The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-21
THE CITY THAT LAUGHS.
KING CARHITAL CAPTURES III
FRENCH CAPITAL,
An Artistic ana oueer Proccssion-Narvetious
Chariots ana Strange ana beautiful
EHects Mingled with Genuine French rus.

out, the weather was beautiful. ana on MOnuh.
morning, although there were showers at fret
spring took its revenge toward noon aud the SUI
was as Respondent as the day before. Finally
on Mardi Gras. tho third day OF the carnival, thu
fat OK was as interesting as he was on Sunday
Every day the cortege started from the Palais d.
Fin austric, where II was formed under the d
rection of NJ. Zidlcr. tho organizer OF tn,
fcstivitics. At l1:3o everything was ready
The cannon thundored: the cavalcade. divided
into six groups, began to advance. KinI
Carnival and the fat OK appeared In company &c
receive the homagcs Of their subjects, the en-
thusiastic Parisians. The procession moved
slowly from the great doors Of the Palais de Tin
dustrie, and 1t was greeted with the acclama'
tionB OF an enormous crowd, in which there were
many strangers as we'll as Frerchmen, who had
come from distant provinces in trains which
werc continually landing them in the capital.
At the head of the cavalcade there was a com.
pany of horse guards. Superb with their dark
horses. their white brooches, and TUNES with
scarlet tucks they resembled the soldiers OF the
last century. A corps OF harlequins wearing
enormous caps surmounted by immense red
plumes, red vests, red sashes. white trousers,
and vanished boots followed the guard. This
was the first part OF the triumphal entree OF his
Majesty King Carnival into Paris. Behind the
harlequins there was a perfect army OF clowns,
drummers, and trumpeters costumed in differ
emit styles. At last King Carnival appeared, his
appearance the occasion for shouts OF laughter.
The King Of tho grotesque world advanced
upon q singular vehicle, half bicycle and half
automobile, the vehicle OF tho twentieth century.
He was an enormou Punchinello. . metres so in
height with a huge head. a nose like the beak
OF an eagle, and a turned-up chin. He was dressed
In blue and rosc-colored silk. and seemed TO pay
great attention to his machine, for his eyes were
fixed upon the lantern Of his bicycle. The au-
tomobile had wheels 2 metres 10 in circumfer-
once. 1t constantly sent out pufis of smoke and
carried odd packages, upon which one could read
with astonisnnent the notice Glass (tragileI.
A troop of bicyclists, men and women, escorted
King Carnival. The men wore immense caps,
white breeches. Scotch stockings and u yellow
kilt; the women wore gray felt hats, with tights
OF the same shade. Prancing along behind the
bicyclists came a band OF Punchinellos. in rose
colorcd and blue costumes. and with comical
masks representing grimacing faces. They were
followed by a swarm of pretty equestriennes
gracefully dressed in short skirts OF pale rose
colored satin and little corsete Of green velvet,
producing a charming effect.
Loud trumpet calls announced the approach
chariot. which preceded mat OF the fat OK.
Fave, musicians marched in front OF this rustic
crowd saluted the Gauls that surrounded it.
The thing had a primitive aspect, and was well
worked up with the reddish color OF its plat:
form, its big wide wheels, and the sheaves of
corn which formed its rustic border. 1t con-
tanned fifteen musicians, who played an air
a local color. tpon the highest portion Of the
platform, four Druidesses stood in their great
white, robes, their hair falling down upon their
Around the chariot marched seventy warriors,
dressed in dark-colored TUNES and wide, short
cavaliers, who produced a brilliant effect. These
were also costumed in the Gallo fashion.
around 9ss, their waists they wore leather belts.
were ornamented with golden stars. Their
headgear was a helmet. surmounted by black
passed under the chin. Agray cloak hung over
their shoulders, and the sunlight made the
@ n%ssie s6 ID ' the 'G siades 81 'h the fiE sness S Sf the Sh hsi,
the warriors were armed glitter dazzlingly.
Behind them came the sacrifcers on horseback,
fellow Of the day. He was orna1nented with
wreaths and garlands of flowers, borne upon a
gan to cheer; and although the fat OK couldn't
help but be touched at the reception which he
he maintained an immovable and ma.
Jestic attitude. Six caparisoned horses drew the
chariot. at the end OF which there was an altar
supported by four heavy pillars, the evocation
in white robes br.nGishing hatchcts and sickles,
which symbolized their functions; and at their
der OF periwink,es. bind weed, and wild plants.
But here comes n new group, which creates
~l9rg,hter in the crowd. II is the Mar
ket float Less solemn than the preceding, il
the different Vegetables destined for tho alinen.
made OF pasteboard. and forming the border 81
the chariot. Color was not spared. for they
seemed as II one were looking at them through
chariot, surrounded by twenty-one representa-,
tives Of the Halles Transformed into cavaliers,
sssors t0li tS"s z y 'f Is I Pos.iS SiHF''s % in hlns Of
Iurnips, carrots and onions. cavalcaded
e s6ORnG wa the en HfhiSls; upon Tho Which head s 81 F." 1biS
manikin, formed OF some strange vegetable, was
PROTESTED bro sSs% Sy a d red PsITT,s ob: held fratsrnsl,y in
against the scarlet back OF the gilded throne.
The arms were represented by leeks and the legs
Immense fork. On looking at him, one m
imagine that the fellow had a robust appetite
and was disposed to eat himself; without payins
cherries. the asparagus, and, the peaches which
his chariot, and the great punches OF
der cabbage leaves women were half concealed,
and the group OF musicians, which were also in
the orchestra. The eomical effect was ire.
and the de,ight Of the crowd was
ietti,, with (which it attacked the eq Ue rSni
turnips, until a new car. made ifs
pork butchers business. It was an immense
kitchen range, before which two gigantic pigs
lad spittedd, their cooks and were turning them
around, This was the revenge OF the perse- !
r.uted pig. The mechanism came to his relief.
A perfect unity existed in the movements OF the
Iwo pigs With calculated method they turn
The handle that was ingeniously invented by
he cooks, who didn't expect that they would DO
fhe victims of their own discovery. Around
he car, drawn by four horses. field laborers
HANGED and fraternized with the pigs, delighted,
rs they appeared TO be, at the idcn that they
we're delivered from all the hard work attending
he preparation OF pork.
Next came tho chariot OF Authorization, around
which there was an escort OF potatoes and soles.
iressed up with white aprons and accompanied
y barrels, all moving along and frisking In a
most comical fashion. After that came Inc
,hariot OF the Provinces. in tho form OF a
whose tiers, covered by skyline cloth
With golden flowers, we're occupied by beautiful
'oung girls dressed in the traditional costumes
al he departments of France. The vintage
nd the harvest. symbolized by Bucchus and
'erns. represented the products of the
Gil. Behind a trellis engircling tho char.
Ut were peasants, men and women, and an
immense sheaf OF corn sheltered chickens with
'utstretehed wings. The battle OF confetti then
'egan between the crowd and the fgurants on
he cars. There was a perfect shower OF paper
'ellets, and u continuous stream OF Jets which
9rmed the delight of the children and also OF
hose who would love to be children again. II
nj, for an hour. The procession moved along.
Xciting tho greatest enthusiasm among the
pectators.