The Forrest City times., 1889-12-07
A FOOLS PARADISE.
\ Carnival at Which was Always Plenty
 of Material for Fun.

Day.
 Tho little town of Stockach. in Baden. which has barely 2,000 inhabitants, en- joys the peculiar title of "Deutsch- lands Narren Residenz" is, the German court Cor capitaD of fools. says Casselrs Saturday Journal. The name originated in the privilege aeA corded to the town By letters patent and exercised for centuries, of holding annually at carnival time public fools assize, at which all the follies committed by the people of the town and vicinity were made known and held up to public ridicule. According to local tradition Stockack was the birthplace of Hans Kuoni, jester to Leopold, the brother of Albert the Wise, erohduke of Austria Just be- fore the battle of Morgarten, in 1915, the man in motley was asked to express his opinion of tho plans of tho cam- paign, which had been adopted in his presence. II ns shock his cap and bells and answered: Your speeches please mo little, my m asters. for you only think and debate how you shall enter the enemy's territory, but take no thought how you shall leave it." The battle took place, beopold's forces were d.feated and escaped death almost by miracle. Then the Arch duke Albert, 'because the fool had been wiser than all his brother coun- sellers" gave him the right ito sit in judgement upon the wisen annually in his native town, and granted many pri- vileges nnd immuuities to this "fools court" This peculiar tribunal. which met even in the present. century, was composed of the "father of fools" as president, and an unlimited number of fool councillors" as associates. The members of the court mot in January to select thc cases to be presented to the court and to arrange the program for the subsequent festival of fools. These preliminary meetings took place In a tavern called the Fools inn and distinguished by a special shield or tablet on the outer wall On thc Srn- day before Shrove Sunday the fools clerks, in fantastic garb. drove through the town in a carriage drawn by four horses attended by negro footmen and outriders, and loudly notified the at tentive, and in many casos anxious. in- habitants that such and such cases would he presented to the court to ba held on the approaching Shrovc Tues day. On the succeeding Thursday stout pole was solemnly erected near the fools fountain in the middle Of tho town. This fountain, under which the original documents relating to the es- tabishment of the fools court were buried. stood in the middle of tho street until 1858. when 1t was moved to another position. When tho docu- ments were eXhumod they were found to be almost illegihle. Tho fools court, being hastily convened resolved to bury tho dofaced manuscripts again under the new foundation of tho fouu- tain. This was done with appropri- ate ceremonies. aud tho old documents 10 which was added statement of the circumstances Of their discovery. signed by all the members Of the court. remain buried under the fountain to this day. The polo erected by the fountain bore board inscribed The Fools Genealogical Tree"
 Shrove Sunday and Monday we're given over to tho young fools.n or tho children. who marched through the street in fantastic dress, as they did, and still do. in many other places. Meanwhile number of the boys main tained sort of watch at the fools tree. and. with ear-splitting noises ana blows of whips, drove away all corners who were not fantascally attired In reward for this service each urchin re- ceived m immense fools cake On the eagerly awaited Shrovo Tuesday, at 10 o'clock in the morning. the members of the court assembled on great plat form in the open air. and the judicial proceedings were begun. Tho fools prosecutors made their satirieal accusa- tions. and the persons convicted of folly. when their crimes had been described werc punished by having their names entered in the book of fools. No one was spared. The guilty ones. without distinction of person. were publicly ridiculed and enrolled among tho fools. Protestations were of no avail. and whoever ventured to criticise the sentence of the court. OF to speak in favor of the convicted fools. was declared to be n fool himself, and his name was put on she roll When all tho cases had been disposed of process sion. headed by tho council Of fools. marched through tho streots. pausing frequently. especially before the houses of the convicted persons, 10 read aloud tho sentence of the court. to tho gre st delight oi the populace. The sentence was also afilxed to the doors of the criminals houses, Then began tho festival Of fools. tho program of which included lively theatrical representa- tion for the populace. banquet at the Fools inn. and another banquet and dance In tho evening. On the next day, Ash Wednesday. at o'clock in the afternoon, the council again assem- bled before the Fools inn to bury their folly. At tho head of tho procession came two young folk bearing immense keys--the keys to the realm of folly. Next came tho fools guard, carrying parti- colored and decorated staff. on the top of which was tho bust of Hans Kuoni. He was followed by two fools treasurers. who bore an ancient carved chest containing the books of fool and the records of the court Then came the father of fools. usually the oldest male inhabitaut of the town. The rest of the fools followed. walking two end two. with bowed heads and in silence. like attendants at n funeral. When the procession had reached the fools tree IL marched around 1t three times and then dispersed. and the reign of folly was over for that year.