If there is one week in the year in which the Rushdenites give themselves up to wholehearted enjoyment it is in Feast week, and this year has been no exception to the rule. All the week long the Feast, with its attendant glamour and noise, musical and otherwise, has been with us. The town has been thronged with visitors from all quarters and great has been the merrymaking. In the Fair ground the youthful swains and maidens have been indulging in a “battle royal” with confetti night after night, and were it not for the high esteem with which we regard the inhabitants of Rushden and the neighbourhood we should be strongly inclined to the belief that Rushden must be a “Fool’s Paradise,” since the old adage, “A fool and his money are soon parted,” has been receiving ocular demonstration from the hands of more than one Rushdenite during the past few days. This may be attributed to the extraordinary fascination which

has for the majority of individuals, but in addition to these games of skill, many and varied have been the means whereby coin has been extracted from the pockets of the affluent, and from all appearances practically everybody has been in that happy condition this week.

The question whether in each instance full value has been obtained for money expended is entirely a matter of opinion, but we can truthfully say that in at least one case everybody obtained more than their money’s worth. We refer to Mr. Charles Thurston’s magnificent bioscope entertainment. The clear definition and remarkable steadiness of the pictures thrown on the screen surpasses anything previously seen in the town, and this may be accounted for by the fact that no expense has been spared by Mr. Thurston in his efforts to obtain the very latest films and all the most up-to-date inventions for the perfecting of

Mr. Thurston has an expert operator in Mr. J. Cash, who has a long experience in cinematograph work and who has been the recipient of numerous testimonials from distinguished people, among whom may be mentioned Lord Hawke, Lord and Lady Sipwell, Lord and Lady Londonderry, and Lord Lonsdale. The show is universally recognised as the most up-to-date travelling show extant, and was built to meet the requirements of the London County Council. There are no fewer than 26 exits, and the air in the building is entirely changed every two or three minutes by a most perfect system of ventilation, worked by means of electric fans.

A great feature is the sliding roof whereby comfort is assured even in the hottest weather. Among the films shown are such interesting subjects as Bleriot’s flight across the Channel, the scenes depicted being – The start, crossing the channel, arriving at Dover and reception by the Mayor.

The repertoire also includes a magnificent and

depicting “The last days of Pompeii,” Demas’ “Count of Monte Christo,” and a realistic picture of Italy’s most marvellous cavalry. Worthy of special mention is a film showing the Army and Navy manoeuvres, depicting how England would repel an invader. The magnificent organ, equal to a band of over 120 performers, and of which a full description has already appeared in our columns, plays selections from “Stradella,” “The daughter of the Regiment,” “Boccace overture” and “Il Bacio”.

In F. Harvey’s boxing booth may be seen a gentleman with a digestion that will permit of him swallowing no less than three swords at a time. This gentleman, by name Hal Prescoe, gave an exhibition expressly for the “Rushden Echo” representative, and fairly took our representative’s breath away by swallowing a pair of fire tongs. Mr. Prescoe claims to be the only man alive that can perform such a feat, and he throws out a 15 years’

Not content with staggering our representative by swallowing three swords at once and withdrawing them one by one, Mr. Prescoe next borrowed the Pressman’s walking-stick and promptly transferred about two feet of it into his inside in the orthodox fashion by pushing it down his throat. There is not the slightest doubt that the champion sword swallower’s claim to swallow swords is perfectly genuine, and he is performing the feats described nightly in F. Harvey’s boxing booth.

Taking all things into consideration, we should imagine that there are more attractions at the Feast this year than hitherto, and there seems no likelihood of this time-honoured custom dying out.