Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-21
ANTWERP'S STREET SHOWS
They Are Numerous and Receive Official
Encouragement.
The Elaborate Historical and Mytho-
Take q Second Place.
Correspondence Of The Evening Star.


1t is always interesting to observe the
ways in which people amuse themselves
and note the things which make them
laugh. The Belgians are usually regarded
as belonging to a stole, phlegmatic race,
thinking mere of gain than play. and look
ing upon amusements as too expensive
That may have been their characteristics
years ago. but now they are otherwise.
probably because of their more intimate
relations with France, or their growing
intercourse with the peoples of the world
At all events, the Antwerpian of today can
always find time for a days holiday, does
not regard 1t as a great loss If he quits
work for an hour to wait for a procession.
and is ever ready to go to a concert IL he
can get a glass of beer included in his
or Accent admission.
The greatest events in Antwerp and those
which interest the entire population are the
professions. In fact no ceremony seems
quite complete unless IL begins or closes
with a parade of some sort, and as in the
United States. the man In front is envied by
hundreds of onlookers. There are process
sions by day and professions by night;
secular and religious military and ecclesi-
astical, historical and mythical, and some
times a general aggiomeration Of all. In
all except the religious there is an element
of competition with prizes of varying value
for the more beautiful, original or exten-
slve.
Those which attract the most attention
are what we would call torchlight pro-
cession, but here enjoy the more eupho-
NOUS appellation "cortege aux lumeres"
The latter is all the more appropriate since
the typical torch does not come into use,
while other lights of all kinds are employ
ed, especially the calcium light and cleo
tricity. There are here a large number Of
societies or clubs having as their primary
object the cultivation of good fellowship
or perhaps the preservation Of the Flemish
language, but secondary function is 10
participate in The prize competition.
The Elaborate Floats.
The direction in which ingenuity seems
to direct itself is in devising enormous
floats representing In allegory some his
toric event or well-known myth. Frequently
as many as twenty persons will assist in
the representation, which. with all the ac-
cessories, electric light appliances and
frame work, makes a load for six or eight
strong horses. Fortunately antiquarian
studies thrive in Antwerp under the in
spring influence of two or three vigorous
societies, and hence great care is exercised
IN having the costumes historically correct,
and wherever history is depicted calcium
lights are used IN order to avoid the shock
that would result in the employment of the
epoch deranging electricity. During this
summer. when four lights were needed in
| order to give all Of the contestants an OPP
| portunity to pass IN review. the highest
prize was two hundred and fifty dollars.
In the religious parades the main object
seems to be to place on exhibition the
| riches of the church or society. and these
riches find their opponents in vestments,
insignias ard emblematic standards.
Each summer, in CIDER to attract visitors
| &C Antwerp the city authorities appropriate
| certain sums of money which are given TO
organized societies visiting the city. They
| are not given as gratuities, but, as usual. in
the shape of prizes. and, in order TO in
crease the number of competitors, the con-
ditions for winning are various. For in
stance, the society which came the greatest
distance received a cash prize, as did the
largest society. the Oldest, the one having
the largest band. etc. etc, the only re-
quirements demanded being that they AL
nounce their arrival upon reaching the city
and parade through tie principal streets.
| This is the basis of what Is here called the
permanent festival, and although the total
appropriation this year was only twenty
five hundred dollars still IL, together with
the exposition, sufficed TO bring to Ant
werp large number of societies. II should
be stated that all time their visit SO as to
be here over Sunday. The average number
of societies spending Sunday in the city
since the LIST Of June is forty-five. while on
one day-the first day OF the kirmes-the
number reached four hundred and five
The city authorities are wise. for they
know that parading and blowing rake men
hungry and thirsty, and food and drink are
at the basis of the city's commercial ac-
for once a year all the school children pas
in review before the mayor and his advis-
Crs, and IL continues until the veteran is no
longer able to keep step with his comrade
in the celebration OF some victory of the
long ago.
The Military Purades Secondary.
For some reason. the military do not at
tract the attention that they receive at
home. Perhaps 1t is because one sees so
many uniforms. and each youth looks with
anxiety upon the time when he must decide
by lot IL he is to serve his time or play at
soldier once a week for an indefinite time.
However, the soldiers are not wholly ex-
empt. On certain occasions they must pa
rade, especially on the national day. July
-. This year il rained on the days set
apart for the military review-one day for
the volunteers and one for the regulars
The former were required TO perform their
part while the latter were excused-it was
said that the reason must have been that
the volunteers owned the uniforms they
wore.
During kirmes week there is n concentra-
ton of festivities, and. although its primal
purpose is lost sight OF. still there is notice
able az that time an all-pervading feeling of
good nature ant good humor. During this
week, by way of a survival of am old GUS
tom, the lame, the halt and the poor in gem
eral are allowed to beg. For few DAYS it
lo ohs as though the almshouses were opened
and the inmates required to lay by in store
ltie entire tnliuren take 2lNlnt-
age of this general license, and wheneye. a
half dozen or more are able to procure
colored cloths. quaint costumes or even
gew-saws made of fancy paper ana a drum
or whistle they march about with one dele
gated TO beg for money. The reason for the
solicitation is not given, nor does the casual
contributor care. This year the Midway and
especially the wild west show have given
the motifs for a large proportion of the
juvenile masqueraders.
The Localized Ectes
There is an interesting species of localized
fete here; localized in place as well as time
In passing along a quiet street one may
come suddenly TO a section i'm which every
house faunts to the breeze. perhaps from
each window, flag: or, if il be at night
candles burn there as WELL The first
thought is that these inhabitants have Just
remembered some important saints day,
and that the recollection will come to their
neighbors later in the day. However before
any satisfactory conclusion is reached the
tagged houses will have been passed and
the region of undecorated buildings reached
After while one learns the reason for
this display of bunting. and il one can read
Flemish the exact cause can be known
For stretched across The street at the be-
ginning and end Of this favored locality
there will be a sign, and on it, in the lam
guage of the city. will be painted the state
Inent that SO and SO has received such and