The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-02-12
THE CARNIVAL.

In company with our better half"
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. f. Brett, Mr.. and
Mrs. w. b. Craig, Mr.. and Mrs. Chas.
Marsh, Mrs. J. A. willard and Mrs. l..
\. Moore, we visited st. Paul last Thurs
day and Friday and took in the ice pal
ace and winter carnival festivities. Or
perhaps it might be more 10 the point to
say that the palace and carnival took us
in. However, the party had an exceed
ingly enjoyable time, and despite the
frigid atmosphere, managed to see all
the sights and enjoy some Of the sports.
1t is an old and trite saying that an
omnibus always affords room for zone
MORE" but the St. Paul hotels, in this
respect at least, were unlike the mu cn
abused vehicle mentioned. Every no.
tel was full to overlooking, and guests
were packed IN as thick as sardines in
box. All the boarding houses were ia
ken possession of by the rush of stran-
gers, while private houses were drawn
upon to afford shelter till everything in
the shape of accommodations was ex-
hausted.
Thursday was dubbed Editors Day"
from the fact that the journalists of the
State had gathered there in convention,
and the exercises at the carnival ground
in the evening were grand beyond de-
scription. The "Ice King" and "Fire
Kind" battled for supremacy, and the
blaze of lurid light which illuminate d
the heavens for over an hour during the
battle was one of the most ms spring and
beautiful sights that 1t was ever our
good fortune to behold. The interest.
excitement and grandeur produced by
the spectacle was of such an.inspiring ma
ture as to render ones system almost
Obvious of the biting cold, and with the
thermometer standing 20 degrees below
zero, thousands of men, women and
children stood enwrapped with admlra-
ton at the supreme magnificence of the
pyrotechnIcal display.
The mass of humanity struggling to
gain admittance to the grounds on this
night seemed almost numberless. Ev-
eryone was bent upon getting in first,
and of all the crowdIng, jamming, push
ing, squeezing throngs We ever mixed
with this one was the worst.
For over two weeks st. Paul has been
literally given up to the work and en-
ioyment of the carnival. From the babe
Of sufficient age to toddle alone to the
gray haired sire of three score years and
ten, are clad in toboggan costumes, Ia
dies as we'll as gentlemen. They never
weary of marching through cold or
storm, and are always fresh for the act
i've sports at the grounds at night. There
is scarcely any business at the capital
city. No one seems to have the time or
disposition for trade or work. The "ice
palace" reigns supreme, and Will no
doubt continue to hold the fort until to-
night, when in all probability the Grand
Army boys will capture the frIgid throne.
In conclusion, and in justice to st.
Panl, we can say with a good grace that
that they have the biggest thing "on ice"
and the grandest thing ever constructed
from CONCEALED water. 1t is worth see
ing, and when seen no one who desires
to live this life and partake of its good
things made possible by the decree of
Providence and the ingenuity of man
will fail to take a toboggan slide. Bald
headed men are reasonably safe from
casualty, but one with good crop of
hair will do well TO profit by the exper-
fence of others who mourn the loss OF
their capillary substance and tie their
hats on firmly. 1t is not necessary to
state that all well-regulated and proper
" constructed toboggans are supplied
with mattresses. The latter adjunct
aids one NIGHTLY in forgetting for the
moment that his breath has suddenly
left him, and operates as sort of re-
suscitating agency in "bringing him to-"
BY all means take slide.