Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-04-04

received only five francs per day, ($l.Oo.
All sorts of articles are ornamented with
this work book-racks, needle-cases,
pocket-books, bible and prayer book
covers, and, in short, anything you wish
to order and pay for. This latter is quite
an item, as these mosaics are very ex-
pensive. Many of them are as faithful
to life as an oil painting. One workman
was busilY engaged on little picture of
a hunter, leaning on his gun and con-
templating pile of game before him.
Three months of steady labor will be
necessary to finish it.
March 5th. -This afternoon | devoted
to bargaining with Frenchmen for the
use of their windows from which to
view the Mid-Lent Carnival. This is an
extra affair the Project having gracious
ly granted permission, grand fete is to
take place This is quite contrary to
the Catholic usage, and is allowed this
year on account of the failure of the
regular carnival here, through rainy
weather. Their demands varied from
$50 francs to the modest sum, i'll COM
parisOn, of DO francs for the privilege of
framing ourselves in two windows for a
couple of hours. In connection with
Mr. K. and his family, We secured
pleasant positions.
Thursday, March 7th.-AnOther rainy
day and multitude of disappointed
spectators who have invested in flow
ers and confetti. Notwithstanding the
driving rain the street was well filled with
umbrellas possessing locomotive powers.
The storm did not at all affect the spirits
of the crowd, gOOd-humOred, wet and
jolly.
The masks were better than at the car
nival proper. The principal attraction
was an immense gondola, holding fifty
men, dressed in white pants, red shirts
and chapeaux to match, mounted on
solid discs of wood, and drawn by two
pairs of oxen. The oxens' horns were
silvered and they were arrayed in red
silk, white bordered, spread over their
broad backs. The men sang splendidly,
as they moved slowly up and down be-
fore us, varying the performance with
showers of confetti. Another immense
cart was full of masquers representing
wild beasts, black and white bears,
wolves, and combinations that it would
be difficult to name, hybrids born only of
the Southern imagination. These grOwl-
ed and hOwled and sChreeched their de-
light. Huge earthen vessels VOmited
forth their contents of confetti or bon
bOns upon an admiring crowd. Seventy
five sailors, gayly apparalled in white
suits, trimmed with blue stripes down
the pants and around the sleeves and
with a collar of the same, marched up
and down, occasionally forming a hOl-
low square, silencing all noise and fixing
every ones attention by some sweet
melody poured forth by their clear ring
ing voices. A woman, or man IN wO-
mans dress, we could not agree which,
marshalled and commanded this troop.
A half-dOzen handsome boys, masked in
white, with red trimmings, carried long
bambOOs furnished with cloth cOntriy-
ances, funnel-shaped with small mouths
and tubes the length of the poles. These
they held to the windows and balconies
to receive contributions for the libcr-
alton of territory from Prussiau occu-
patton The money given slips down
the funnel pipe to their very hands.
The end of the Frenchman's life at
present is to deliver his soil from the
presence Of the hated foreigner In
some of the schools they write their eX-
ercise books both ways, making one
book serve the purpose of two. The
price Of the book that otherwise would
have b5en used helps to swell the Lib
Grafton" fund. What think you Of such
an expedient 1t certainly shows earn
estness of purpose and mother wit. Last
night masked balls were given, sanctified
by the same object, though | hardly
think they needed this inducement to at
tract the furnishing gallants, pleasure
starved for nearly two weeks.
Our windows received their full share
/ L : 1
with interest. When times were little
dull we took tOduelling among ourselves
and | stole out occasionally and saluted
my friends with brisk fire from below.
If | attend another carnival | shall CON
tract (for confetti, a few days before
by the bushel, with an abundant supply
of flowers. A bunch of blue viOlcts was
the standing dish, with sometimes a Jap
onica in the center. The people whose
rooms we occupied were as pleasant and
polite, as though we were doing them
the greatest favor possible by garnishiu4
their room with mud and confettc.
There was prize of twenty-four
bottles of champagne for the best com
panv of masquers, with second prize
of one dozen bottles The successful
competitors were the wild beasts and
gOndOla, and each man armed himself
with bottle, and waving it in the air
they announced their triumph by rolling
all over their respective vehicles. "A
une heure Grand Mat de Cocagne"
the programme read. consulted my
dictionary but got no light, and resorted
to Mr.. K. He informed me that it was
a creased pole that led to the land Of
milk and honey. The successful climber
was rewarded by whatever he found at
the top. The crowd of umbrellas began
to diminish about five o'clock which sir
nailed our retreat from the field of
action. W. r. =.