, 1896-11-20
THEIR OPENING NIGHT.
ING THE ANNUAL KIRMESS
FESTIVITIES.
Something of the Origin of the Term
In Olden Time the Church Took
Charge of the Occasion and 1t Was
Made a Week of Thanksgiving
An Operetta Tonight.

The annual festival which has come
to be known as the 'kirmess' was be-
gun by the Maenucrchor society last
night with the usual ceremonies. What
people on the face of he earn can en-
joy themselves socially in a truer sense
than the Germans? With an entire
absence of ostentation Or formality
they gather together, throw off all
straight-lacCd restraint and go in for a
coed time Such is the nature of the
German entertainments in Laramie.
"kirmess' means churchmass. In
Clden times it was the custom in Ger
many. more particularly the southern
portion. to have a general celebration
gathering OF the harvest. md in these
festivals the churhc in that day tool
the lead, hence the name church
mass" Gradually the church domina-
ton was eliminated from the celebra-
ton and the "kirmess' came to be
known as a bottle of wine, symbolic Of
the garnered harvest. In the thickly
settled portions Of Germany several
towns joined in one great festival.
Some person is selected in one of these
to find the kirmess and all assemble at
the village to enjoy themselves. coming
from many miles around. y monster
procession is formed and search for the
mythical blessing is begun. Finally
The finder is seen coming from afar, and
ing. During that particular celebra-
ton he is regarded with a consider
able degree of distinction, and due
homage is paid him by the assembled
multitude. The feasting is generally
kept up for a week.
Last nights procession was formed
in front OF M~aennerchor hall at a little
past I o'clock and consisted of the
Laramie cornet band. the membership
of the society on foot and two floats
carrying children. After a march of
several blocks. Richard Henke. who
was given the secret of the where
abouts of the kirmess by Nick Thies
several years ago. was seen in the vi
cinity of Ninth and Thornburgh, and
was hailed with great joy by the people
in the procession. All at once returned
with the treasure to the hall, where the
merrymaking was at once begun.
Last evening was devoted almost ex-
clusively to dancing and the enjoyment
of a delicious lunch provided by the
ladies of the society. Of course there
was some excellent vocal music by the
singers of the society in opening the
kirmess. which was properly sampled
by many and proved to be nothing less
than an excellent brand of old whisky,
secured from John A. Fischer several
years ago.
Mrs. DeForest, Prof. Niethe and
Henry Nagel furnished their usual ex-
cellent dance music and p. C. Rauner
guided the merry dancers. The lunch
was served on the stage. At the south
side of the hall was a candy and lemon
AIDE booth and on the north side was a
booth at which kimmel and punch was
dispensed to the thirsty.
The hall decorations were beautiful,
rejecting great credit upon the ladies'
committee which had this important
work in charge.
Tonight will be children's night, and
Mr.. Ma1quardt will present for their
benefit his little Chinese operetta,
''Tchung Lung and Washee Mogol-
lee" Several beautiful tableaux will
also be introduced.
Tomorrow night an amusing feature
will be introduced. The scene present.
ed will be a vineyard, and the vines
will be laden with luscious fruit to
tempt theft. Officers will be on guard
and a court will be in session. SO that
offenders may be promptly arrested
and fined.