The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-04-06


at which his subjects could laugh and grow
fat; SO he Illustrated in twenty-one tableaux
the way we Americans chase after fun, and
his success in depicting the ups and down in
the race was most wonderful
Like right loving king, he led the process
sion, his lovely queen seated by his side, with
retainers ofhis court in attendance upon them,
a long line of Masters of the Games following
them on horseback. Next came a representa-
ton of" Christmas Times Tin which the children
were especially interested This Was followed
by "PIc-nic," in which chasing the pig,
climbing creased pole. music dancing and
fiirtations had their place. Seaside Pleasures
followed, and the most solemn visage broad.
ened into grin as the arms and feet head and
heels, stuck out from every mimic wave il
most ludicrous manner. In the picture of
Hunting" two frightened Nimrods were sit
ting in tree, beneath which stood deer with
a gun leveled at them; huge rabbi! was fast
getting halfseas-over on the contents of the
hunters bottle, and a fox sat by the fire roast
ing the dog, on the end of a stick.
'THE BIGGEST SHOW ON EARTH"
came next, and such ridiculous sight would
draw crowd away from the great Barnum
circus. An immense elephant was mounted
upon the back of tiny rabbit, and his efforts
to balance himself preparatory to jumping
through hoop were funny to behold on q
fat little pig the fat woman of the show was
trying to ride and the living skeleton can
only find his rival among the bones of soma
deserted graveyard. If the hunters had hard
luck so also had the fishermen
They bated for fish and they caugh hit an al
ligator, and the effort was similar to that
which follows when you stir up the boss
hornet in nest-the whole swarm are on
hand to help out the fight. -.
Alligators' heads appeared from every d.
rection, no water lily so pure as to escape be-
ing made to bow its head to make room for
the angry creatures. And the fright of the
boats crew was indescribable, every man OF
them looking as if his hearts desire was "to
go home and see his parents"
KING RExs BASE BALL CLUB.
Judging from the physical condition of the
players, should say this club had not been
long IN practice. Their success in one direct
ion. however had evidently been most COM
mendable, every one of them bearing the proof
| that he had tried to catch the ball with his
head, and had not been disappointed. Two
| eyes that had been knocked into one; jaws
swollen to the proportions of California |
pumpkin, teeth knocked out, all showed the |
| skill of the players and the immense amuse-
ment our National game affords.
Aquat sports, racing, gormandizing, the |
delights of the drunkard and smoker, and |
gambling followed one another, all admirably |
depicted, with exaggerated costumes and !
masks which ought to make a wicked man |
afraid to 60 alone In the dark
CUPID AND VENUS. |
Such little body had our Cupid that only |
his huge, carrotty-crowned head attracted at
tention, and we all laughed so much at his APP |
pearance we forgot to listen to the lovers vows |
being made close at hand. Closing the pageant
was
The land of eternal sunshine the dwelling |
place of peace and pleasure II was most |
beautiful plcuture, representing an immense |
fountain, which sent its glittering spray dane
ing in the sunbeams; in large leaf were |
seated Prince and Princess, in dazzling az |
ray ntently listening to the music Of harps, !
and watching the graceful forms of the dane
ers.
The Independent Order OF the Moon fol- |
lowed next, with series of pictures "too ri |
dlculous for any use" They kept us in a roal
of laughter until the last one had passed. The |
representations made by this society, with |
those of the
PHUNNY Priority PHELLOws.
Had the effect of making us all feel that we
had consented to become "phool' for one |
day at least. II the Rex procession was a |
buresque on life, these were caricature so
exaggerated that words can hardly give an |
idea of them. Yet so carefully were all the
details worked out, every ta5leau told story |
as plainly as if written in a book. 1t was a |
play upon life and play upon words. King |
Rex had moved on in a gorgeous chariot, |
drawn by prancing steeds; the mock King |
followed with long train of wooden horses |
was burlesqued. "Music in the Air" proved |
to be numberless cats on the roof of a cabin, |
with numberless people in undress uniform !
beating them from chimney mouths, holes in |
the roof and gable windows; one frantic man |
had seized the baby and held it high in the air,
ready to go for the first cat that yawled |
yawl. Home, sweet Home" was negro |
cabin with a brood of picaninnies hanging oul
of the windows, women washing, cleaning |
vegetables and chatting for dear life. A boat |
ing club of the city saw itself afflicted with Ii
veritable case of "big head, and its brass band |
discOursed music from instruments fit only fol |
childs playhouse.
Best of all was the easter egg" an i'm
mense affair." in setting of numberless smaller |
eggs all labeled strictly fresh," and each will
chicken sticking its head up through the
shell. In the larger egg two immense roosers
were visible, and the way they tapped their
huge wings and crowed was caution to
spring chicken buyers.
Perhaps the second best exhibition was the |
fruit scene, in which men appeared as big |
pine-apples, lemons and other fruits. though |
this found rival in the turkeys Thanks
giving" where dozen men looked SO much |
like the real bird am sure they would sell in
market.
TAKE BACK THE HEART THAT THOU GAvEsT |
Me-"
appeared on one OF the transparencies and |
was represented on the float by we'll stocked !
butchers shop in which stood grotesquely |
dressed woman holding out to the butcher an |
immense beef mart which he had evidently |
sold to her.
would like to give all these phunny pic |
lures in detail, but space will not permit, SO |
hasten. on to the browning procession Of the
Mardi Gras, that given on Tuesday night by
THE MYSTIC KREw OF COMUs.
This was the twenty anniversary of this
organization-its silver wedding one might be-
lieve they intended it to be, so chaste and
beautiful was everything connected with their
pageant. Tie display made by the knights of
Proteus was wonderful combination of the
most dazzling colors, and was shown under
colored lights which increased its brilliancy
The Mystick Krewe chose costumes which
We're combination of gold and silyery white,
and the same colors prevailed in everything.