Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-09-06

flowers and confetti upon the passeEs-by,
and laughing merrily as some, more gallant
than the rest, take up the former and thrust
them into their button-holes. All wear
masks, all are dressed in fantastic costumes,
all enter into the fun of the thing; no tears,
all smiles; sorrows forgotten, joy predomi-
nant; the past unrecalled, the future unan-
ticipated; forgetting that life itself is one
long carnival, beginning at the birth, and
ending at the grave.
Noon at last the sun high in the hea-
vens the day hot-too hot, indeed, to re-
main out of doors. The jewellers disap-
pear within the houses, to while away the
afternoon ut cards or other amusement; to
lounge, to talk, to sing, to admire their own
costumes and criticise their friends resol-
we'd not to venture out again until the cool
of the evening. Not all gone, however;
for in front of the Palace de Rosenbufg is
collected large crowd, composed mostly
of the poorer class, real peasants and vine.
dressers, who, being unable to procure
masks, are content to look on and see their
lords and ladies enjoy themselves. Yes,
thank heaven the poor have some plea
sure which the great ones of earth cannot
deprive them of, if they would; and moth
ing 80 sweet as that which is procured for
nothing. If they cannot buy fine dresses,
they can see them if they cannot enter a
beautiful garden, they can peep through
the palings and observe its manifold beau.
tics; if they cannot snatch flower from
yonder rosebush, the breath of heaven will
watt its sweet perfume to their senses and
if the interior of that splendid mansion is
forbidden their view, they can see the out
side, which is something. So this crowd,
then, was engaged in viewing the feats Of
a tall, thin, hollow-eyed, cadaverous looking
man, whose attire, half:theatrical, half cleri-
cal, but rent with holes and covered here
and there with patches, proclaimed him a
travelling juggler and mountebank, class
now nearly extinct.
At the moment we introduce the Noun.
tebank to the reader, he was standing on a
wagon-to which was tied donkey as fat
as his master was lean-to tossing several
balls in the air, and catching them in a
small wooden cup, which was fastened to
his forehead by strap;a feat which, in
theatrical parlance, was greeted with rounds
Of applause, and judging from the number
of coins flung into the wagon, was highly
appreciated by the lookers.on. A large
placard in red letters, with border of blue,
informed them that be was Jean Saint
Pierre, from London, Paris and Vienna :
that he was possessed of several wonderful
curatives;' was 'able and willing, for con-
sideration, to reveal past, present and future
to those who may wish to know them,' and
was also "a juggler Of extraordinary merit.
Beside him stood boy of fourteen, small
for his age, whose attire and head-covering,
coarse and ragged though they we're, could
not conceal the symmetry of his limbs, nor
the almost girlish beauty of his features
His winning smile, graceful movements
and handsome face, did not escape the no.
tice of the crowd, more especially the fe-
male portion; and the juggler's receipts
were greatly enhanced by his presence
Although Saint Pierre proclaimed him as
his son, he bore not the slightest resem-
blance to his reputed father; but as Dame
Nature, like Cupid, delights in playing
strange tricks and fantasies, it would not
be right for US to question the mounte-
banks assertion. After several feats, each
more and more difficult, Saint Pierre, view
ing with apparent satisfaction the pieces of
money he had already received, drew a
wooden plate from his breast, and turning
to the boy, who was gazing with evident
anxiety toward the grand entrance of the
palace, handed it to him and bade him col.
lect the 6gocchi, which he was sure-to
use his own words-'the generous public
who always appreciates and rewards true
talent was getting ready for him. The
boy hesitated moment, still keeping his
eye fixed on the door; but starting sudden.
ly, he uttered an ejaculation, and whisper
ed few words to the other; then with a
smile he took the plate, aud walked to the
edge of the wagon.
Don't go away yet,' said the mouute-
bank, observing with disgust that several
persons we're preparing to retire-probably
for the reason that having seen one part of
the show for nothing, they did not care a.
bout paying to witness the rest. Per
Bacco! he is here,' be muttered, as new
conner approached. The net is spread and
the bird is caught. Buon Giovno! my
very good friends he said aloud, you
should remain. What is worth looking at
is worth staying out to see. You have not
heard Henri sing the Marseillaise, nor seen
the last feat, which is the most wonderful
or all leap over twelve bayonets, all
ranged in a line, each one foot apart; and
which will be performed by my son here in
less than ten minutes. Do wait, my mas
ters; it is worth going without your dinner
to see.'
At the mention of the Marseilaise,
many who had been witnessing the show at
distance, drew nearer to the wagon, a.
mong them the new conner, young man,
who despite the warmth of the weather, was
closely enveloped in a black riding cloak.
The donkey, unfortunate beast y hearing
dinner mentioned, pricked up his ears as
though it was high time he had his; and
turned his head in every direction to see if
it was approaching. AS the crowd drew
nearer, pressing against him on every side,