National Republican., 1883-01-13

persuasive notices, was we'll executed rs
was stove-pipe that slid swiftly over the
CLASSY surface. An old wooden rocker, drawn
by pretty good horse, attracted considerable
attention. A shooting gallery, sewing ma
chine, and an ,old-iashonod Virginia mule
team, occupied by two very happy old
fashioned Virginia darkcs. travelled along in
procession, followed by a large sleigh filled
with young ladies representing geese. ducks,
canary birds, aud owls their male es-
cort dressed and masked as corn-fcld
negro woman and smoking q cigar A band
OF mules ridden by darlSics and Arabs dragged
grocery store whose appointments were not
more original than a sturCOtypCd advertise
ment. quartctte Of fine horses skinned
along with an oyster sloop whose sails were
all set, and whose crew were busy shuckng
the biValvos and singing Carry Ne Back TO
the Dredging Shore A handsome basket
sleigh, drawn by spirited gray bowicd along
with two pillow cases inside, whose stiff, up-
right appearance indicated they wanted
neither to bo bolstered nor COmfOrted. A
wooden car carried two buNom c0lorcd damscls
VINO huggcd each other with rare uuCtiOn
and tcrvOr A very clever representation
of goat mounted on n fine sorrel
cob attracted attention, and near by
was an actual rendition Of the old legend of
aJackaSS riding mule The iaCkasS was
spirited, but the mule looked dissatisfied, as
II he was afraid he was getting into bad COM
pany. Following this was capital dCvice-a
woman in a bath tub. Her long hair hung
down behind, and on the rear edge of the tub
were Il couple of towels her horse was
wrapped in bed sheet and the mock woman
herself in the habiliments of the bath
room. She seemed to mind her own
business, but was apparently annoyed
by the efforts of the mules behind her
to eat her bathing towels. These mules
were attached to n large sleigh of full mntasti-
cally-attircd persons, some of them probably
women, who sported every possible variety of
grotesque-costumc birds, beasts, and rpntlcs,
combined. A capital device of "coolstove
and old cook" was iayorably noticed. Two
burlcsqucs on the Hanson cab were in line,
one on n large and close imitation, almost too
well done to be called u burlCsque, while the
other was rude, rough collection of boards,
-hastily put together but answering the pur-
pose we'll, the very cariCaturo of cab.
These, with many others, over hundred
different designs, some ordinary enough, but
few of them alike, were n source of great
amusement TO the crowds that filled the pave
ments and lined the in ,er edges of the streets
and enjoyed the fun with great emphasis
lnterspersed with these fantasticals were
hundreds of slcighs without any disguise OF
mummery, and many carriages a few of which
had been placed on runners instead of wheels
Tho roadway Of the avenue was
GLITTERINo KALEIDOSCOPE OF MGYGLING
VEHICLES.
The order to keep the street clear of We.
hicles other than sleighs was either not given
or was not enforced, for there was an unusual
number Of heavy freight wagons out among
the masquers. But as these added variety ia
the scene, their presence was rather an addi-
tion than otherwise to the brilliant spec.
tacle.
Brilliant indeed was the spectacle beyond
anything seen on the avenue at this season of
the year since the famous carnival of ISL.
Standing at the east gate of the treasury and
looking toward the capitol the view was pic
turesque, was dazzling was superb. The
mulnmers were but incidents in the swiftly
running, brightly flashing currents of min
gled motion and color. As the sun sank lower
in the west and the rosy flush came out in the
eastern sky, the harsh angularitcs of the
scene became sOftcncd and the beauty deep.
ened and reddened. The reflected sunlight
fell in dazzling sheen Of splc ldOr ON the
many windows of the capitol, or the white
marble of the rotundI, or the bright
bronze Of the statue mt its top, and
was thrown back again upon the rev.
ellers and the mummCrs in long bars OF
crimson glory. The crowds dccpened and
grew more restless. and passed up and down
in reiuent masses. brilliant with color
rhythmical with motion. When the mum.
mers came back down the avenue, tho
uulnasq u,udmg sleigh, rapidly increased in
numbers, many spirited iast-stcppiug horse.
made their appearance, and competition be-
came imminent. The slight thaw in the mid
die of the day had disposed the snow TO be
more sOlidly pressed, until on either side OF
the car track the course was superb. Moth
ing could be better ana both horses and
drivers felt the eXhilmtion of the hour. A
very large number Of ladies was noticed
among the occupants of slcighs after the
masquerade had passed. and the bril-
liancy Of toilets on the sidewalks
were more than equaled by the rich.
mess and spicndUr of attire worn by the fair
sleighers, The sport was kept up with un-
abated zeal and pleasure until after the young
moon flung its crescent light from the clear
evening sky, and the electric lights adown
the avenue began to glitter and sparkle on
the bright, crunching snow. With the moon
light the crowds on the sidewalks thinned,
the sleighS abruptly turned oil into the side
streets, until the mounted policemen stationed
at intervals in tile centre Ofthe avenue to pre-
Vent fast driving were, with the street-cars and
the cabs about the only disturbcrs of the sol.
itude. After nightlall, however, the sleghs
came back, the crowds gathered again, and
until late in the night the jingle of the sleigh
bell and the voices of the thTOng5 on the side.
walks We're incessant