Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-08-21
Eascaroue Bail.


The following description Of an inter
esting Spanish festival which is ceie-
brated in California is part of paper
contributed to S-TIbHsr by Mrs Mary
IIallOck FoOtc, the artist; The music
was excellent OF its kind-two violins, n
guitar. n flute and one or two brass
pieces. During the waltzos one could
hear but n single united shuttle, rs If all
the dancers in the room moved with one
pair Of icct. Full dress for the Young
men was a short velvctCcn coat. black
trowscrs. white vCs' and bright silk
scarf, Euot;rd with PARTICULARLY happy
effect over the shoulders. outside the
coat. Some of the young men wore the
uniform Of the four-tig tighters-rcd nan-
mel shirts, black troWseTs with red stripe
down the sides and silver star on the
breast. The crowd was too great and
the motion too rapid and incessant for
any attempt at study of individuals.
One received an impression of extreme
vivacity of speech and manncr-bright
ribbons, sCarfs and scrapas-waving
heads and hands. swaying lines of figures
joined in the dance, Circling lines Of
figures, winding and separating into
couples, Waiting away in maze Of
color, music. laughter and tobacco
smoke. The ceiling was dim with
smoke from the cigarettes Of the dow
ayers and the cigars of the lOungors on
the piazza. who leaned in Mt tho open
windows. When the dance tagged. cries
of " Tird. riuI - sounded from All parts
of the room. and gave new life to the
music.
Among the company was young
South American, with high. aguiline
profile. and a crest of bushy curls. rising
from his receding forehead. like the
sculpturcd names of the horses on
Greek bass-relief. | noticed him, first,
because of his height and sinewy grace,
afterward. because he was the partner
of such n pretty giTl--a tall, slight. dark
beauty. with the most joyous uncon-
sciOusncss of expression and movement,
like n child or a beautiful animal. 1t
was worth coming 20 the ball to see
these two dancing together; II was the
very spirit of revelry, without conscience
or care. found the canker In the rose,
aiterward. when learned that my joy
Gus girl had been wife for two years at
least, aud that while she was dancing at
the cascarone ball, her young husband
was in prison. awaiting his trial for stab
bing n friend in Christmas brawl at
the Guadeloupc.
The war Of cascarones did not fairly
begin until the ddilzd del gIorT0, Mt mid
night. but there were scattering shots
and sallies, and skirmishes in all direc-
tions. The cascarones were crushed
over the heads of the senoritas, but the
young mon were soundly clapped on the
head, and the shells were well rubbed
into their thick black names. The girls
generally hunted in couples or packs, and
set upon their chosen victim with
shrieks Of glee; then charge of young
men to the rescue would scatter them in
| all directions. The prettiest girls got the
most salutes. and looked all the prettie
with the tinsel powder sparkling on
their dark braids. There were some
wild young romps. whose audacious
charges upon friend and foe cost them
Mt last their feminine prcrogative -
they were pursued and surrounded
and bombarded and battered with
shells, until what hair they had
LEFT could hardly have been worth
combing out in themorning. The Mex
leans save egg-shellf all the year for this
ball improvident rs butterflies, they are
capable Of great forcthought where
pleasure Is the object.