Figure Piping by M.C.A. F. Russell — Read

"What, again? " I fancy I can hear someone exclaim, who has read some former efforts of mine in this direction and on this subject; and with all due respect I venture to echo the word, "Again! " And I will take the reader into my confidence, and give some reasons why I renew this subject after a lapse of a few years, during which time, to my certain knowledge, the art of figure piping has sprung up from nooks and crannies where it was previously non-existent, and, in one or two instances, where least expected.

My reasons, then, for again bringing this most varied and interesting art to the front is, firstly, because I have been requested to do so by several piping artists, who want to vary their subjects; and, secondly, because within the last two years we have had most convincing proof that figure piping holds its own as an art with any other form of decorative sugar work-it has had a fair honest trial for two seasons, and under the disinterested and impartial judgment of different experts it has scored, finishing up with a win against any variety. I would respectfully beg of the reader to accept this statement without the slightest taint of egotism on my part, which is not intended in the slightest degree; but I make the statement to prove beyond a doubt that the subject we have in hand _is_ worthy of consideration and encouragement to all pipers who are of an artistic turn of mind. Moreover, there are doubtless scores of young pipers to whom these articles will appeal for the first time, and, in regard to the scope for learning, I can assure the reader that I have learnt a very great deal since I first entered in the competitions, and even now never take my paper cornet in hand but the mind is made up to learn something more. So varied and so spontaneous may the subjects in this branch of the art become that we may look upon the fund of designs as practically inexhaustible. Surely this should act as an incentive to the young piper; and when you come to consider that you can make a veritable sugar picture to frame and glaze and hang in your private sitting room, or pipe a Christmas card, menu, or birthday card, you will readily see that figure piping with a meaning will be far more interesting as an object to look at than the most elaborate bit of scrolling or string work that was ever squeezed through a tube. Brilliant and commercial as it may look on a bride cake, it is doomed to be destroyed. The bride, who is supposed to make the first attack as the "Destroying Angel," stands nervously with the knife, and, her mind being pre-occupied, can no more see the artistic merit of that cake than Hodge from the plough can see the literary worth of the soliloquy in Hamlet. The destruction of that cake soon becomes complete. The elaborate festoons, scrolls, and monograms-all of which were a credit to the piping artist-are mangled beyond recognition, and the head of the dove, or the foot of a possible cupid may be just recognised as the sections are packed away in those wedge-shaped cardboard boxes, with which we are all so familiar.