The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-13
CAR N | VAL.
The Festivities in Ancient and
Modern Times.
MEDIEVAL NlERRYMAKING.
The Carnival in Rome, Venice,
Paris and ST. Petersburg.

TO the OF His Majesty the King OF the Carnival
the following sketch Of the ancient families IRON which
he descends, OF their history mighty deeds, and OF the
honors and allegiance given them by their subjects
viii he found especially interesting. IL viii be seen
that His Majesty who viii reign on Tuesday
is not descended ike his royal brother Of New
Orleans rom old King Cole and the Goddess rerpsi-
chore hut among his ancestors the very respect.
ably connected gods, Bacchus, saturn and Lupercus.
With their origin shrouded in the mists or antiquity
md still redoont with the flavor 81 heather mytboio:,
the mld-winter fcasts OF our pagan ancestors come
down u.s. and the Mard Gras festivities which close
with one whir rcvery the celebration OF the carnI-
val are but the Christian substitutes for the Bacchan
alta ana Lupcrcalia Of tho Greeks and Romans
Coeval with the spread OF the Latin races IN pagan
and Christian times throughout Europe and America
these pagan festivities have gradually taken root IN
tho hearts OF the people. The heads OF the primitive
Church. instead OF taking away these fcasts IRON the
converted races wisely transformed them into cee-
bratons having intimate association with the
tcasts OF the Church, aud tho festivals form
erly celebrated IN honor Of the pagan gods
urc now the elimination of the years fes-
tivties prior to entrance into tho solemn season Of
Lcnt-the 'ca,me raie," or farewell to meat This IN
tima,c association the worship OF the supernatural
with tangible festivals has in all ages been wise
rangcment OF the priesthood
ROMAN CARNIVAL
The origin of the term carnival variousy stated.
Tho most probable derivation is that OF rahs,
spoken OF above, but some suppose the term to
from ca,uaraare ito swallow meat; meat In Italy be-
ing most used during that of the year. The
Church in Italy following out its Wise policy of conn
promise with what is known .the worldn has
always favored carnival though itself engaged At
this time in preparing for the solemn OF Lent
The magnifcence OF the Roman carnival reached It's
height during the reign of the great Farncse Pope
Paul Ill., from 1854 to 1889 The golfers OF the Church
aud the Roman State Overlooking with the tribule
OF Chrstendon, ana her faithful subjects delivered
themselves up this, nj all times since, with char
ucierstic to this great ecrvescencc OF hu
vitality The celebration consisted in races on the
VIA Lata. known as the Corao from this use
In spectacular pageants which took place on
the s.Ajora," known the Piazza Navona, aud
The Monte TCstaccio Before the races were given
tho Corso, which was first done in the days OF Pope
Paul H. they took place. had been the custom from
time inmemoria, on the open ground near the Porta
Sancia Sebastiauo not lar from where tho Protestant
cemetery lies In these days the Piazzo del
Pcpuo the present starting point, not being IN exist
ence horses started from IN front OF the Arch
OF Doman, the course beng as FAR asHhe Piazza dc
Veuczia On each OF the eight days consecrated TO the
festival there There were races tor boys
and meI different ngcs. Tor asses, for bualoes and
Tor Jews These latter com elled to run, and 1t
Is that the later custom OF running rderless
horses arose from the jews being allowed furnish
substitutes. The prizes awarded were flags known
A MEDIEVAL. cELEBRATIoy
From Il contemporary description we learn that the
spectacles the Monte Tcs,dcc!o consisted in bull
botng, which thirty-slx moaneoanks. clad in scar
aud armed with ironpointsd poles, acted plea
dores In OF these matches we are informed that
thirteen bulls slam SIX cars. each ornancnted
with blood red standard and containing well tated
live pig, sent down among the people from the
summit o! the monte, aud thercupon ensucd great
scrampling Tor the possession OF the aud con-
SIX cavaliers, dressed as knights cf old, IN
clio hes OF gold and SILVER embroidered silks and rich
laccs and bestriding magnihcently capnriscned
chargers, were feature OF The Spectacle Inc SIX
the Cardinal tarnesc, the Cardinal SANTA Flora,
The Dukes OF Camerino ana lielh the Count OF ST.
Flora brother of the CARDINAL ana tho Prince Of Mace
donna. occasion three run, the first
Tor rderess horses, The second for ridden horses and
the third for mares The prizes banners OF gold
brocade and OF velvet. ON the concluding day
o and bullioes took place. Balls aud suppers
were pvso y tic Roman mobiles al the crcnt pa lnces
ard comedies enacted at that OF the Calirelli.
5extus v, most severe of popes, though cncourag-
Ing the Carnival, reformed many OF the abuses which
bad gradually crept into the celebration, prominent
among which the indscriminac scattering OF
aorr, dust earth by the massers on the popuace.
These materials were done away with and the more
pleasant showers OF flowers anu bon bDns were sub
Ittuicd. by this time racing OF the BARBER, as The
.idcress horses called, beEg former days
Barbary siecds, had already become feature, as to-
rnE PRESENT ROMAN CARNIVAL
The Carnival as Is now celebrated IN Rome lasts
ax say seven days. on one OF witch gala driving
IN carriages up and down the Corso takes pace when
from the balconies above and between the carriages
osuque,s loose flowers showcred. on this
rAsion flowers alone allowed, but on the other
layssmall plaster pellets known coajefn coriaa-
aoii the ammunition used, and represent the
comuts OF sugar, formerly common. The balconies
the paaces aud dwellings, on the Corso are decorated
with nangngs ~ silk. cloth cotton, scarlet,
yellow aad purple blue they overhang the street
mud filled with the bright eyed Roman ladies', while
the streets beneath crowded with motley gather
ing, masked ana unmaskcd. Floats placed
by horses and bearing representations ships,
Castles &C. manned anu aarrsonrd by the sunesse
do,ge of the CITY, Who kcd Ike advcr-
saries the balconies. keep up IRE upon the
pants OF these latter We'll The surgng multi
Iudc Of maskers which surrounds them. The ladies
from above the lire with flowers, and ia the
combat many anote-concealng bouquet hDds us billet.
The rougner Class pcntituliy besprinkc each other
ana all no come IN contact with them with tho lime
OF the co,yGh wire gnuzc mask is usually worn
By those who enter the heat o the Tray protect
the face from the rather blows of the little
plaster bullets All disguise their v0icos, mostly
affecting shrlll fasett, laughter ana king
cries mingling with the shouts and ordinations OF
discontinue MI the with a Babel OF sound. I'M
pron,plu comedies are beng enacted on every siue
between tue maskcrs, the ready native wit coming
into full play. AT tins season tho Roman Is seen at
his best; his Imagination riots IN variety Of inper-
Eonations VII ch kept up with the most minute
hdciiiy TO dress ana action. Neurological chaTac.
iers iayores. aud representations OF antique
statues oltcn remafS ably well done The ripping
cadence OF the native tongue which lends Itself 10
varying shades o! meaning, produced by a Sght
infection a slightly different tcrmInatIun rs now
beard at liz best Among the maskcrs iorgc,s the
Horkday wofld, and II would seem that life was
airy irec and graceful as the bubbles glass ol
champagne. The very Joy OF living seems TO brIm over
tho people
shortly before the hour announced for the the
Corso cleared by mounted Dragons. As The street
is Uut thrtyivc width very wac lane Is
made Tor the passage OF tie horses who inpatient
Tor the start, held until all ready by richly
dressed grooms. rope stretched tue
until the signal Is gwen by the lring Of cannon.
WllcH The slraggcrs rush cut danger und tho nall
lnsG stecds dash down the mie which leads the goal
ht Piazza Ill VenrZla, where stretched
across The street, at spot known MS the Rprcsa del
BArbrri Accidents frequently occur TO ibadvertent
persons during the races who get knocked by
horses. These latter have small spiked Uas attached
10 Their trappngs winch spurs, and also ire
crackers when are set on rs they start !hey arc 80
much interested winning are their owners and
They this ia every movement These
lake place the afternoon Of eacn day OF
lhe festival, increasing IN interest tho
racc sbrovc Tuesday. The patio prize Tor the
winner puradcd through the Corso after the by
me grooms OF tho winning horses. Tho races were
ascontue1 In 1874 but Resumed in 1916 by the wish
81 the people During the Carnival many private aud
public balls are gwen IN Rome, and tue regt,oni
). masked bulis mt tho theatres are quite a feature
rnc celebrations In NcDlcc--whch once was o.