The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-03-20

though the fine was not increased. Some
Young men who had the misfortune to be
on the market place in the company Of
young ladies were arrested together with
the girls. They were taken to the town
hall where mock marriage was performed
for the very moderate sum Of three marks,
which was also to help the city's poor.
One medical student with big beard
went around with plaster cast of Venus,
Offering her for fifteen pennys kiss.
don't think he had much luck. There
were SO many girls and nice ones too who
would kiss during Fastnatch for nothing
that plaster Venus was quite at dis
count.
THE MAsoERADE.
On Sunday night came the mask ball of
the elite of Bonn. In this connection let
me explain that Sunday in Germany is q
very different day from Sunday in Amer
lea. In America the popular idea is that
a man should be sober and look sober on
Sunday, and if he don't go to church, to
at least look like he had been there and
hadn't enjoyed the sermon. With the e1-
ception Of baseball and the variety stage
| Sunday in America hasn't many amuse-
mcnts. The art galleries and other public
places in our large cities are closed on
the very day when so many people would
have an opportunity to visit them tor
whom on week days it is impossible, and
now to clap the climax it seems that the
| Chicago Worlds Fair is to close it's doors
in the face Of the public on Sunday. Here
Sunday is very different day. Every
| thing in the way Of amusement is the same
as other days, only more so, as the secre-
tarv of legation in Berlin told me. The
people seem to look upon it.as their relig-
ious duty or pleasure at least to enjoy
| themselves to the utmost on Sunday.
There is always something at the theater
here on Sunday and it is never tragedy,
because that would be entirely out ofkeep-
ing with the lusty tone of the day. Hence
the ball on Sunday night, 1t was mask
ball and Of course there was no necessity
for introductions. After the masks were
removed this formality was also dispensed
with The law Of natural selection was
allowed full sway and if fellow saw a
girl that pleased him he had simply to 60
up and say that lie should like to dance
| with her.
A great deal has been written about the
instinct of animals; here's an instance of
the instinct of man. | looked around to
find a figure that pleased me, the faces
being all masked. After while | saw
very pretty little figure that looked like it
could dance nicely. After while | en-
quired if it could speak English and it
said it guessed it could as it was at home
| in Chicago. 1t turned out after the un-
masking to be q very nice, pretty little
American girl. My American instinct
had picked her out Of probably q hundred
and fifty women. The ball was very much
like masked ball anywhere else, only
freer, in that "du" was used and the
given name, when that could be learned.
Otherwise l haven't an idea that the peo-
pie said any more what they meant, or
meant any more what they said than is
usual on such occasions.
PASTURES NEW
On Monday I went with q couple of Ger
man friends to Cologne. There was to be
great street procession Of gorgeousnesS
and splendor. Like all street professions
it was several hours behind time and when
it did come it was not so very gorgeous
after all. 1t would have hidden its face in
the dust for shame could it have seen the
procession of the knights of Mercury in
Louisville, or even of the Yelled Prophet
in st. Louis, or of the Mardi Gras in New
Orleans.
After the procession had trailed It's
weary length away we visited all the Cafes
in Cologne, an affair which required the
whole night until six o'clock the next
morning In all these Cafes the people
were merry and hail fellow wellmet, with
every one. Some were more elegant and
some not at all, but all were good humorcd
and happy. In one Cafe comparatively
early in the evening we met the family of
one of my friends, the old folks, sister,
one or two cousins and number OF
friends. l took one of the girls on my
arm to make a tour of the restaurant to
see what was going ON. We stopped at
all the tables and talked to all the people
that took our fancy. Finally we came to
Il table where there were a number Of
young fellows, evidently acquaintences of
the girl, rs well as two Or three very pretty
girls.
MUSIC OF THE LIPS.
The young fellows fell upon my compan-
ion and began kissing and lugging her at
great rate. My sex was all that pro-
tccted me, for they were very determined.
| blush, to speak of such things as ''hug-
ging" and kissing" but my respect for
the truth drives my unwilling pen.
was trying to pass myself off for Ger
man, SO | perceived at once that my duty
was to apply myself to one of the other
girls, the prettiest one of course, and SO
have my revenge for the liberty which
was being taken with my original COM
panion The girl was pretty and sweet
and seemed quite alive to the liberties and
opportunities Of Fastnacht. But | draw
the veil before the scene, and leave You
to imagine what you would have done had
you been in my place. The fathers and
mothers seemed to look upon it all as a
matter Of course, and were not at all exer-
cised. Every girl with any pretentions
to good looks who went into Cafe in
Cologne had very fair opportunity of
being Rugged and kissed by all manner Of
men; the girls knew it but didn't care if
they were. We took the train at six
O'Clock the next morning for Bonn. AS
we went to the depot We saw any quantity
of people on the street singing and dane
ing, apparently fresh as daises.
On Tupsdov the scene on the market