The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-03-20
KISSING AT A CARNIVAL,
oac of the Big Stone Gap Boys Does the
German Act In Fine Form.
QUICK TO CATCH ON
Correspondence of the Post,

(CorreHpondence OF the fOSt.}
The carnival on the Rhine is q thing of
40 many peculiarifies that your inteili-
gent readers will probably be interested
in hearing Of it. The carnivals in Venice
and in Rome, at least, are quite we'll known
the world over; but to hear Of the carni-
val in Cologne and on this portion of the
Rhine, one has to come to Germany. And
then it is to be said that the carnival in
Cologne is as famous in Germany as the
carnival in Venice is famous the world
over.
To 60 back to the beginning Of things,
it seems that Italy is the home of the
carnival, from which it has wandered in
to France, Spain, Austria and Germany.
It is the outgrowth of the old Roman
feast, the "Saturnalia," which was cele-
brated yearly, in honor of Saturn, who
was looked upon as deity, whose especial
business it was to see that the seeds came
no. that the crows didn't cat them all, and
that the grain came to the ripening with
out being attacked by the rust.
When Christianity came along it
found the people in Italy still celebrating
the "Saturnalia," and further, that the
feast was so dear to the people that 1T was
not lightly to he suppressed; hence the
fathers of the church concluded to do the
prudent thing. They said: "My children,
to-day you may eat, drink and make
merry, but tomorrow you must fast. 7"
the people have been eating, drinking
and making merry on this occasion ever
since, because they like to eat, drink
and make merry; but they have been
fasting the forty days every year less and
less, because they don't like to fast.
The "Fastnacht" carnival along the
Rhine embraces the three days, Sunday,
Monday and Tuesday, preceding Ash
Wednesday. It has been named not in
appropriately the "Foolsfeast," because
for the three days every sort of nonsense
is INDUCED in; no one thinks OF work,
the sole and complete duty of every indl-
yidual being to eat, drink, dance, sing and
commit as many ridiculous follies as pos
sible AS might be OWNED, the chieiest
Of all these duties is to drink. Every one
regards the rest of humanity, known and
unknown, as good fellows, as brothers,
sisters, uncles and aunts; the familiar
"du" is used, and the first name, even by
the very best people that are to be met at
the most fashionable ball in Bonn.
had the pleasure Of becoming &C
quainted with Lieschen and Phinchen,
Aenchen and Paulchen, etc. said "du'
to them, and took the further liberty of
being as free as | chose in my
speech; they were nice girls, too, but were
not offended, and called me "Jim,'' with
the prettiest sort of German accent.
What their real names are, lavc no
conception, nor does it matter for the
purpose Of this description. My German
friends talked great deal about the APP
preaching 'Fastnacht," and made many
preparations for it. My curiosity and ex-
pectancy being aroused, | concluded that
the best way TO become thoroughly &C
quainted with "Fastnacht" was to edo"
the thing myself. We took sort of run
ming start and began Oh the Thursday
preceding. did the affair SO thoroughly
that l didn't get to bed on Thursday,
Friday and Saturday nights until
o'clock in the morning; on Sunday, trifle
later, on Monday, at o'clock Tuesday
morning; on Tuesday, at half past six the
next day. These sound like somewhat
late hours, but really was more moderate
than most of the brethren. l am firmly
convinced that many didn't go to bed at
all for week.
GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS.
At twelve o'clock Saturday night the
official carnival began. We, q number OF
German students and myself, repaired to
the largest and most fashionable Cafe in
Bonn to see the ball beg in to roll Shortly
after the clock struck twelve there appear
ed q quantity Of masks and carnival cos
tunes; two or three student bands, Il few
students dressed up as girls, one in low
neck and short sleeves, and so tlckllsh
The Cafe soon became jainmed; the flow
of spirits natural and artificial ever in
creased, and in short time q perfect
pandemonium ensued Bands were play
ing, men were singing, girls were scream
ing, tables were upsetting, glass was
breaking, hats were being Knocked oft and
down over heads, everybody was address
ing his neighbor in as familiar way as if
they were alta gigantic number of twin
brothers; and throughout the best of good
humor There is popular impression
that a great deal of good wit is turned
loose OH the public here at Fastnacht; but
so far rs / could make out, the wit was
generally of the hat knocking off variety.
The next day, Sunday, the carnival had
come in earnest. Many Of the houses
were made gay by display Of bright
colors. The streets we're full of people,
men, women, children, in masks and all
kinds of ridiculous costumes. Hans
Wurst, the clown, was very plentiful
animal The students, or o great many
of them, were dressed in rough sort Of
blue shirt, with red neckerchief, as the
peasants here clothe themselves. The
more dignifed, to which number belong
ed, contented themselves with wearing q
fez of some bright color. The market
place, where the town hall stands, was the
center towards which all steps turned.
This square was filled with all kinds,
ages and sexes, while in the windows APP
peared the faces of the ladies Of the up
per classes. With q great hullobaloo
there came first long line Of students,
dressed as peasants and preceded by q
band of students organized into q musical
corps. With the greatest gravity they
assembled the town hall steps, then turned
and faced the crowd below, and at the
word from the leader the band struck up
and the whole line broke into q song.