The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-09-01
rpnr Ro.C,kpRIDsE ALUM SPRINGS
,rsrr CARNIVAL A GRAND sUCCFss-LA Rei E
crown Observation-Disclosures OF
The LAWN, MAIN HOTEL. AND
corTAGgs-spLENDID DISPLAY
or FiRE-u oRKS.
,-.. .To.nusrade Rail- and Champagne sap
pcr-Thc Mast Pleasant Aiar
or ahe SeaSon.
rcerrespont.nce OF the Kichnond baa.1n'i
RoexuplpGE ALCA 'srRiSs s NJ

Ra{XENIDGE ~
August %, 1874. J
r,, dave mas. everybody has been
sahinp about as well as oeeh D'shy 1890 ~,
In making preparations for tae cafhNa' aEo
masquerade ban. .r ~ mo,
.s.rnr;,o yya,eripg.places OF this State, mas
RON steadily increasing for several Gays
nniil now we are quite iuh.
Tbe rain has been making us daily Visits
fn- como time. and some Of as were feeling
and ,ookjng little blue, fearingit would In
ser(ere with the event OF the season (tht
c,rn;yaN But we have been most agreeaoiJ
disanno,n,ed, for yesterday the weather was
cl6Sdy ans pIea>ant. and at night the daI /
Glands o,,ly increased the briliancy OF ,bt
creme and made the colored lights and hre
xporls show Of TO a greater advantage.
There was very large crowG here yestcr
flay to witness the opening OF the carnival
from early morn until eve the people were
comics, In from every direction.
the guests from the Jordan Alum, 'nciud
ing the military, were specially invltec, ano
we spppose tina, during the carnival process
sion those springs were hDost entirely de'
serted. The people frou The surrounding
country. in their simple mountain SarD, WIZ
their cogs and rifles, made the scene very
picturesque one.
THE CARNIVAL
was formally opened yesterday morning oy
q band, consisting OF small and large drums
paradirg the lawn. This was the signai tof
the festivities TO begin, and in a short time
it vas estimated that ut least 2,000 persons
had as. ca bied on the lawn.
Soon several priZe-fghts began--one pc
tween tWo members OF the First Virgins
regiment, and another between two OF the
colorfd PERSUASION. Both parties wore DON
ing. gloves.
Tren was seen al old mule slowly wend
ing his way around the lawn. and upon MS
back he carried two persons who were very
comicaliy dressed, and by their capeIs caused
q good deal Of merriment.
After this there came one dressed as an
ape, and 30 well was the Imitation that we
could hardly keep from eXclaimlpg, behold
an ape indeed. But one Of the most anus
ing features of the day was the
HowCoTT BAND ?).
The leader, MIR. w. Fl. Howcott, of New
ORLEANS, being disabled during the early part
of the tlay, was not able 10 take part in the
Darade. They were in three wagons, all TIED
one behind the other. and drawn by two
horses. The band (:) was composed OF Six
teen performers. each having an instrument
-oEe drum, another horn, still another
gong, bell, a clarionet, &c.
The musicians were attired in the most
fantastic costumes. On entering the grounds
the band (?) struck up grand ()march, and
continued 10 play until they had driven
around the grounds several times. Their
music was not as sweet as Jenny LIMBS
nor as harmonious as ThomaS's orchestra,
still 1t seemed to afford great deal of amuse.
ment TO the large crowd who witnessed their
performances.
Another excellent feature Of the day was
the MuIligan Guards" who We're COM
noauded by Sergeant William r. Burgess.
The young men composing this company
were members of companies and OF the
First Virginia regiment, who are camped al
the adjoining springs. These were dressed
in striped suits with blue caps, and wore
improyised masks, and Attracted great deal
of attention by their sodierly q bearing.
In the afternoon We bad sack and wheel.
barrow racing and other Scottish games.
Before going further we must say word
or two about the
DECORATIONS,
which were pronounced by all to be tasty
and beautiful. The main hotel, cottages, the
Gothic and other buildings which encircled
the lawn, were al! dressed very prettiy with
evergreens, and on every cottage, intermin.
gled with the eyergreeDs, were hung large
number Of tri-c0lored lanterns; also, from
every tree around the entire lawn there were
hung hundreds of German lanterns.
The "Gothic Bullding," which is situated
at the southern portion of the lawn. is
worthy OF mention. Also, the emusic Pa
yiliop." The first was decorated with
Yrealhs and fastoons Of evergreens, and in
between them many colored lanterns were
hung. Near the maiu entrance to the build
ing our eyes were attracted by three large
letters-"R. Il. L."-made Of green leaves.
On inquiry we ascertained that Captain Can
non, of the celebrated steamer Il. +. Lee,
which runs on the Mississippi river, had his
headquarters in that building. The effect Of
these decorations, on this as well as on other
buildings, can be better imagined if we think
how they must have looked with the many
lights which threw their bright rays upon it..
The "Musc Pavilion" which is in the
centre OF the lawn, looked very beautiful
with its bright cooled lights and green de-
corations which were hung Gil around ii. On
the inside were placed in small vessels Greek
fires of all colorS. During the march of the
carnival procession these lights were set of,
tightening up the heavens and surrounding
country, causing most brilliant and beau-
tiful spectacle. The pavilion looked like one
mass of tire, shooting out its bright and
flushing sparks.
The ladies especially, as well as the gentle.
men, deserve much credit for their labors i'll
decorating the grounds aud buildings. We
would like to make special mention of some
of the cottages, but for fear of being called
partial we will keep silent.
AT few minutes after O'Clock, the
-. CARNIVAL PROCESSION,
headed by a splendid band of music, started
from the old ballroom, which Is at the en-
trance to the ground. At the head of the
procession OF lnaskers we saw HK,nq
Comus," who held complete sway over the
entire body. His duty was to command and
theirs TO obey. The" Old King" as he was
Familiarity called, was followed BY very long
line OF retainers. We also noticed in the
ranks:
T. n. Jones as Harlequia7; W. Brooks,
Jr., "Demon"; William Sanger, "Frog
suit; q. Sanger, /" Page: W. B. Brooks.
{" Richard Ill.,; I'D. Snead, "EdwardI:~; !;
Mr.. McChesney, Eliza Jane"; Cadet To-
ney, Dandy Nfg"; e.: N. Doggett, "Span-
ish Boatmau"; Cadet Male, j" Monkey; "
II. Howco,t, "Pig"; p. C. Richards, !" Dog y
George NJ. Cochran, Comic Dutch y; T..
Glendie, . Heathen Chinee"; CIV. Clayton,
Fiat Boy; T. r. Langdon, Schneider;
Sam. Benton, BueDeard";; S. T. Graham.
9 Monk" K. Whiting, king john; Z.
A. McCann, Indian ". S. Gooch, g bro.
meo"; w, ii. Summercil, "Laplander y;
+. S. Jordan, "Perot Clown"; Mr. Story.
!" Magician; j. P.Trtppett, Comic Bra";
Mr. MeChespey, Game Cock"; j. 3. Ma
thews, !" Bluebeard. Mr. Goodman, .S4il.
or ~; MIR. Bennett, "Falstaff"; j. Hirsh4
berg, "punch y; j. L. Hill, Judy N;ET!
III Giendia and w YI~pana tfI,nr,in Dr..