Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1859-07-16
,cLlMRlNG A, CREASED .ra1E.

49,. 4: Ll!lM1lNG A. CREASED pQLE. ..a.
Edward Everett's last paper in the
Ledger, is entitled "In Paris in lsls,' -
and contains description Of the cele.
bration Of the birthday Of St. Louis. -
0fthe Mats de Cocagne he says:
What most attracted me was the
Mats dc Cocagne, which I had never
seen before and with which was
greatly amused. A Mat de Cocagns
is a good sized mast, such as might
suit a small top-sail schooner, erected
in the ground, its surface smeared with
soap and grease, and on its top box
containing silver forks, watches and
cheap jewelry, destined as prize to
reward the successful climber. No
ono person can hold out long enough
to attain the object which can only
be accomplished by several clubbing
together. Those wko;undertakc it be-
gin BY wiping off the ,lubricating sub
stances with wisps Of straw, as high
up as they can reach, and this done
they arc then allowed to throw sand
on the mast to render it less slippery.
This preparations enables one person
to climb to certain heigth wiping
anu sanding the mast as far up as he
can spstain himself by clinging with
his legs around the part already sand
cd: When he is tired out he slips
down to tho ground, plants himself
firmly on his feet, cl;nging tight around
the mast, while confederate mounts
upon his shoulders, and from the ele.
walton thus gained, wipes and sands
and so fits for climbing another portion
of the mast. He in urnsshps down,
At length, fatigucd; but plants himself
Oh the shoulders Of the first, who is
still clinging to the mast if his strength
holds out. "A third then mounts upon
the two, thus standing one above the
other, and so on until the whole mast,
de!ubricated and sanded, is brought
Into condition in which fresh and
strong associate can climb to the top,
aid take possession Of the prize for
himself and colleagues. No ladders
OF hooks IF amy kind are allowed, and
the climbers are searched to prevent
their having any steel points or other
comtrivances under their garments
The only artificial aid permitted is the
wisp Of straw and the sand, OF which
they arc allowed to carry up as much
as two deep broad pockets, made for
the purpose, vii! hold. The effort Of
course, is to attain that object by a
party consisting Of as few confederates
As possible. 1t usually takes, l was
told, the greater part Of the day to
climb to the summit and get posses.
sion Of the valuables there deposited.
The toilsome efforts to ascend---the
persons at the bottom often giving
way of those stand upon them, two or
three deep coming down with run
the appearance Of very meagre or
unusually rotund climber-.with other
incidents Of such an undertaking fur.
nish the days amusement to the GAM
ins Of Paris and byestanders general
ly, and lead to the exchanges Of o deal
OF coarse pleasantly, interspersed with
an occasional scuffie, between the
friends Of climbers and those who crit
icisc their operations too pointedly.-
These last demonstrations, however,
are kept within bounds by the police.
Upon the whole if man wishes TO
study the humors of the 6as oeupss of
Paris, there are few places where. be
can pass a couple of hours, to greater
advantage than near 4 Mat dc Co.
cagne.
We have nothing exactly like it, in
this country, but it does not badly
symbolize the life Of those, who toll
and strain to climb q slippery mast OF
another kind, mounting on the shouls
ders Of confederates, flinglng dust in
the eyes ofthe public, and occasional.
" a little mud in the faces Of rivals,
and lind when they, reach the top, that
the prizes in the basket are. Of little
value in themselves, and not half mum.
erous enough to satisfy their associates
who are apt to quarrel over the divis-
ion Of the spoils. ii Sca 81 liz ~ 's'- -
THE Doom OF THE WoRLD.-The
North British Review, discoursing on