Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-02-18
THE ROMAN CARNIVAL
A Spirited Description by Winnie Ream.

Of all that is brilliant and gay in the way of
carnival festivities nothing originated in any
other part Of the globe has vet approached the
| famed carnival at Rome. At this time. the fol-
| loving vivid and graceful description OF car
nival time at the Eternal City will be read
with great interest. 1t Is from the diary Of Miss
Winnie Resm, the distinguished sculptor. wrt-
| ten while she was in Rome executing her statue
| of Abraham Lincoln, and shows that she can
handle the pen With much the same grace and
| power that she does the pencil and chisel.
"Asthe Carnival week approached, we thought
| OF IL with an Indifferent curiosity, and felt
| assured that when IL did come we would be
simply lockers on, passive spectators OF the
| scene. We had read many descriptions Of the
| Carnival in Rome, but only received vague
| impressions OF immense throngs Of people in
masquerade dress cro.ding the Corso, and with
much noise and confusion pelung each other
| with flowers and bons, curing the entire
| week preceding Lent IL seemed so ridiculous.
| species OF bufoonery that only the lower
classes would indulge in, that We could not feel
| much interest in II, and vet we wished 20 see a
| Carnival for ourselves; and our party (of i've
| Americans, including my father and motherl
secured room en- the Corso elevated about i've
| feet above The street, with two large windows
opening TO the door, where we could have a fine
/ view Of all that went on. Temporary alconies
were arranged outside of these windows aud
| canopies over them all draped with scarlet and
| gold hangisgs, 80 that they had the appearance
| OF roomy boxes in an opera house, and In these
observers Of q Roman festival in which Il we're
| hardly possible any but an Italian could wish
l te participate.
| BRILLIANT SPECTACLE.
The Corso, that splendid street Of palaces,
was a brilliant spectacle. From nearly every
window, balconies were projected, gaily draped
| in cloth of the brightest hues; and streamers,
| banners and fags Of every color, form and nate
rial foated out from rsof, window and door
| Beautiful women and happy children crowded
Il he in.ln hall
thIonged with the populace impatieptly await
ing the beginning OF the sport. At two O'Clock
| IL commences.
THE CONFINEMENT OF THE CARNIVAL.
The Roman Senator in state formally inauyu-
| rates the festivities by proceeding down the
Corso in his magnificent and snowy equipsge,
| robed in his richest costume and surrounded by
his oficers in their gayest attire. He is followed
by number OF gorgeous carriages and preceded
| ey bands OF music and troops carrying the
to the winners Of the races. Ii is brilliant
| csrfge, and, as It moves along, the crowd peers
sn ns ste for s
| yelvets, lace and gold. Ii had hardly passed
before the sport and mirth of the carnival burst
forth, and such laughing. shouting and Wild
rejoicing was never heard outside of an Italian
| carnival.
THE BoN-BeN PKIrrNe.
| Before we had time to realize our position.
handfulls Of confetti, bon bons and flowers were
L iuto JUL uOA lIOW every ulreCtlOn. and
| We we're obliged to beat hasty retreat into the
| far part OF the room and procure masks for our
| defence. These attacks were meant a. pleas
antIies, but that did not make them so, or pre-.
| vent them from being quite disagreeable, and
| at times little dangerous. The masks were OF
| nnest wire, fastened on to a wooden stick or
handle, like fan. We we're told 20 hold them
| before our faces, but il was impossible, in the
1 confusion, TO keep our faces thoroughly pro-
| tected, holding the masks by the handle; for
broadsides OF confetti were poured in from cal
a. nj llraH IN IA tf,
| ON securely with ribbons, 80 that we should be
| out OF danger
AN ATTACK.
Thus guarded, We looked around with more
security and pleasure, and were soon provoked
to retaliate upon bevy of young Papal zouave.,
| who had stationed themselves directly in front
| of our box, and had evidently gone deliberately
TO work TO storm our post; as they had i'm the
street beside them several large bags of con-
l fetti, and any quantity Of flowers and other
| missiles OF bonbons and paper, which they were
| showering upon us with solderly precision and
| deter minstion. In the midst of their furious
| attack we supplied ourselves with confetti and
| kept up mimic war, until the atmosphere was
so filled with the dust OF the confetti that our
enemy was driven from the field. But when
the air cleared, another group OF fancy masque-
raiders held the same position, and Commenced
| sssailing us. All was done in such perfect good
humor, and entered into with 60 much nrthful
zest and viyacity, that 1t was quite irresista
| No one could keep from participating if they
witnessed the scene. But We wondered ii il
1 were possible ior any but Italians to carry on
| such festival for eight days.
The Ecumencal Council was in session and
many a good natured Bishop and drnited
priest gave orders for the sprightly fray, and
| seemed to enjoy as much as any its folly and
/ abandon. Bishop Dominec of Pittsburgh, es-
pecislly enjoyed il, and entered into Il with
much heartness.
DlseUsTED AMERICAN IN BLACK BROAD
CLOTH.
wewere greatly amused by the discomftment
ofone old gentleman, evidently an American,
who had come to Rome TO visit the places OF
antiquity, not to see the Italians and their sports
and who was very perceetibly Disguised with the
Carnival proceedings. He had the assurance TO
IN his tall silk hat, and solemn suit OF broad.
cloth without molestation, but he was imme-
dlately bounced upon As the very best OF sub
Jects-a handful Of confetti soon knocked his
tall hat on one side, and il made general target
for all who were near. He protested loudly
and angrily, and L am afraid, said some words
he ought not. Thu was the battle cry-apd be
was al once surrounded by . crowd Screaming
and shouting. who pelted him most unmerci.
fully. The faster grew the fun the angrier he
became; he turned this way and that way
every way to escape, but il was useless and
when We last saw him he was In the hands of
some maskers who were conducting b no alons
with drums and nfes-hs silk hat was gone and
Lie line suit as white as that OF o miller.
INCIDENTS OF THE CARNIVAL.
Most OF the maskers were dressed like clowns.
but all sorts and styles OF personages we're rem.
resented. Able bodied men were dressed liks
women, and you would see them feigning great
indignation II gentleman spoke to them; little
women In male attire were paradine no and
Gown; bands Of minstrels in comic dress; wagon
loads OF maskers, in every imaginable fancy
costume; here gu ugly clown, arm in arm with
Stately oourter in velvet and gold lace; there
party Of laughing zouaves escorting man in
crinoline and bonnet. Great trees Of bouquets
were seen moving above the crowd, the
men carrying them being quite lost TO view
Vendors % confetti filled the air with their
cries, and all along the street were troops OF
young dealers almost buried In the piles OF bon
bons, paper rockets, and other carnival waros
l they were selling. Although the world seems
let loose in the madness OF frolic, still nothing
disccurteoue IL allowed and there is no DISPOSE
ton shown by any to take advantage Of the
l licensed times. When lady thro~. sA,tjss
man handful Of confetu nc rurns and raise
he cap. Is mnch q % SAY, s.You do me honor
When enc throws him . rose or violet, he places
nSn nn preast, and nShts to retain 1t during the
Of her paper Missiles, 20 much used, consistins
OF small ball Of lime about the size Of 4
L hickory nut, with streamers of brishf
colored paper, he fAstens IL in his hat ana vesrs
l II as PLANE. When IL ie noticed by the croId
Of revelsa that there 10 desire on the nsyt ~
II IN