The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-07
SEASON OF THE CARNIVAL,
Che Wild Ante-Lenten Spirit That Per-
YadaS Peru.
FROLICS OF KERRY MASKERS.
Streets Taken Possession of and Everybody
Bombarded- Grand Farewell to Meat
Before Ash Wednesday.
Correspondence Washington Start

Correspondence Washington Start
ARLoUIrA. PERU, 1891.
Should stranger uuacquainted with the
carnival customs Of Peru chance 10 arrive in
Arcquipa during that mcrriost and maddest
carousal Of the year he would think ;he whole
city had gone crazy. The railway station is
situated IN the suburbs, mile or more from
tho hotels, and there being neither public
pr private carriages he must walk that dis
tncc OF ride upin the horse-cars. Either way
would be bad enough during carnival time,
Int the latter presents the advantage Of some
wat shortening ms misery.
A. prisoners among Savames are sometimes
compelled t. run the gauntlet Of blows ralued
ugr them with th0rus. CudgcIs. ircOand3
O. spear points those abroad m Peru dur
ic tho three days preceding Ash Wednesday
az le.t-d with egg-shclls hurled from all
points Of the compass dcluccd with buckets
a. t.o.l-red water thrown from balconies and
house tops, covered with flour colored IN all
the hue, IF the rainbow. and besides these in
d-rteS are Liable 70 have their noses tweaked,
tl..r hats TANNED over their ears and thou
eall tricks and jokes perpetroted upon them
Is jeerng crowd # cornwall creatures IN
strange attire, many of them with hoOis, horns
and forkcd tails, who look Ike 50 many imps
direct from the internal regions.
HoRsT-cAEs ARE CONVENIENT TARGETS.
The horse-cars passing at rare intervals are
q convenient target from every side. and the
lucklcss passengers cannot take 10 their heels
rs pedestrians might. The drivers. knowing
We'd what 10 expect. are swathed I'm oilcloth
from top TO toe, and each Is additionally pro
t.cted 10y an umbfela-lkc screen rugged up
overhead. but though he whip bis horses TO
their utmost speed. those inside the car are
sure If rather rough treatment. for tine csrul-
yAl players have ample time % prepare their
batteries and turn them full force into the
approaching vehicle.
IT, have realizing sense Of this alleged
sport So like that between the boys and
g.. .roEs-thc reader may imagine tie prncl-
pal streets Of his own city packed with mask
o-s bent On merry mischief people on the
rar,u MS. balconies and house tops excited
t.t CHEST pitch Of ne kless fun with pre-
o..a.t aud custom 70 uphold their widest
ot .e-ers while not only the most staid and
C-r'uei citizens but mlschloyOus small boys
cll.lrrn and servants are privileged to sling
water al lhltum upon anybody. There is no
Use ~ getting angry. however despiteiuiy
used. ior one cannot fight whole city full
and r.thiu. delights the beihgerent- moro
fan % gen hold of victim who RACES and
wants to whip the crowd.
THE FUN LASTS WEEK.
As before mentioned. carnival ends with
Ash Wednesday, and though only two or
Three days are devoted o. street battles the
n
ye4r every household in the land ha. been
clr fully boarding 10, egg shells. with au o.
lr.al view % ca@car1le~ for th.S occasion.
while every seun1lti has lOugci Iupattutlv
i.r Us promised gaietle, and the gallant dous
lave mapped out their campaigns and
s. AIMED their grotcsquc or stunning costumes.
Wat golden oppOriuuitle, these mad Icycls
afford fir the tabO9el lover 10 boldly enter
Tie home ~ bis sweetheart under the
friendly shelter 0f q niu0-even to
Na .IH Z
whisper houeyed words in her ear, right be-
fore tho eyes .t stern pater fanil&s much rs
those warning household, IN old Verona. the
Montague ald Capulets. became SO fatally
mixed ln rf 4sr similar circumstances Dur
i- . 't' lDver-t ncuuraging seas IN there
ar -eutNunhc balls ln every casa. and the
f- youth .gLdei age. too. for trat mat
Z" masked and IL fancy dress 60 around
= l mousse % house, dancing awhile
l'i taking retreshinent IA each-tll
clwniug sends them home for few
hours slumber. The maskers generally
Ierambulate ID companies headed by Il
leader ~ known Responsibility. who dis
closes his own identity - the master OF each
l.use and vOuches for the good conduct OF
ID. followers NO doors are closed against
flem but on the contrary the moro % house
S. thr0nged with various companies If mask
ers. the more It's inmates plume themselves
on being social favortes loung and old join
81 the dance. from the father down 10 tine
children, and 10 Us not uncommon 10 see the
gry-h1rel grandmother swinging around
the saa ln the arms az some unknown young
blood disguised as % Wild Indian. q knight.
lrllre. or Is devil. OF course. cfIlt, ure made
O discover who the guests ally az. and the
Latter disguise their voices 10y adapting tle
l-l.ptoled. sqUeakln- tone OF actors IN
Chinese theatre.
IHF IoUGH-AND-TUMHIE TIME HTGINs SUNDAY.
The rouch-aud-tumble time begins in car
VA o. NJ
Wednesday. the streets are transformed INFO .
apricot pandemouum. and no lady daies .
venture ont between the hours ot l0 s. NJ. .
ta- IN tie afternoon. lhs people are about +
evenly divided into heslcged and be-4egcr,. +
lt1se inside the houses. lur Guiding all females. T.
have prepared barrels. bath tubs and tanks OF .
water. c0lorcd ruby red. While the principal /
weapons oi the begeTeuts are eggs. emptlcd +
10 their original contents through z small hole /
i one end. rehlled with red water. -four OF .
POWDER, and carefully sealed up again with /
cloth OF paper. These are called cascarOnes /
and ono may buy bushels Of them at the /
average rate Of - per hundred.
The great endeayor OF the men in the streets /
IS o. force an entrance into the houses and of /
those inside to keep them ont. Every shop is /
closed, every door locked and window barred, /
and most OF the balconlcs arc partially pro /
tected 10y canyas curtains. behind which the /
besieged NAV dodge when too closely pr, ssed /
The lords OF creation come ON foot and on /
horseback. IN groups. IN battalions and singy /
= lombard with eggs the cdSls OF their lazy J.
friends. who return the fire with interest from .
their house tops and balconies and the gentle
Benorita considers herself most highly cOmpl- .
uented when the greatest number o. eggs
smash square.y in her face. The emlneutly
swell" thing is - go around on hoIs back.
closely followed by servant. also on horse.
carving "a big basket of eggs 4 comparI-
lively recent innovation "a tie way Of water
throwing is tle Use o. enormous tim Syuugcs
or su.rt-gun,. 10y which q considerable
stream may be sent some distance with great
tlle.
ROw THEY GAIN ENTRANCE TO HOUSES.
TIE men endeayOr by every means. forcible
a. trategic. 10 gain entrance 10 the houses.
I.eg bring ladders and climb 10 the bal
comes. or shin up" convenient pillars. or
T-n like cats from root TO roof aud drop down
il,. inner court-yards. or failing IN every
other method. number will retreat few
yards then. starting together on u rum IS If
Houuing battery. Will actually kick or push
= door from It's fastenings once inside, tho
mischief that may be accomplished IN few
minutes Us terrific. the highly eXcitable
PEOPLE becoming perfectly reckless some