Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-02-08
CARNlyALS.
ORIGIN AND POPULARITY OF
"EFELS THE WORLDS OVER.
irst Made Famous by tho Italians
NOW Established Events in
many Lands" Mardi Gras"
and Ice Carnivals.

su'tuoic LOT outdoor sports,
1n winch the light, idle nature. Of the
'tai'an nnds great pleasure.
In Italy carnival time commences each
year on the day following feast of
epiphany, on the eth of January. and
,asts until midnight OF Shroye Tuesday.
lnesc lioman cdrnivals in the oden
time, were not only occasions for.re 20 C.
lnSs and fcstivu but also great sources
Oh revenue to the city, as thousands OF
foreigners annually ilockcd thi;hcr to
witness the festivities, thus materially
INCREASING trade III II | directions. hvcn
ma government did not disduin such
advantages, anl lent aid iu assi,ting the
permanent and regular return of carnival
season atlotlng 10 certain days certain
privileges; the Poop being one day re-
s.ricted to the wearing of gro;esquc
masks and costumes, another to the
throwing of candies and con:iits, while
sun another WAS devoted to races or fine
teats of horscnan>hp.
On Shrovc tuesday, the last day Of
the carnival the streets present IL cu i0rs
appearance, each person carrying in his
han't SINAI! Ii ;htcd taper. and each one
trying. by waving oil hands and liappn NO
oi handkcrchicls. to eXtuguish the
liSht OF his nci.hbor In this sport all
Glasses of society DIN. the grave and
the reverend seignor and 1.-The daughter
oil an bundled carIs' battling in mimic
warfare with The simple peasant or the
basket maker. AT midnight, amidst
great pomp a:d The shouts and tumut
OF vast concUm. ST ui people, the carnival
is ended by the burning of II colossal
hgnrc, supposed 10 be the carnival itself,
and us the lcntcu season is now come,
quiet soon reigns over the city.
In years gone bya fierce rivalry existed
between Venice aud iIomc in reference
TO these fc;es, and the former city put
forth every mduccmcmt possible 10
attract visitors, one great feature of the
Venetian entertainment being the bcauti-
iul and impressive ceremonies which
every year attended the wedding of the
PDoSe to the blue Adriatic, IL solcmnty
typical of close union and the control
OF the land over the sea; from this for
maiity did Venice become known as the
Bride of Sea. Turin, Milan, Florence
and Naples also held carmivals and We'd
with each other in presenting attractive
programmes, all with tho same objec
i. C., The greed Of gain. However, the
glory has departed from many OF these
places and carnival" ha, c in nearly all
Instances de%cncralcd into mere money
making speculatinus.
Among modern carnivals, probably
none is more famous than the New Or
leans "Mardi Gras," which, like the
Roman festival, also takes place on tho
day preco ing cnt, which is shrovc
Tuesday. This day has long bcena legal
holiday there, and the city wears the
most splendid appearance of fcstivi,y,
large sums OF money being spent annually
IN pref a;a,i0ns Tor this great event.
'Alaidi Gas WAS inaugnrmtcd by The
French in 1872, and its celebration was
originally confined to them, but now all
Join in the ceremonies.
There are two principal rageauts.
The first of these is the triumphant
march of lick" through the streets.
His approach is hc.aldcd by trumpets
and bands OF music, and as his magniii-
pccnt rctinuc draws near, the people
,kneel in icigned humility to their king,
liant uniforms and flashing arIns, is ac-
coutcred in all the habiliments of royalty.
The second pageant, which occurs at
night, is called "The Mystic Krcwe of
Comus," and is n strililngly beautiful and
wonderful affair, consisting of tableaus
drawn on large, brilliantly illuminated
floats representing scenes from well
known classic poems or interesting
events in the worlds ancient or medern
history, such as THE Had" .Paradise
Lost" Audubon and His Birds"
1'.occnes from Ancient Scripture" etc
These tableauX display great taste and
ingenuity, and deep understanding OF
the works of literature and science, com
bined with wonderful skill in arrange
mcnt. An additional interest is lent this
pageant from the fact that the 'whcnce
and whether" Of the participants, and
also the originator, is wrapped in mys-
terry; the bcwildcring scene appears
regularly on carnival day. and mt the
close of the festivities mysterously van
ishcs, leaving not rack behind, and
successfully battles all attempts to dis.
cover its authorship or whereabouts
The fcte ends with grand ball. where
for the beauties that surround his throne,
"heX" chooses n queen, who shares for
the evening the greatness of her royal
consort.
a series of entertainments that attract
widespread attention are those held ut
Montreal i'll January or February, and
form what is known as the "Ice Car
nival." Naturally the sports and oaycties
of this region of ice and snow would
differ materially from those IN the semi.
tropic climates of Italy and Louisiana.
but are perhaps none the less enjoyable
for the difference. Skating parties
ltqbogganing AMI sicign.n. 81; some Of
the amusemcnts of the Lanad ali carnival
the principal feature OF which is thc
storming Of tile Ice Palace, a beautiful
example of ingenious architecture, built
entirely of blocks of ice. About two
miles from the city is huge hill called
Mount Ecal-lrom which the town de.
rived is name-and on this mountain
assembled the die ont snow shoe clubs,
which. at u given signal, march down to
attack the castle. 1t is n weiId and
pretty sight to see these bcsicgcrs fling
silently through the streets of the city,
their ilaring torches casting ruddy lights
Upon surrounding objects, and OCCASION
ally bringing INTO view some smiling
face, or the forebidding frown of some
gloomy brow.
In the meantime the palace has been
brilliantly lighted from within, and
now presents the appearance of an cnor-
in f1,o ~.