Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-04-08

uOuuctS dUu IdISc uUOpS vi Iuc lduieS Wclc tnS
subject of rididule to the many, and the mas
kers enjoyed it vastly :; there was truth in the
outrageous joking, but it was forgotten with
the Carnival The maskers o. this class par
AIDED up and down the Corso, with fOunced
dresses of the amplest dimensions, shawl and
an infnietssimal bonnet, perched on the back
of the head These maskers were received
with immense applause but the Corso thun-
dered appreciation ten times repeated, when
an improvement on this appeared in the per-
sons of more ludicrous maskers, each one of
whom carried small parasol, and was follow
ed at respectable distance by an English
footman Harlequins abounded, and directed
their efforts at any well dressed man whom
they met in the street, and they especially af-
fected him if he wore suit of black. They
immediately possessed themselves of him they
surrounded him, and became his most atten-
tive and inseparable friends. If the victim be-
comes frantic in his efforts to escape from
their attentions, they in turn become more af-
fectionate, taking him by the arms, seizing on
his umbrella, and beginning to be allowed to
carry it for him, While thus conquered and
badgered, showers of the confetti and boquetS
come down on his head, shoulders and back,
from the balconies, and when his tormentefs
leave him. he is BY no means the spruce look
ing fellow who invited their attention-his own
mother might repudiate him without suspicion
of inhumauity.
One kind of sport succeeds another, and
for this time at least the Romans are free
4 funny caricature was that of the English
huntsman A number of men in hunting suits
of scarlet and white, wearing the most absurd
masks and mounted on the sorrieSt looking
donkieS. paraded the streets, rising and falling
in their stirrups with that peculiar rebound
in which is shown by poor rider on hard
trotting horse, and here denominated the Eng
Iish style. From these specimens Of the hu-
NOR of the carnival YOU may learn the whole /;
it was much of this order. having more or less
merit in particular cases About five o'clock
on one OF the DAYS of the Carnival, the report
of a cannon announced the commencement of
the races No great attention was paid to
this, but in half an hour afterwards second
report was heard. the carriages disappeared
as if bv magic, suddenly turning into side
streets. and the Corso was filled only with the
crowds of people Presently we were aware
of the presence Of troops !; companies on foot
slowly marching through the streets Senti-
nels filing off from the ranks, and taking their
stations at regular intervals, pressing back the
masses of people out of the way of a company
Of dragons, who would otherwise tramrle
them under foot The horsemen ride slowly
and with great care, from the Piazza del Po-
polo TO the end of the Corso. and wheeling in
company. return with gradually accelerated
speed. until their career terminates ina furious
galop of horses under the spur of the riders
y. -. for -ha and
vet, notwithstanding the vigilance OF the SEN
tinels, and the exceeding care of the authorl-
ties, accidents frequently happen so difficult
is it to keep the people within the limits as
signed them The race horses, led by groomS.
are now brought forward without saddles or
riders. and ornamented with gay ribbons and
bits of gilded paper, some of them taking the
whole thing cooIly, and Others champing and
paving to get free and begin the contest
Small pieces of metal are fastened to them,
which act as whip and spur and now the
word is given and away they dash, goaded by
the pricking metal, aud maddened by the
shouts of the populace Away they 60 in
BODY. wild with excitement. striking FIRE with
every football from the stone pavement, and
rushing like whirlwind towards the goal
Pieces of linen stretched across narrow part
Of the street at the Piazza NeneZla, arrest
their progress, and from the seats erected for
the Judges at the extremitieS OF the course,
Judgment is announced, and the prizes award
dcd The winning horse is led back TO his
stable amid shouts, and guarded by an escort
of soldiers. with banners aud music. Ills own
er is entitled to prize, and so the races end
ed
The different kind of amusement 10 which
have referred are fair samples Of the fun and
frolc which occupies the whole period of the
Carnival. The constant pelting Of the way
farers With confetti from the balconies, and
the shouts OF laughter which follow the most
successful hits the people tolerant of the free
dom of Harlequin. and laughing al the llber-
ties which he takes With all men who appear
dressed in black the uproarious JOY and bois-
terous fun which is the chief feature Of the
festival: the balconies filed with gay parties
! Of men and women the crowd of people in
the Corso the long lines of carriages whose
/ occupants are engaged in the sports OF
the day the scramble Of boys forthe bo-
quets aud confetti in the streets the mas
ouers the broad and good humorcd carl
/ catpre of men. manners, habits, fashions, IA
/ t;onal and otherwise the laughter, the shout
/ in.ys the rush now in this direction and again
in another, altogether forming strange med,
lev Of broad farce, roickns iun, uproaFiouS
GOOD natured mirth and grotesque caricature,
which custom has made necessary and estab-
| iishcd. and the Church Of Rome sanctions and
sanctifes Carnival means " farewell TO HeSh,
| and flesh never receives in any other quarter
| of the globe valedictory so hearty. fare
we'll so thoroughly pronounced as this which
consecrates 10 harmless license the period oe-
tween Epiphany and Ash "Wednesday, those
solemn days of the Church
/ Ii has an end however. and into the last
| dav is condensed the fun. frolic. license and
huuor of the whole festival Ii IS prolonged