, 1881-03-20
THE CARNIVAL.


Scenes in the Modern Roman Satur,
nalia.
Special Correspondence Of The Chicago Trfb1sne-
ROME, Italy, March 2.-rho great Carniva
is just over. Last night, after 4 life ot
eleven days full of yiEor and Intensity, the
monster expired, suddenly as a taper eX
tinguished by the breath. Perhaps some oi
your readers, especially among the young
people, may be interested in q short descrip
ton.
The origin Of this celebrated festival is ill-
'volyed in some doubt, hut 1t is generally re
garded as being ali outgrowth Of the ancient
Saturnalia of Rome. The Roman Catholic
Church deny that it sprung from their
religion, but claim that the Church has ever
opposed, condemned, and, finally, from
force of circumstances, barely tolerated, its
excessive festivities.
According to Byron the derivation OF the
word is carnis vale,-" farewell to flesll,"-
the priests instructlng the people to leave
meat untouched during the forty days OF
Lent Immediately following.
The principal street itl ROME is the Corso.
It runs from tile north gate about due south
through the heart OF the modern part of the
city; is straight, quite wide. nearly a mile in
LII
palaces. Here, as everybody knows, is the
fountail-head and focus Of the Carnival. On
either side Of the street, from the lowest
story to the very roof, are innumerable We
rantlas and balconies of all sizes and shapes,
all trimmed with gayest colors,-bright red,
bright green, crimson, and gold; decorated
with fcstoons OF leaves and flowers; stream
ers floating out in liveliest hues. III front Of
the churches temporary stands have
been erected; and these, as we'll
as scatfoldings to new buildings,
have been transformed into gorgeous tenl-
pies, radiant with crimson, silver, and gold.
The doorways Of the ships, too, have been
barrtcaded and hung with curtains, ready
for offensive and defensive warfare.
Each day, long before the hour, the multi
tude assemble. Carriages, drawn by horses
with hgaily-caparlsonel trappings, are slowly
passing up and down the street in two long
unbrokcn lines, often brought to n stand
still by the surging crowd pressing their way
on foot in every direction. The finer equip
ages are lined with white cambric for pro-
lection. Every cross street is pouring i'll its
spectators by hundreds, while soldiers, III
bright uniform and fully armed, conlpel all
vehicles to enter the Corso at one or the
other extremity.
Az O'Clock the revelry OF the Carnival be-
gins. What an animated plcture! From
pavement to chimney every door, window,
vefanda, and balcony Is alive with bright
faces and active forms. Woman takes spe-
cial delight in scene like this; and, Wller-
ever you look, there her eyes are laughing,
dancing, and sparkling like glistening dia-
nollds. It is time Of general license, and
lheu and women have arrayed themselves,
under the protection Of the mask, in every
Wild, tlroll. quaint style of dress. One de-
series III the close mass Of yariegated bright
ness iudicrous caricature OIL every nation
ality, every trade aud profession; while many
costumes are combination of the grotesque
and ridiculous, without any attempt ut per-
=
The signal given, the sportive warfare be-
gins. Doors, windows, balconies. carriages,
are all provided with bushels Ut sugar-piu,ns
calletl.' confetti" baskets of little bouquets,
and lnll,lmerable bright paper strealners at
tacIleu to marble ball. Pedestrians carry
large bags of this ammunition strapped
across their shoulders.
And everybody throws these white sugar
p]ums, which prove to bea miserable counter
felt Of earth covered with lime at everybody
else, whether high or low, near or far. Here
two pass.ng carriages are engaged in an
atrraY; there a storm 0f balls and flowers
RACES between two opposlt windows. The