeared a good deal
fatigued; and his hands we understand were much blistered from the
continued pressure upon one part. This, we believe, is the first
performance of the kind ever attempted; but as novelty appears to
attract, as well as direct the manners of the age, _stilting_ may become
as fashionable in these, as tilting formerly was in better times.
Twenty-four gamesters contended manfully at Harrow-on-the-Hill for a
prize of a hat and purse, at the _right valiant_ game of backsword. Many
a crown was cracked and many a heavy blow was given with right good
will, and received with true humour. Much skill also in assault and
defence in this game (the most lively picture of war) was evinced. Jack
Martin of Harrow played the best stick among the Harrow lads--but the
prize, alas was actually borne away by--a LONDON TAILOR. Fourteen broken
heads graced the ring.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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