BRITISH BEAUTY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1666, 3 February 1904, Page 66

BRITISH BEAUTY

FIGURE COMPETITION AT LEEDS.

Specimens of physical beauty paraded their charms at the Leeds Albert Hall recently in a beauty competition. More than 2000 people scrambled and tussled for admission to the budding in their anxiety to look upon an array of feminine and masculine symmetry. The keynote seemed to be curiosity. And if the plaudits may be taken as denoting anything, curiosity was satisfied. The five ladies who braved the inquisitive stares of 2000 pairs of eyes may not have been as a body tbe loveliest examples of .the work of nature, somebody’s oats' and somebody eisie's patent exerciser, but they ougnt all to be prizewinners in the courage department. They came out boldly from the folds of a red plush screen that acted as a background. and stepped each cine on to a pedastal. Three were adorned in little more than nature gave them ; they wore the tight-fitting, cut-away costumes that one sees at swimming galas, and the remaining two were clothed in long dress-ing-gowns roped at the waist. Presently°one of these latter slowly uncoiled tho rope, and as she dropped her outer clothing a murmur arose from the crowd. She wore a tight-fitting, white ribbedwoollen suit, and the artful feminine dasli of colour was supplied by a pink silk sash that suited well the coal-black curls that hung about her shoulders. There was now only one whose figure had not been She displayed no signs of haste, and it was not until the judges came to tho front that she somewhat dramatically dashed aside her dressing gown and presented herseif for inspection. It was a moment of mingled feelings. The folk hesitated between admiration an,d shockedness. But the battle did not last long; they decided to admire, and by way of showing it, clapped their hands joyously. Truly the picture was pretty. This well-formed and finely balanced girl, radiant in a wealth of shining flaxen hair, had clothed herself in silk fleshlings, that enveloped the figure fi‘om neck tot too. A pale blue silk sash, broadly and tightly drawn across the hips and ending in a large bow at one side, completed her attire. There could be no doubt that the crowd’s favouritism was hers. She of ail the competitors conveyed the idea of English budding womanhood. But she did not win. The audience had counted without the Expert Committee. This consisted of a number of males with one female to assist them. They deliberated lengthily and doubtless learnedly, with the result that Miss Annie Oxley, of Sheffield, was awarded the palm. She it was who wore the woollen tights and pink sash, and as the decision was announced, she appeared herself with joy. The other ladies did not smile to any extent, but gathered up their trappings and disappeared behind the screen. The lady in the silk fleshlings was Miss Gertrude Perkins, of Leeds. The other female competitors came from Newcastle, Birmingham, Bradford, and the Birmingham representative was placqd third. The trial of the sterner section was between 10 competitors, who were, judged in fives. J. E. Mead, of Sheffield, was selected of the five to compete in the final judging, and he later appeared alongside. W. E. Clements, of Leicester; D. T. Cooper, a? Birmingham; and G. Sandland, of Leeds. The judges (ultimately decided that W. E. Clements was the best of the bunch, and he will represent Great Britain in the final contest for the prize of £2OO. D. T. Cooper, a well-set-up specimen of musoiuiar manhood, though lacking in finish, was placed second, and G. Sandland third. Miss Oxley and Mr Glean* ents will shortly go- to Madison,-®qqarq Gardens. New York, where the judgment of the Anglo-American Committee will bo given. The two will bo -;pitted against ; the best American couple* the two prizes awarded—£2oo to the woman and 1 £2OO to the man.