The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1893-12-29

suits its fancy. Two and sometimes
three bands Of music accompany one
club, large sums of money being spent
in securing the best, from 5000 to 81 900
being not unusual. Gorgeous in rich
costumes, the spectacle presented rivals
the famous Mardi Gras of New Orleans,
the Yelled Prophets and Priests of Pallas
of the far west. The spirit of rivalry
between the different clubs in the en-
deavor each to surpass the others in the
beauty and richness of costume is ram
pant, and thousands of dollars are spent
in dazzling rairaent for the annual one
days strut. The costumers are crowded
to their fullest capacity for six months
making ready for the bewildering dis
play.
The fun really begins at midnight,
when the bell in old Independence hall
announces the arrival of the New Year.
From that until morning the streets are
made lively by scores of clubs, but these
nighttime jewellers wear costumes of the
cheaper sort.
The wonderful extravaganza to which
the different members of the clubs of
shooters" go in procuring gaudy cos
tunes really passes belief. Nearly all
the participants are honest, hardworking
fellows in the humber walks Of life, and
the gratified vanity which comes from
the applause of the multitude does not
mean the savings of month or two to
the paraders, but represents the product of
year of self denial and rigid economy.
At least once week the members OF
the clubs meet and talk over the display
to be made on the next New Years day.
They plot and plan, the one object being
to defeat all competitors. The aggrc-
gate cost of the 1892 parade was not less
than $50, 600, and this vast sum came d.
rectly from the hardest working class III
the city. As soon as one parade is fin
ished the members of each club meet
and talk over the situation. A genera,
| plan of campaign is laid ont, and each
ole binds himself to deposit a certain
sum week, according to the wages
| he earns. Tho average is about dollar
week, and with 200 members this
means COOL start toward procuring an
| other outfit. Rank is determined by the
elaborateness of the costume worn, aud
when once q man gains the position Of
captain his relatives will hardly PER- t
him to be outdone by any other aspirr t
for the great honor, for family pr. g
flows strongly where the ''shooter5'
abide.
The stories of individual sacrifice are
positively marvellous. A few years a%o
young huchster became infatuated with
the idea that he would like to BE- a
shooter" and for four years the youns
fellow worked night and day, il season
and out, to save money for tho greatest
event of his life. The costume he wore
on New Years day was gorgeously mag
nifcent and entitled him to first lieu
tenancy. The making of the suit took
three months, and the elated hEckster,
dressed in a worn and faded suit Ct
clothes, paid the costumer $500 for the
privilege of wearing the costume il the
parade on New Years day. This money
would have gone far toward bnying a
little home for his widowed mother and
four little brothers and sisters, bat
neighbors volunteered the information
that the mother was as pleased ~ heI
son over the prospect, and the children
were kings and queens in a province Of
envious playmates.
Another young man saved up all The
money he could for six years, and made