Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-05-10
TIE CARNIVAL SEASON INPAR1s.

This Is period when the mercurial and pleasure
loving population of Paris throw off all restraint
and abandon themselves to wanton merriment We
make the following extract from letter written by
Dr.. Thomas A. Means, now in France to his farther
in Oxford, Georgia. descriptive Of the strange sights
he saw at the recent Carnival season in the gay city
of Paris:
The Carnival season in this gay and licentious city
has just closed, and it may be amss to attempt
a brief description Of some Of the scenes which
transpire here during these annual gala days. ga
The festivities commence about the middle of
January and last until the oath of February. Both
seXes-the rich and the poor, the handsome and the
hOmely, the naughty and the humble, the fOp and
the fOOl-are each out upon extensive promeDades,
either IN keeping with their position in life, or, in
Kscp's STYLE wearing the skin of an ass. Along
the Champs Elysees," in the Garden of the Tuile-
ries and of the Luxembourg, in the 'Jardin des
plans, the 'BOis de Bologne and along the 'Quais "
in the eOUrt-yards, III the streets, on the pave
meuts, in each Bouleyard-and indeed, every where
throughout this vast city, may be all o0nceiva
bic forms of amusement.
Comic Vaudeville Theatres line the side walks
men, dressed Enthusiastically, perform feats OF Le-
observation-disclosures Of birds, rats, owls, hedge
hogs, ETC., ETC., beguile the passers by with the
varied gyTatOTy movements Of their intellectually
taught hOusehOld-and boOt-blacks, and beggars
throw up for time their licensed occupations to
indulge IN the less remuneratIye substitute-t0iy.
The very Organ-grinders decorate their instru-
ments Of support with garlands, of Withered brush
or lockwood, turn more vigorously, bow polite
ly and seem, with the Whirling crowd around them,
to less Tor life than pleasure The ag-pickers,
too, not forgetting the privileges Of the season. walk
the lone back streets with an increased pace, hum
ming some tavOrte air, and with an app aren't indie
pendenee of position or circumstances while night
scavengers, with their teams and heavy carts, drive
y-.11v Il,gz
Mask Balls occur semi-Weekly, viz Wednesday
and Saturday nights-commencing always at II o.
clock. Theatres increase their programmes, and
glazing handbills announce extra pieces. Cafes add
an hour or two to their calendar And those bear
ing the Royal n. throw aside discrimination and
admit all grades Of society, allowing every form
Of amusement seemingly jubant under the excite
ments Of the Carnival with the same sentiment
which rings merrily through our negro cabins in
the Southern States during the winter holidays
E., christmas comes but once year"
Upon the p st commences the heat of the season,
when WasherwOmen and 'tFoUs," with fUted chap
eaUX-Of EHzabethean model-mOUnt UnceremOn-
iously the dump carts, drays cOal-Wagons voituFes
coaches omnibuses, hacks, and indeed, every con-
cevabe form Of vehicle and exUltiDgly ride through
the principal Streets uttering some HindOO jargOn
without rhyme or meter; while along side Sit snugy
ensconced, garcons of kindred stamp! fearless Of
criticism of the public gaze, waist in arm, cheek
to jOwl, with their fair ~ Understanding sweets
by tbemOuthfUl, and with such vouptueUs offensive
ness would the fair faces of the sensitive
and lovely street-Wakers Ofmy native land Grim
TO the temples. The horses, too are alike fes-
TONED with ribbons, rags, sleigh-bels, feathers,
knots Of straw, ETC., while upon their heads is fas-
tened "balai de bouleau," Ia broom Of birch,
hung with miniature implements Of their ayocatiOns,
such as crimpingrOns, washtubs, bottles brooms,
etc, ETC.
Thus free, and thus exempt from care earth be-
nd
ties are looked upon as beyond the reach Of envy
This is, however, an eyanescent shOw-a privilege
By permission, handed down from thereign Of Pepin
The days reyelry being over, the night list AIKEN up
in merry making, dancing card-playinh, the pipe,
and the bottle. And yet Notwithstanding all these
evidences of Icentous indulgence, must say wit
messed 10 7tozicai7n 81 least what is termed drunk
rute5s, in the American States Either from the
substitution of native wine and mild fermented
liquors. for the stronger beverages Of our own oOun
try, from greater self conlrJlin this habit, their
youth seem TO be in less peril, at least from this
quarter than thousands Of tie ardent and impulsive
men Of America surrounded as they are by so many
appliances and temptations to indulge in this ruin
vice.
Thus passes then the Carnival week in the French
capital ending, perhaps, with an increased bin of
mortality to say nothing Of the hospital additions
With ALL it may be regarded as in direct keeping
with French character, which is ever inclined to
shut out the future, enjoy the present. and regard
the past as record without a blemish.
reserve for another letter a few particulars Of
the Twenty-tourh Of February, or last day Of this
great festival.