"ADS" OF OTHER DAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 189, 12 August 1933, Page 9 (Supplement)

"ADS" OF OTHER DAYS.

THEIR ILLUSTRATED APPEALS

RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS. SPORTS AND FASHIONS. (By EA.) Consequent ou my previous review of tho "Ads. of Other Days," I have been deluged with inquiries as to other phases of bygone publicity. It would bo r manife6tly impossible to refer to tlierji all, interesting as they are. But I append a few more examples of newspaper announcements from tho days when we were young. When Cycling Was An Art.

Sport niftde its appeal then as now, and I venture to affirm that nothing in modern athletics would surpass the' enthusiasm that centred round the sports gatherings in tlio Auckland Domain in the early 'nineties,„ lit-ld under the auspices of the, Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycl6" Club. Of course, they were advertised, and Ave used to look for the familiar emblems of the cyclist and the runner which headed the advertisements. ' Here is one of them. This was popularly supposed to be "Teddy" Reynolds, a famous racing cyclist of his day. He, alas, 'proved false to the old "pennyfarthings," and afterwards achieved fame on the more modern type of "safety" bicycle, of which this was one of the first examples, culled from a contemporary advertisement. Please scan the costume of the cyclist. Absolutely correct! Cap, jacket, knee breeches, long stockings, and shoes. Thus equipped, the cyclists in their road races out to Howick used to achieve

the amazing speed of eight miles an hour, but then don't forget tlicy had to dismount and push the old grid up every hill. What a -sight it was to see them going down Khyber I'rfss in mass formation. Try and imagine it, ve scorchers with free wheels and backpedal* brakes. There were no aids to equilibrium then. It was a ease ot sitting back, gripping the handle bars like grim death, and letting her go, while tho rider prayed for a soft spot of macadam to land on if lie should happen to overbalance. Great among the forgotten arts, I classify the ability to remount a "penny-farthing after a tumble from the infernal contraption. The Old " Baby-Engines."

While -thus remembering former transport, let me remind the mothers of a previous generation of the "prams that used to be. The fm-erunners of the modern wicker luxuries, padded, upholstered rubber tyred, curtained, and equipped with superspringe so that her majesty the baby

will not feel any jar in motion, were just boxes on wheels. Thcywere painted and they had collapsible hoods, but tho poor kids,;, that used to be strapped in them must have known every stone in the road. Road is right, too —not footpath —for old-timers will remember a famous City Council by-law compelling all "wheeled vehicles" to use the roads. The footpaths in Queen Street and Karangahape Road were too crowded 40 years ago to allow "prams" on them. But, boys, do you remember the perfectly glorious "pram" races we used to have with the old Juggernauts, and how wo used to let thom finish with a bang against tho .fence down Newton Road? Recollection convinces me that tho babies then must have been tougher than they arc to-day—or perhaps there wfere mpi'e of them. I am also sure that the blacksmiths of that era must have made stronger "prams" than they do now—anyway, there were no ball bearings to got lost on route. Cattle Truck Race Trains.

This next newspaper illustration will evoke deep growls of resentment from the old eports sitting by the fireside. It recalls a race train advertisement, advising probable patrons that there was plenty of room and ample rolling stock to handle the crowd going to Ellerslie to see the Cup run. A long time ago I'll admit, but still many will remember when cattle trucks, cleaned, swept and garnished, but still a bit "whiffy," were provided for the convenience of racegoing patrons. They were fitted with seats and provided with canopies, but tell me, some of you girls who went to the races about Christmas timo 1898, what your new summer frocks were like on that dreadful day when the engine stalled in the Parnell tunnel, and the open trucks got the full benefit of the asphyxiating sinokc? Was it only half an hour, or did we think it an eternity?

Tile FrocTcs of Long Ago. ' And that reminds me. Here's one of those selfsame frocks that .used to adorn w well-known draper's advertisement. Be

those long sleeves, and that adorable wasp-like'waist. Avaunt, ye shingled, short-skirted damsels! None >of your allurements can compare with mamma's, 'as eho floated gracefully round in musliny garments so unutterably feminine. Look at the one below. Note how the flare of the skirt, sets off the puff of tho sleeve, and again how the good old ostrich feather crowns my ladyc like a queen. Could we skate? Of course we

could. Doesn't this 1 picture prove it Why, we had costumes for all occasions just as now? Here are contemporaries of, say, thirty years ago. To those of tli e young bloods who may be curious, the gentleman i n this picture is wearing a "Chesterfield." That's tlio squarecut coat worn over hie sae suit. But, lads, please observe the stand-up collar. Anything less than Sin of collar was extremely undignified for young gentlemen of fashion. And, just between you and mo, I wouldn't be surprised if this young man had straps on the bottoms of his trousers to keep them down over his shoes. Thus thoroughly braced from top to toe, with padded shoulders and bowler hat, the erstwhile "glass of fashion and moiild of form" faced the world with equanimity. His lady friend would bo clad like this for outdoor oeca-

■siolis.- Her long twoed costume, probably reinforced by other similar garments, always kept discreetly out of sight, sought to assure th e world that never, never, never would the girls of any other day gallop round a tennis court in abrevlated garments, be seen on our eunny beaches in backless bathing costumes, or go roaming about the countryside in singlets and shorts! Ah me, why .was I born too soon!

The Appeal of Memory. And thus, of "ships and sealing wax, and cabbages and kings/' these old newspaper advertisement illustrations lead me to discourse. Of ships I could say quite a lot, but the "exigencies of space" forbid more tli a n one reference. This "cut" recalled th e old Hose Casey and her ninny harbour jaunts. The boys and girls of a bygone era will remember hen Peace to her bonesl<- ,