Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-10-25
The Grand Carnival.
First Night Of the Mer-
chants Pageant.
A GORGEOUS SPECTACLE.
The March and Military DriII--.A
Great Number OF Young Ladies In
Novel. Beautiful and Picturesq ne
Costumes---The Musical Entertain
m ent Tonight.

scene OF grandeur. mirth and merriment
an evening of entertainment never to be
forgotten. and the long herslded Mer.
chants carnival had seen its opening
night.
A stranger dropping into the Rock Is
land rink unswares after 9 o'clock last
night. could scarce refrain from imagin.
ing that he had suddenly burnt upon the
harmless insane department If some ri.
gantic insane asylum. Here was one
girl who had apparently jas. been run
through the grinding processes of saw
mill with the shavings and chips still
sticking to her. and surmounting all that
representation of q minia .ure house
handsomely carved and brilliantly ilun--
mated. There was another who had all
the appearances in the world of having
been, but moment before fist ed out of a
bakery. and the scent of doughnuts and
crackers chung 10 her still. Another was
around with dog collar nee slaces and
bracelets. dress dangling with steel
nails and dog chain ornaments with a
scoop for head gear. Another appeared
with coal shovel looking lii Ajax de-
| Tying the Curculio. Another Was decked
from head to foot with go d watches,
precious jewels and stones. which gilt
tered beneath the bright rays IF Liberty's
electric light in dazzling ina lner. Here
was girl who appeared to have Just
passed through 4 printing press without
being badly pinched, and had been trans
formed into daily newspaper
with the aroma of clover, sunshine
and spring poetry about her Another
would remind one, keenly, perhaps, of
the items which make up the monthly
grocery bill. Another was clad 10 rich
fabric. and much that was more or
nsmentsl than useful represented Now
comes one representing with much more
grace than male figure could show. the
elegance of gents furnishings. And
yonder is one that might be naturally
weighted down with the hug, safe with
which she ornaments her head decors-
ton. There. too, is one
WHOSE CROWN SLITTERs
with gold pens and other ornaments
Another was the ideal of richly pspered
room. Then comes one whose dress is
hung with gided saws of various designs
The folds of snother's dress glittered
with silver horse shoes. With all these
and hundred others equally unique it is
smsll wonder that the stranger could
have the cruel and hesrtless opinion
hereinbefore mentioned. But when one
looked at the bright eyes, the clear faces,
the general expression OF peace on earth
and good will to men-and women, too,
1t could not be concealed that they were
cases of earnest pre- meditation and not
the simless and involuntary acts OF luna
cy.
The building contained large audience
Notwithstanding the unfortunate incle-
ment weather and all anticipa'ions were
far surpassed by the grand spectacle that
presented itself. In all the glare of the
brightly lighted interior and the rays of
Liberty's electric torch. the gr and march
was sight amazing in its richness and
brillisncy as it was unique in is military
msneuyers under command of Sergeant
Hugh Mcdonald OF the Rodman Rifles.
THE DRILL
Shortly after 8 o'clock the gong in the
rear Of the hall announced the entrance
OF the military procession, ard 1t was
military in the strictest sense OF the word.
Militiamen don't give evidence of more
precision and skill. Under the COM
msnd of Sergeant Mcdonald the ladies,
seventy-five in number. entered in
twos. coming from the Armory where
they had ass embed and marched
down on either side to the front of
the hell where the column for ned The
opportunity thus afforded to view the
various costumes simultaneously and note
the taste and skill and the originality OF
IDEAS employed brought forth veil merit |
ed applause. Invariably. Almost. the
ladies carried handsome banners on which |
was inscribed the name of the house rep.
resented. Each representation was an in
dication OF genius. an interesting study.
The entire skating surface Of the rink
was given to the drill, while a the north
side and about half way down the hall
was a neatly designed pedes al around
the base Of which were a number OF in
candescent electric lights and on the top
OF which stood Miss Jennie Wilcox in
purest white, represen ting IN a most
strikingly realistic manner.
LIBERTY ENLIeHTENINe THI WORLD"
Back Of large burner she held re-
Hector in such q manner as 10 throw a
glow over the entire hall and st the same
time to give the appearance as il she
were holding at arms length a torch.
This was the idea OF Davis & Co., of the
Merchants Electric Light company, and
this radiant feature was one IF the most
admired on the floor.
The figures of the drill vert. right and
left open order; right and LETT counters
march; column left; fours eft about;
fours right about, star; right and left
wheeling by platoons; a grand march,
closing with a tableaux in conformity
with the proposition of Editor johnson
of the Union, and which represented the
wooing by Rock Island-represented by
Miss Bertha Copp-of Moline imperson-
ated by Miss Kitty Gest. their union and
blessing by Miss Ella Taylor attired as
the Goddess Of Liberty and representing
the Union. The column formed again
and the pageant was over: a beautiful
sight that deserved in every way the fire.
quent and hearty interruptions of sp-
plause.
Appended is