Shetland and the Shetlanders; Or, the Northern Circuit (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1840. Excerpt: ... wheeled completely over, describing a half-circle in the air. As one competitor after another attempted this Herculean feat, a pause of intense interest took place, but the greatest success did not elicit a souppon of applause. If the audience had been composed of Madame Tassaud's wax-work figures, they could scarcely have remained more passive. Except a glance of surprise exchanged between those who stood nearest each other, no external symptom of approbation appeared It is so commonly the case in Scotland, that orators, musicians, and other public performers, become discouraged and abashed by the solemn silence which follows their most brilliant efforts, that I mean to invent a machine, and take out a patent for it, which shall make a sound like the clapping of several hundred hands, whenever any single individual touches the spring, which will thus fill up the pauses of orators, while searching for an idea, and afford the encouragement necessary for carrying on every display of ability with proper spirit. The only speech I have heard of lately which excited sufficient enthusiasm, was that of a political candidate to a Radical mob, when he began by saying, " Gentlemen " and not one of the audience having ever been thus addressed before, the burst of applause became so deafening, that not another word of his speech was audible. Highland dancing displays incomparable execution, and requires a rapidity of movement which the eye can scarcely follow. One of the performances would have amused you much, on account of the extreme precision and neatness which it required, being quite in the hair-breadth style. Two walking sticks are laid on the ground in a horizontal cross, within the four angles of which a dancer undertakes to perform with matchless rapidity a...