The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-03-16
THE CARNIVAL AT TURIN,

The entire population of the Sandman capital is
possessed WIN That species of insanity unknown in
the BRUSH Isles which prevails in certain CONT
mental countries during the three days that precede
Lent. II Piedmont, in climate, in the char
acter OF its people, and in some other respects
resembles Switzerland much as or more than
Italy, 1t still valianty maintains the old ItaI
ian celebrity for masquerades and mummeries-
The babyhood of the Carnival was celebrated on
Thursday; yesterday, Dimanche Graz the preco-
cious child had attained very robust pronortions
and walked and rode and drove abroad with MINER
Gus retlnue and noisy escort. The Triumph of
Bacchus' was the programme of the dav and if
Bacchus fame is to be estimated by the number of
sacrltces paid to him, | should say that, iudrino
from the aspect of the city towards evening and
even before sundown triumphant deity
never descended upon earth Yesterday was of a
character not uncommon this winter in Turin. The
frost, which had manifested intention of leaving
us, repented of its melting mood and resumed
portion of its rigor, driving the quicksilver down to
several degrees below freezing point
The dull, sm0ke-cOlored fog, which is a too fire.
quent occupant of our streets settled upon the town
at an early hour, imparting to it anything but
cheerful aspect. 1t was unlike a festival dav as
can well be lmagned-nO holiday brightness no in
splrltlng sunbeams. But the order had been given
and the word passed, and deluge of rain or an av-
alanche of snow might have soaked and chilled but
would hardly have prevented the projected Satur-
MALTA.
! At an early hour of the morning crowds were
abroad, and groups, no sooner dispersed than re-
placed took their station in front of the Via della
|
right angles the principal street of Turin the Via
| dl 20, long avenue OF lofty houses extending
from the square OF the CASTILLO to the Piazza
| Vittorio Emanuee, an Oblong arcade-surround-
ed opening, sloping down to the Pc, which
bounds It's lower extremity. The Via di Pc
is lined on both sides with portieocs, some
what similar to those that formerly dis
Inquired the Regent s-quadrant in London, but lower
and darker. On one side these continue without in
terrupton. Where a street crosses, the houses
cease, but the poriict unbroken. At the Via
della Posta, on the platform, first story high which
IS thus elt, was constructed the most elaborate bur
lesque on crlnOIne that ever was seen. timber
framework, upwards of thirty feet in diameter,
rose from the gallery tapering upwards, and bear
ing In form exact resemblance to the metallic en-
Engagements at present in favor among the ladies of
| Europe The circles and crossbars of the modern
hoop, morticed into the walls of the adjacent
houses and the whole fabric must have cost CON
siderable labor and some money. 1t was covered
with most brilliant petticOat white with pink
flowers and garlands of roses, and surmounted by
the Brobdlgnagian eiiigy of a modern eIegaate
with an ermne mutf, volumnous corsage and the
! very smallest OF bOnnets. Between the hem of the
garment and the top of the balustrade a space was
left and the platform, which, it is said would hold
800 persons, was occupied by the contrvers Of
this huge buresque, chiefly. | believe artists who
armed with fishing rods, and lines, let down baskets
OF Gonbons to within a tantalizng distance of the
mouths and noses of the promenaders below. The
dressing OF the lady was curious operation, and
being necessarily a long one, it commenced at We
nv early hour.
upholsterers were seen scrambling and struggling
over the beams and raers of the modern ladys bus
tie, dragging after them huge folds of calico and
mighty wreaths of flowers aud verdure. 4 more
laborious piece of fun has seldom been witnessed.
Towards noon the streets became crowded with pc
destrians, and numerous carriages drove at foot
pace up and down. The streets of Turin like those
OF Milan, have four stripes of iagstones intended
to facilitate the rolling of carriage wheels. Be
tween this double cOachway paved space remains,
where pedestrians may saunter without much risk
OF being run
Soon after l o'clock these lines were covered with
vehicles, and towards , the procession entered the
Via di Pc. 1t consisted of five enormous cars or.
as they should rather be called, platforms or stages
built OF light materials, covered with tapestry and
colored hangings, capable OF accommodating each
several score OF persons, if closely packed, aud
drawn by six or more horses. The first car con
tanned numerous band, seated on benches and at
tired in what the bills Of the play call Greek
costume"
In the second Bacchus' staff. consisting offauns.
satyrs and nOndescrpts in great variety, surround
ed huge gilt draped with vine leaves ana
purple punches vt grapes, whence they drew IN
lets OF the most golden appearance a logwOOdloOk-
ing decoctlon, which they imbibed apparently with
Infinite gusto. Then strong squadron IF
gentlemen on horseback with leopard skins dangling
from their shoulders and with them Silenus horribly
intoxicated, and kept upon his donkey only BY the
persevering eXertiOns Ofattendant fauns
The jovia group was succeeded by the deity him
self Bacchus, accompanied by Ariadne, and sur
rounded by bacchantes and priests. The fourth car
held a second band OF music and chorus of sing
ers, chanting ooupets in praise of the patron OF
the grape and the fifth was crowded with individu-
ais who, 1t may be presumed were Bacchus house
hold, his chief celarer groom of the stole, keeper
of the privy purse, &C. to say nothing of the ladies
In waiting on Aradne, and other smaller hangers
on of'ther bibuous godships.
The procession having passed, the real fun Of the
day began. The fishing from under the hem of Mad
anne Crinolinc's petticOat became extremely lively.
The nibbes numerous, but it seemed difficult to
get good bite not on account of the shyness of the
fish hfh Il l,s+ II.
within less than tantalizng distance of their jaws.
Numerous carriages, full of the most grOtesque
masks, and several extremely comcal cavalcadcz,
passed up and down the street. combining themselves
for the most part to the Via di Pc, which was the
centre of the diversions of the dav One of the
ridiculous OF these was flock or troop of ducks,
cocks, hens and horses, stuffed figures between the
legs of the riders. which wobbed, strutted and am
bled along in highly natural and absurd manner.
The riders armed with bladders suspended at the
end of sticks, with which they i'll treated their birds
and beasts to an extent that would have made the
Humane SOciety's blood run cold a few blows oc-
casOnaily accidentally lighting upon the heads of
the mob that Hocked around them. number of
cavalry officers quickly cleared the centre of the
street by gaOpng down it in the guise of devils in
the most approved melO-dramatic diabolica costume
of lurid green and red, with awfully dingy wings
Tapping from their shoulders, bloodred marks upon
their faces, and brazen pitchtorks in their hands
strong squadron of Mousquetaires was preced-
ed by brass band, whose clear, well-payed notes
drowned, as they passed every other sound, not
NltlStanulng lhat the other sounds
Gus, various and loud. \ sensation was occasion
ed by the passage of a solitary and ominous mask
bearing on his back dead body, whose boot legs
protruded from the mouth of sack. But he was
soon lost III the crowd, and the sort of shudder he
occasioned was forgotten when an open carriage
drove by, having for sole occupant especially
dirty JdcchiHo, porter, bearing his shoulders
the pecular-shaped basket which here is carried by
people of that class and presenting altogether a
strong resemblance to Partisan chi60Hier
Then came CARLOAD Of millers, the cart lined
with sacks full of corjandoi white pellets, re-
sembling sugar plums, but made of lime and CLAW
which they hurled from wooden ladies in the faces
of the bystanders; occasionally varying their vol
Ieys by discharge of bOnbons and boouets direct
ed at the balconies; which crowded with ladies
huge car as big as the pit of minor theatre with
benches rising above the other, was adorned
with flags labelled IN Fantastico" and contained
only three Pierrotq, bound on the charitable mission
OF picking up stray masks, of whom they soon
cruited numerous band.
1t would be too long to speak of the innuncr-
able comical figures mounted ON ROsnante horses
and lean jackasses which rode to and fro with
with the sole apparent object of exercise and the
display of their grOtesque equipment. The mum
Der of private carriages very considerable All
Turin was abroad, from the highest to the lowest,
heartily ENJOYING itself III defiance of the dis
NAL foo that all day enshrouded the town, and pre-
Guided a distant view of the long columns oil
mummers. The optical effect of the low-hangng
mist was curious. At great distance to the
right and the left, it appeared to rest upon the
roofs of the houses; then gradually descended
slanting away till it settled the street and closed
the perspective; that the busting scene seemed
to be enacted within the walls of pavilion of
vapour. But the most diaphanous atmospbere
could hardly have enclosed a greater amount OF
mirth and extravaganza. One was deafened with
the rumbling of carriage wheels, the elatter OF
horses feet, the peals of laughter the mngling OF
all manner of music the shril voices of the maskcr.
and the eternal cry of ''Tchow," monosyIable ap
parently OF Chinese origin, which is the common
word of familiar greeting in this part OF Italy.
I NTg cd ar
to be recognized, among the masqueraders.
The milers, with the sacks full of hme-bean7'
were said to be young of the most ariSt9cEa,r
families in Piedmont The whtreaooG' ol h lug