Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-15
COMING KIRMES.
A DREAM OF FAIR WOMEN PROMISED IN
DECEMBER.
4 Novel Entertainment Hit Upon by tLs Lady MAJ
aysrs Of the Hospital Internationally
Two Hundred Society People
10 Take Part.

Wheeling is promised a dream of fair
women in December. For the first time
IN the history of the city, the spectac-
llar production, known as the kirmes,
which has created such furore in all
the metropolitan cities in which it has
been produced, will be seen here in all
It's glitter and its glory. This notable
event will be given under the auspices
Of the enterprising ladies in charge OF
the new hospital movement, and II the
same heart and spirit that has charac-
terized their endeayors since the incep-
ton of this worthy object holds sway,
the coming pageant will know nothing
but success.
In view OF the fact that this produc-
ton embraces in its makeup 4 large
body Of the society people Of the city,
there is naturally a
WIDE LOCALINTEREsT
in the affair and many are the enquiries
as to the how, when and where. The
KirmeS is festival that appears To have
been originated among the Dutch.
Oueerly, because the HollanderS are, at
least TO the popular idea, nation of an
intensely practical nature. Their eX-
quiSite cleanliness, their level land, their
windmills and tulips. and COWS. aud big
brooches. and methodical ways. and
thriftineSS. and wooden shoes, are in
and even picturesque, but still
they are hardly people whom one
would think Of as inyenting and pcrpet-
uating carnival of dancing-the kir-
mes.
But the fact remains that the kirmeS
owes its being to the land of the Zuyder-
Zee, and how picturesque the kirmes
is, or rather was, for its glory in these
later days is subdued Somewhat-why
only those who have seen the blue
stockingcd, white-capped frauleinS and
sturdy young HOllanderS throw their
earnest souls into their soles can thor
oughly understand. The exact origin
of the KirmeS seems TO be doubtful, but
authorities on the subject
PRETTY WE'LL AGREE
that il had its conception in the annual
or semi-annual ''hiring fairs" that are
even now feature of HollandiSh rural
life.
Like a good many other things, the
Kirines has been modified and improved
by transportation to this country.
Here but little remains OF its primal
nature except its name and the dane
ing. While the characteristic dances
OF Holland are retained, others have
been added. certain notifications made,
new features introduced and number
of nationalities drawn upon until the
Kirmes nowadays is u kind OF object
lesson on the most picturesque PHRASES
of the life of a dozen countries, the
whole SO arranged as TO form coherent
ballet story.
1t need not be said that the kirmeS,
under its new conditions, is extremely
popular. The next best thing to dane
ing ones self is the witnessing OF good
dancing. Independently, however, oil
the qualification OF ones "dance sense,
n series of brilliant pictures, and grace
ful movements, and pretty faces, framed,
as it were, by good music, cannot be
otherwise than popular. The continuous
success OF the great
PALLETS OF MODERN DAYS
attest this. But the kirmeS Is free from
the features to which good many eX-
celleut people take exception in the case
OF the ballet proper.
When the good ladies of the hospital
movement east about for some novel at
traction in aid of the institution To be-
erected on Forty-tirSt street, they very
wisely concluded to hold kirmeS. 1t
may not be said that this conclusion
was the result Of much discussion aud
good deal Of thinking. But the truth
Of tho old odaga about slow council
and quick good" was manifest in the re-
suit of the deliberations, and commune
cations were opened up with Prof.,
Speedy. of Detroit, who has been Tor
some time arranging a similar festival
in one Of the adjacent Ohio towns.
Like the german the klrmeS adj
nitS of endless notifications. II elas-
ticitv has been taken advantage OF 10y
IN, promoter, aud tine result is that no
two Of the entertainments are precisely
alike. Broadly speaking, the kirmcS
of the moment is series Of national
and fancy dances interSpcrsed with
tableaus
AND CpNCEET MOVEMENTS
ON the part Of all the dancers. Given.
Us in the present instance, carte blanc
in the way OF pretty girls and stal"art
Young men. costumes, scenery anu
leisure for rehearSalS. and II will be
seen that the possibilities OF the kirmes
are practically boundleSS.
The participants in the coming ahair.
which i to be held ut the Opera House
two nights and Il matinee just before
Christmas, are all the sons and daught-
ers of prominent Wheeling people. and
consequently the interest that will be
attached to the event VIII be very
strong. Some idea of the magnitude
of this social event may be had from the
fact that nearly two hundred ladies
and gentlemen will take part, in addl-
ton to the directors and chaperons.
One of the delightful features OF the
affair will be that furnished by the
children. who are 10 have special dances
of their own. The tiny performers
will receive special Instruction, and
promise TO furnish
No IMPORTANT PART
of the assured success of the kirmeS.
From the tiny tot of to q up to the
maiden or youth whose l. years SIT
gravely upon them-all will be there.
The dances to constitute the kirmeS,
50 far as outlined, consist Of the stately
minuet. which will be chaperoned by
Mrs. +. c. MofTat: The Fishers Horn
pipe. chaperoned by Mrs. Joseph Met
calf: the GypSey dance, in charge OF
Mrs. j. +. Norman; the HollanderS,
in charge Of Miss Mary Dickcy; the
Irish dance. in charge of Mrs. Robert j.
Reed. The Spanish dance will be
i'm charge Of Miss Sue Metcalf, and the
BABY Nation by Mrs. PEBBLES Tatum.
The Dance Of the Seasons will be re-
hearSed and conducted by Miss Mary
Frcw. aud the American dance iSin the
hands OF Miss Emma Stamm. One OF
the pretty features Of the kirmeS will
be the execution of the Highland Fling,
bv Miss Fannie Wheat, daughter OF
MIR. and Mrs. George X. Wheat. At
the meeting of the lady managers, yes
terday afternoon, il was also decided to
Introduce another very Interesting
dance. the Indian Moon Dance. This
will be conducted by Mrs. Rev. DR.. Il.
L. Swope.
Thor, will alSo be other dances intro