The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-03-07
IN NEW YORK.
Gothamites Hold High Carnival
\ "Fat Tuesday"-Dancing, Feast
ing and Hilarity M
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS TO THE NRws.


and conditions of people, from the -Four Hun
dred on Fifth avenue to the toughs ON the
Bowery.
Mardi Gras signifies in literal French "fat
Tuesday" the last day before lent, and its OBJ
servation means to crowd enough enjoyment
into the day to last all during lent, the forty
days Of penance.
There was no public demonstration here
answering to the Mardi Gras Of New Orleans
the observances being confined to the night
and consisting of festivities galore; recherche
balls, balls a Ia masque, dinners, suppers,
dances and unique parties.
II was indeed "fat Tuesday" what In COM
mon porlance would be styled a wide open
night in the face of police reform and DIR.
Parkburst. Saloons and restaurants which
usually close at 12 o'clock kept open all night,
and all night places put on an extra corps Of
walters to accommodate the crowds Of merry
makers who swarmed in and out until the
dawn of day.
Every public hall in the city was in demand
for dance of some sort and from many pri-
vate residence glimpses Of the happy dancers
could be seen through the sheer curtains.
The midnight air was laden with snatches
of music the sound of voices and the tripping
of dancing feet, reminding me of the lines of
that thrilling poem: "There was sound of
revelry by night"
M'ALLIsTER WAS NEVER MISSED.
The Four Hundred made merry on Mardi
Gras night with gorgeous ball at Sherry's,
Mrs. John Jacob Astor leading the cotillion
with Mr.. Elisha Dyer, Jr. and amidst all
of the glitter and glamour the formerly indis-
pensible social leader Ward McAllister, was
never missed.
COUNT cAsTELLANE's PARTY.
Another social feature umong ultra fashion
ables was the bachelor farewell dinner given
at the Waldorf by Count Boni de Castellane,
who is to wed the fifteen millions of Anna
Gould and receive two millions dover. The
dinner was characterized by its simple ele-
gance and quite ostentation, and was most
dignifed as well as informal and brilliant.
The friends of the Count pronounce him a
most charming, lovable and desirable parti for
the rich heiress and deny the report that the
marriage is one of convenience, an exchange
of money for title.
Each guest was presented with souvenir
diamond scarf pin by the Count and wit, wine
and diamonds We'd with each other in spark
ling. The feast closed by the Count gathering
handfuls Of American beauty roses from the
table, dipping them in wine and throwing the
intoxicated petals at his friends who caught
the blossoms amid shouts of approval.
In spite of the Gould's millions they have
never been accepted by the Four Hundred; of
course they have some friends among them,
but they have never succeeded in receiving
social recognition. 1t is another case of the
application of the second commandment, the
sins of the father visited upon the children.
Even in his death, Jay Gould's record for
trickery, dishonesty and rascality in all of his
methods, is neither forgotten nor forgiven.
DIsTINcTIvELY METROPOLITAN.
A public Mardi Gras ball, one of those dis
tinctively New York functions, where mat
rons, wives and maidens mingle with the
demi.monde, was brilliant affair at Madison
Square Garden. Nobody knew his neighbor
and nobody cared and identity was lost among
the multitude of masqueaders.
ITALIANS EN MAsQUE.
At Lenox Lyceum another large and popular
place for public entertainments, the representa-
tive Italian citizens of New York gave most
elaborate and festive ball a Ia masque. The
dancing hall was elaboately decorated with
their national colors, Italian and American
flags festooning archs and doorways and yards
of bunting, and fringe forming labyrinth OF
color on dome and walls.
The bail opened at ten o'clock with grand
march, the procession headed by picturesque
sleigh laden with favors indicative of carnival
times and drawn by ten or dozen cupids.
All nationalities and all ages were repre-.
sented in the costumes: Greeks, Spaniards,
Germans, Sweeds, Poles, Gypsies, tamborine
girls, gods, ,goddesses, soubrettes, nuns, clowns,
priests, beggars, tramps, Napoleon, Washing
ton, Marie Antionette, Josephine, Madam Saus
Gene, red ridinghood, COW boys and local
politicians marched side by side. At the end
of the march favors were distributed, including
harlequins. pouchinmes, ribbons, flowers and
gew-gaws and then the whole molly mass
mingled in mazy waltz producing under the
intense glare of the electric lights, perfect
symphony in color. Then followed the court
minuet of the First Empire, the Spanish dance,
the Sailors hornpipe and all manner of wierd
and picturesque Italian dances. complicated bu
exceeding graceful.
In one dance they danced straight around
the hall to march time executing all manner OF
fancy steps in perfect time A perfect idea OF
rythm impressed me as being peculiarly ma.
tional characteristic, among this nation of mu-
sicians and music lovers.
1t is singular thing how few Americans
have any idea of rythm in melody or dance
They invariably start to dance on the down
beat instead of the up beat of measure and
will go through whole waltz without ever
once catching the time. Time can be learned
but rythm has to be born in you.
HoPELEssLY TANGLED.
Another national game and dance which
created great amusement was conducted by
about fifty young Italians. They had rope
about half the size of the floor with which they
formed circle, keeping everybody inside
without actual violence. When the people
were crowded as closely together as possible
each man snatched an unwilling partner and
they danced around the room still holding to
the rope until they were tangled in a
hopelessly intricated mass When the
ball was at its gayest, the room was
showered with coufette, which dropped down
on the heads of dancers and produced great
merriment. Trilby and DR.. Parkhurst were
both at the ball, both being very popular sub
jects for masque at present DIR. Parkhurst did
not dance, but went about peering into the
boxes among the spectators and taking notes
from the dancing floor The simmer room WAS