Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-20

PARIS, April, 1880

".ssa Hs way without the deed o'ertaking it till
snis tardy moment, but now, emo Boosting like q
1901, this act I'll do; here's at YOU
have often wished that you could. csnsisteutlv
WIN your active duties at home, have prolonged
your stay In Paris for few brief months longer.
that you might have witnessed and enisved =. 70.
rssy would have done to the full extent the stirring
e~sues Oh TINS lively metropolis, that are ashered
IN py ths winter solstics. How rich and varied and
"D"noAh'' the list oil amusements!-how dazzling the
tempting repast spread before the perpexed and de-
lighted vetaries of harmless folly and svmpathiz
ing as you do with the lovers of these ipnocsrt sim
pcities of life, (for consider all stingls,s nleas
ures as sach) how literally would you have shared
them.-and what stores Of sparkling "reminiscences
would have been garnered up for future feasts vhere
memory would be the sole guest, and nought but
these shadows of long faded joys left to mock the
surviving appetie Yet this would have been no
slim diet either; for, if the DID, (may you live to
wear that venerable tite) of all countries, banquet
with peculiar relish upon the dry huss of past pleas
ures, such ordinary ones attend upon youth, and
health, and the new born emotions of the spring Of
life, what invigoratRg nourishment woald yoa not
have extracted at some distant day, from the choice
rscollectons that follow ca winter at Parisn'-that
would have soothsd the restless longngs Of your
heart to taste but again. and have secured
for you that soft and tranquil sense of satisfaction
accompanies fondly remembered delights and unfor-
gotten pleasures.
But OF all the Protean shapes that Heht-hsarted
folly assumes in this laughter-loving capital there is
one pre-emnent above all the rest that captvates
the joyous hearts of the merry Parisians, and ex-
cites the rapturous establishment of the thousand
pilgrims that come here annually from affair." to gaze
joy-stricken, at the
"Devces quaint and foles ever new
That tread on each others Ribeo"
with such swift variety, in this renowned centre Of
taste and civilization Not to kssp you longer in
suspense, will sound the OF these favorits fes-
tiyas where letloose all the elements of thought
less, riotous merriment: The Masked BaLs'' ara
the well known designation for these rare revels:
| and, to those who have ever bsheld them, what
mirthful echoes-what grotesque visions Of fun
ring in their ears, and dance in their minds eye,-
None but the initiated can know aught Of the anus
ing mysteries, the droll ceremonies, or the unlma
ginable modes that a Frenchman's fancy alone can
conceive to display Frenchman's devotion to the
idol of folly, presiding these mirh- xsi.ins
rites.
Those who, like you, friend b., have never seen
these unique festivities-and say it only 10 raise
the wings Of your curiosity that you may be waited
| hitherward-can have adequate notion Of them,
NOR have witnessed of the most extraordinary
| exhibitions Of unbridled humor ever conceived in
hearts, and brought forth into ludcrous existence
by the most uneqaalled people, in such mad feats,
4 that ever trIpped to HARMONIOUS measures.
shall not attempt what one has yet sacc eeded
ina detailed description of these Balls. One may
very well talk of some of the more prominent traits
the lights-the music-the costumes-and dilate
pleasantly, these points, but after all, these
but the csncontants, the mere accessories Who
can embody in words equal to its stirring effects,
that AIRY loyousness that pervades and animates the
throng-that reckless gayetyt that mad exhilaration,
that gives its chief character to these fetes, and
&c & all the %Srs .o9sI and
Experta you are allowed TO be in graphic sketches
and vivid as are your pictures Of men and manners
over the most pleasant the most salutarv subject,
OF contemplation and reflection, yet doubt il yosr
own bold and flashing pen would dare assail them
Come at least Il speak il in the blandest tones Of in
sltat,on) ana regard them; for any one pour
tray those strange and not dspleasing varieties Of
national character that revealed far more truly
IN the ball room than the house. thsu confess
eely art the man; and you would find them brilliant
festvals-quite equal to your most vigorous powers
| oil description; they would awaken in you
That lively JOY tina, writer, feel
| In subjects worthy of their seel-pens
The masked balls open in the beginning Of Januarv
and continue that and the following month"; oc urring
two or three times week, and close their brilliant
career With the expiration Of the Carnival during
which lively season. in all Catholic countries, the
tide OF public rejoicing rams high.
lie bid. to sober JOY who there sojourn,r
In Italy, especially during the last eight days Of
Carnival that is there succeeded by the enforce
ment OF those religious obscrvances that prevail
during Lent, the gddy inhabitants attired in masks
nu dominos, parade the streets, pelting each other
ptilessly with storms Of "cenfetti," which active
sport at close day abandoned for the horse races
after the Italian fashion, whilst the night is reserved
Tor ether follies equally aughabc but tedious to de-
scribe These out Of door demons tratons of paiety
IN Paris are reserved fer "Mar di Gras the last ay
Of Carnival, and the festivities commence by parad-
ing through the principal streets enormously fat
OK richly caparisosed after the Oriental STYLE fol-
lowed by corftgs Of neR and boys, tricked out in
such grotesque diversites Of costume as to defy all
attempt at sober description, though the sight is alb
solstely side-splittisg. As the day advances the
boule becomes the Of the rous pranks
Of hundreds Of merry maskers, whose fantastic ex-
travagascc Of dress and loud resowndng hxmor puts
all gravity TO the windy side The street 10 crowded
with the elegant squipsges Of persons Of rank and
wealth, whilst herds OF greasy mechanics come
pouring in from all parts Of the metropolis To me-
who decided amateur Of these vast collections of
people, these great huge mounds humanity
these turbulent oceans Of mankind that roll along
swelling and sinking with the uneven surface Of the
street, all ssrgng and fsamsg; to me, as to Others
doubtless this spectacle alone mPre ssive and in
teresting in the highest degree, whilst, ever and
anon, the attention is called by rude shout of laugh
ter that broke out in the wake of some irresistible
wag, who strobe along, prodigally bestowing the
choicest treasures of his grimace and humor upon
the good natured audience about him Who welcomed
every ebulition Of his wit with hoarse burst Of
chinsiion that made the welkis ring.
Remainder tomorrow1
GTy<Hermanus Bieeckcr, Of Albany, Is to be Charge