At the end of about ten minutes, Mrs. Leslie called out
In a clear voice: “The first tableau will represent, ‘The Birching of a Nihilist in a Russian Prison.’”
Immediately the curtains separated in the middle, drawn aside by unseen agency, and the tableau appeared, brilliantly lighted from above, so that we could see the smallest details.
The scene showed a large, bare, prison cell, with whitewashed walls, stone floor, and grated window. In it were six figures, five “men” and one woman, all attired in costume, and personating, respectively: the governor of the prison; the surgeon; a prison warder; two soldiers; and the Nihilist lady. In the middle of the cell there was a long, curved wooden structure, upon which the “Nihilist lady” was bound in a bent position, her feet resting on the floor. Her arms were stretched out one on each side of the “horse,” her wrists being secured to rings: and her ankles were strapped together, and fastened to a bar at the lower part of the structure.
She was dressed in prison costume, consisting of a loose, blue serge frock, the skirt of which, as well as her petticoats and chemise, being rolled up to the middle of her back, and she had been divested of her stays and drawers. The “Nihilist lady,”-whom I recognized at Edith, — was a plump, shapely damsel, with a fine big bottom, large thighs, and good legs cased in black stockings, which contrasted well with her white skin. At the left side of the “culprit” stood the “warder” who was inflicting the punishment; a bearded “man,” wearing a uniform consisting of a’ dark green tunic, with trousers of the same colour tucked into long boots reaching to “his” knees; and a round flat cap with a peak. “He” held high in the air a thick, bristly birch rod, which seemed just about to fall on the “culprit’s” bare bottom. At the other side stood the “surgeon,” a whiskered, mustachioed “man,” in a plain, dark blue uniform, and beside him was the “governor,” with a fierce moustache, dressed in an imposing uniform, with medals on “his” breast. A little in rear of the horse stood the two “soldiers,” with cross-belts and side-arms. The “culprit’s” bottom had been most skilfully “made-up,” so that the whole surface of the skin, from the loins to the upper part of the thighs, appeared crimson, and striped all over with long livid weals, and spotted with blood, which also appeared to be trickling down the “victim’s” white thighs. She had her head turned to one side, and she was glaring with eyes full of intense horror at the uplifted rod; her face was scarlet and distorted with pain; her mouth was wide open, with the lips drawn back from the teeth, as if she were screaming loudly; and the tears appeared to be streaming down her cheeks. The whole scene appeared so intensely real, that I actually waited, with a feeling of suspense, to see the rod fall on the bleeding bottom, and to hear the victim’s shriek. Since that time I have seen many “Living Pictures,” but I have never seen one better done.
In another moment the curtains were drawn, shutting out the scene. Ford and I applauded vigorously, clapping our hands and crying out: “Brava! Brava! Well done! Very we!] done!” Then, turning to me, my companion whispered: “It was splendid! The illusion was perfect I have never seen anything to equal it, in Paris or Vienna.”
After a rather long interval, Mrs. Leslie announced: “The next tableau will represent punishment as inflicted in a boarding-school for young ladies.” The curtains were parted, and we saw that the recess was now fitted up as a schoolroom, with desks, benches, a blackboard, globes, and maps on the walls. In this tableau there were ten figures; seven of them, dressed as schoolgirls, in short frocks, and with their long hair flowing loose over their shoulders, were sitting on high forms, so that we could see their pretty legs, cased in silk stockings of various colours; and in two or three cases where the petticoats happened to be very short, we caught glimpses of the lace frills on the girls’ drawers.
In the middle of the “schoolroom,” stood a stalwart young woman, who was evidently one of the servants of the establishment, in her ordinary attire, consisting of a black frock, with white apron, cap, collar, and cuffs.
She was bending forward, “horsing” in the orthodox position the girl named Ethel, who was certainly not more than fourteen years of age. The skirt of her short frock, and her dainty little white petticoats were pinned up to her shoulders, and her pretty lace-trimmed drawers were hanging down about her knees. She had a most lovely little bottom with round, firm-looking, plump cheeks; and her delicate skin was as white as snow, except where it had been artificially marked with pink streaks, and small red dots, representing the ravages made by the rod.
Her thighs were fairly well developed; and her small but shapely legs were clad in long, brown silk stockings, gartered with bows of black satin; and she was wearing neat, buttoned boots on her little feet.
The “schoolmistress” in a grey wig, and with spectacles, was personated by Mrs. Leslie, who held over the girl’s delicious bottom, a long, slender birch rod, prettily ornamented with blue ribbons.
Ethel played her part well. She was looking over her shoulder, her face was red, she appeared to be crying loudly in pain, and her eyes were fixed with an appealing glance on the stern “schoolmistress.”
The other “schoolgirls” were looking on at the punishment with various ‘expressions on their faces; some appeared to be rather amused at the sight; others seemed to be perfectly indifferent; and others were looking very much frightened. The girls had, been well drilled in their parts. This tableau, like the preceding one, looked wonderfully real, and it was also most “fetching” to Ford and myself; as we were both “lovers of the rod”; so we did not stint our applause when the curtains closed over the picture. Then he said to me, with a chuckle: “What a beautiful, white, chubby bottom that little girl has! I have never before seen so young a one turned up. I wish we could see her being birched in reality,”
“So do I. But if I had my choice, I would rather spank her smartly across my knees. I think that way of whipping a little girl gives a man the greatest pleasure,” I observed
“Now we shall have the tableaux with naked figures,” said my companion, digging me in the ribs, and rubbing his hands.
In a short time, Mrs. Leslie called out: “The next tableau will be, ‘Venus Rising from the Ocean.’” And the curtains were again drawn aside.
This time there was no scenery, but the walls of the recess were draped with light blue gauze. In the centre, there was a circular platform covered with sea green velvet, and on it were five female figures perfectly naked.
Venus was personated by Rose, who was about twenty-two years of age, and who was the tallest and best- looking of all the girls. She stood resting the weight of her body upon her left foot, which was slightly advanced, her right leg being bent so that only the toes touched the floor: her pretty, rounded arms were raised, and gracefully curved above her head, the palms of her hands were inclined inwards, the tips of her fingers almost meeting. Her long fair hair was hanging in artistically arranged disorder over her shoulders and bosom, partly veiling her swelling bubbles. She had large, liquid-looking gray eyes; a very white skin, a broad smooth belly; sturdy, well-shaped thighs, and good legs; her ankles were neat; her pretty feet were without blemish, and her cunt was shaded with a curly growth of very light brown hair. The four attendant sea nymphs were personated by Helen and Fanny, who were fair girls; and Kate and Edith who were dark; their hair was loose, and they were lying in graceful attitudes round the central figure. After a moment, the platform began to revolve slowly, so that we saw every part of the girls’ naked bodies; their pretty, pink-tipped titties, their cunts, each one shaded with hair of j. different colour; their plump, round bottoms, — “Venus” had a very big one-their variously shaped thighs and their legs of different sizes. It was a charming spectacle of naked feminine beauty, but the tableau was not in the least suggestive, and at chat moment I had no more feeling of desire than if I had been gazing at a group of marble statues.
Ford, however, had evidently been differently impressed; and when the curtains had hidden the naked girls from our sight; he whispered to me, smacking his lips: “By Jove! that girl who did Venus is a scrumptious creature. What a white skin she’s got! And what splendid bubbies! and such a grand bottom! and the hair on her cunt looked like floss silk! I felt very much inclined to rash on to the platform and poke her. Anyhow, I’ll sleep with her to- night.”
The next tableau was “The Three Graces.” The platform this time was covered with black velvet, and the “Graces” were represented by Kate, Helen, and Fanny, who stood with their arms wreathed round each other’s waists and busts. All three girls had shapely figures, with good bubbles, and plump bottoms. Kate, an olive-skinned girl, had a profusion of black hair on the lower part of her belly. Helen’s cunt was hidden by curly, brown hair; and Fanny’s “spot” was shaded with auburn hair. And while the platform was slowly revolving, we had a good look at their naked charms, both back and front, until the curtains were closed.
The improper tableaux were now to come; and Mrs. Leslie announced that the first would represent: Two Naughty Schoolgirls.” The actresses in this tableau, were Clara, who was about fifteen years old, and Alice, a short, slim, baby-faced girl about eighteen years of age. They were supposed to be in their dormitory and they were sitting side by side on a bed, with nothing on them but their long white nightgowns.
These garments were tucked up tightly round their waists, leaving the whole of the lower half of their pretty little figures naked; and each girl had one of her fingers up the other girl’s cunt. Clara’s little slit was just fledged with light-coloured down; but Alice’s was well covered with chestnut hair. Their cheeks were painted so as to
