The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-27
CARNIVAL EN- MASQUE
VISIONS OF ENCHANTMENT At THE
MAENNERCHOR FESTIVAL.
Thousands Applaud the Prince and
Princess-Society Out fin Force
Costumes-Fairy Fancies.

uens, erraceS ana lake, upon Whlch
gracefully fioated Venetian gondola, was
what the stage at Tomlinson Hall repre-
scented last night. Over the archway of the
main terrace, which set out full upon the
stage. were the words die Sage" the
legend, which. with the heavy throne chairs
and the massive iron gates leading into the
park, was almost sufficient to make one
think he was in Germany instead of in the
purely American city of Indianapolis. The
occasion of all this splendor was the masque
carnival given by the Maennerchor Society.
1t was the first the society has ever given,
but will not be the last. When the idea
was conceived the society determined that
this event should eclipse any social affair
that has been given In this city in the past,
and how well it succeeded can only be
told by those who were present last night.
The immense stage of the hall was ap-
parently converted into miles and miles Of
mountains and parks. with an old feudal
castle occupying the summit of a distant
peak. In the foreground was a large ter
race extending out upon the stage, with
steps leading up either side. Through
the main arch of this terrace could be seen
the pathway leading, by winding route, UP
to the castle. several miles away. Between
the stairways and directly under the main
archway were massive iron gates, of
which stood partly open, showing lake
in the distance upon which a
gondola gracefully f1oated. To the
left of the main terrace was
other. leading into deer park, only part
Of which could be seen. On the right was
a small, but massive-appearing stone build
ing in which the lodge keeper and his fam
lily lived. The entire scene was a perfect
representation of castle of the feudal
days Of the middle ages which, with the in
scription, die Sage meaning the legend
was In perfect keeping To make the IL
fusion more perfect and to aid in transport
Ing one, in his imagination, back several
centuries in the wheel of time and give the
whole affair the appearance of courtly
ball of the middle ages, two massive throne
chairs were placed on a platform in front
of the main terrace, from which the prince
and princess of the evening watched the
merry-making Of their guests The scenic
effort was success, even beyond the ex-
pectations of those who were directly in
terested in it.
Scene of Enchantment'' was the title
of the first spectacle on the programme for
the Maennerchor carnival last night and if
was well named. The whole of Tomlinson
Hall was scene of enchantment. The cor
r1dorS were covered with white canvas and
the windows and the walls were shielded
with soft folds of white carleton fastened
with bright colored bows. The doors lead
Ing to the corridors were festooned with
green vines and red berries and lighted by
five colored electric lights. The merry
maskers passing to and fro in the corri-
doris made picture at each opening The
galleries were filed with the youth and
beauty OF the city, In one section were
Governor Matthews and niece, Miss Nc
Mechen, Mayor and Mrs. Denny and Miss
Denny. Near them was a special party
given by Mr.. and Mrs. F. G. Darlington
who had with them Mr.. and Mrs w. F..
c. Colt, Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt Rowland, Mr..
Wallace Krag and Mr.. Charles NJ Reyn-
olds. Filling every available seat were men
and women all in evening costume Many
of the ladies carried punches of flowers
and with the decollete gowns of all colors
sparkling jewels. bright eyes and animated
manner. each group blended with the gen.
eral picturesque appearance Of the hall.
The broad face of the gallery was decor
colored rugs and throws, and fancy orna-
ments of various kinds. High in the upper
appropriate to the occasion. The effect was
one rarely seen and apt to be remembered
entertainments ever given in a the ui. nitv
With the beauty of the scenery on the
stage stage, brilliantly illuminated with electric
lights placed behind the flies and CAV cos
tunes 1t seeme0 more like reading a fairy
tale than being actually present in the
numerous, their lords, in all the trappings
OF velvet, gold and plumes. were their COM
he the Of bsrfv Of
flower girls laden with blossoms, clowns and
M eep stdsn music and art schoolboys col
grand medley, promenaded the corridors,
marched IN the professions and danced and
sung made FUN for the lookers-on PLAYED
hundreds of antics, never ITO be thought Of
much less DONE. when in the conventional
to be any more or any less than the char
acter represented. Every one went for a
Was no Need an o w ssH ons mad It There
Were bellies and all the men were beaux
s,n as opening min Of the carnival shovel the
| of the best known fairy tales. such as
nurse tells the children before putting them
| TO bed. We're exemplified in fitting man
| ner The first was the enchantment scene.
| which could hardly be classed among the
legends of olden times. Two little chill
| dren, at the command of the fairy by a
wave of her wand, came slowly down the
steps and viewed the castle and surround
wand disappeared.
The next was, the well-known story of
wheel behind the heavy iron doors, spin
ming max; The fairy that brought her the
the ball. the most elegantly attired and
most beautiful of all the fair maids in at
| about the only way possible tofcharacterize
| such scene. The old story of PUSSY in
/ Boots, and the mischief which necessarily
! followed was we'll represented by man
costumed to represent cat OF the tiger
| stripe variety. with an immense head and
/ large, wise-looking eyes. He first appeared
over the balustrade of the main terrace
| He then came down on the stage, and with
| cat-like movements approached a man
| dressed to represent a female circus rider
| who was racing madly around the hall on
bicycle, and grabbed him around the
| waist and carried him off to his lair
| Bluebeard was up to date in every partic-
| ular. The old fogy idea of having the wife
| carry the key about with her for several
| hours. while debating in her mind whether
| she should open the fatal door, was elm
| mated from last nights presentation of it,
1t was also deemed more plausible for the
| present day and age to have some daring
| hero rush In at the proper moment and res
| cue the wife, who was about to lose her
| head only to have it placed among the
| collection in the fatal secret Chamber
| Bluebeard and his wife appeared and he
| gave her the key with all the motions
| which would imply injunction to re-
| frain from allowing her curiosity to get the
better of her, and also signifying the dire
calamity which would befall her If she dis
obeyed his Injunction He had not fairly
gotten out of sight before. womanke she
was at the door trying the key. Just to see II
1t would fit. The door opened. and she
went in. coming out again In a moment
She had rrrItK l.