The herald., 1896-04-22

time, have fallen into disuse, and were
survivals of pagan ceremonial The
last named observance drew for the
Sixth general assembly of the church,
held in the year $50, under Constantine
Pogonatus. a prohibition against 'the
practice of lighting fires in front of the
houses and shops, and jumping over
them at the time of the new MOON"
The fire of carnival is still kept burning,
however, in some parts Of Southern Ger
many.
Many If not most of these curious GUS
toms We're simply survivals of the su-
perstitions peculiar to paganism. and
/ either crept into the primitive Chris
tian church or, as in the specific time ap-
pointed for holding certain feasts, were
adopted and transformed in the bosom
of Christianity.
Venice was especially distinguished
by the pomp and splendor of it's carni-
walls, but at later date Rome, ''the city set
on seven hills" became most prominent
These seasons. during which Reason
abdicated its throne, and Folly reigned,
were recognized as an important ele-
city. It was found that the carnival
promoted trade by inducing large num-
bers of people, foreigners, and provin-
cals. to throng to Rome. AS conse-
quence the government of the Popes
looked leniently OIL the carnival, and in
deed took active steps to encourage the
revelry. There We're EXCEPTIONS. however
Clement TX. objected to the general Ii
cense which characterized carnival time
and used each year to shut himself in
the convent of st. Sabina on the even
tide that he might not witness the
which he could not avoid tolerating.
Clement XII, in 1719-21, issued two apos-
tolic briefs With a view to repressinS
these abuses. and Benedict XIII, follow
ing the example of Clement IX passed
carnival in seclusion in The Dominican
convent of St Sixtus. His successor.
Benedict XIV, in 174S. issued an en-
cyclical later. hoping to moderate evils
which. while not inherent, had become
incorporated in the yearly festival.
Finding that the license gave rise to
much abuse, and not few crimes, Pope
Sixtus V. adopted a drastic remedy. To
populace he had set up sundry gibbets
in several conspicuous places Of the i'm
peral city. as we'll as number of whip
ping posts-the former as hint to rob-
bers and cut -throats, the latter in wait
ing for minor offenders. 1t was Sixtus
also who reformed the evil custom of
throwing dirt and dust flour at passers-
by. permitting only flowers and cori-
andoli. or little pellets the size of pea
! made of plaster of paris, to be used by
the merry maskers in their friendly en-
counters.
At Turin, Milan, Florence and Naples,
the carnival season was observed with
a magnificence second only to Rome.
and at Lisbon. Madrid and Barcelona
the merry making time has also been
kept with many curious ceremonies.
some of which are familiar to the in
dividual country or locality. In every
| instance the carnival has had as an
| underlying principle a religious idea,
but the main purport of each and every
celebration has been the fostering of
good feeling and the advancement of
, trade. In the years compare lively recent
ucSlIc lHc CIVIC
tiles at Nice, Aux le- Bains and other
of the European resorts to observe the
| carnival season, and so many members
of the Latin races. finding a home in
the United States, it followed as nat
ural consequence that the custom should
gain foothold in this country, albeit
divorced from the religious sentiment.
The Mardi-Gras has won fame for New
Orleans throughout the length and
breadth of the land, and st. Louis and
Memphis have fallen into line in the
adoption of q custom that acts as a
stimulus to trade. Some other more
northern cities, too, have carnival sea-
son, and. while successful in financial
way. lack the elemnt of decorous aban-
don that can only be found beneath the
warm sun of a more southern latitude,
and the artistic and Bohemian spirit
that is distinguishing feature where
ever the Latin races are represented In
considerable numbers.
In the sunny southland of California.
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