Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1897-11-06
UNIOUECORN CARNIVAL.
THE PRAIRIE IDEA OF A HARVEST
CeIr6RAT,oN.
Ingenious and Picturesque Decorations
Made by Observation-Disclosures OF ker-
n~i.-O-cutstory frolics With the
Cleaning He'd Ears-An Odd Battle.

Cleaning He'd Ears-An Odd Battle. |
Once year. says an Atchison Kan |
sasl letter TO the New York Post. the |
sunhower State grows enthusiastic
over the glory of its corn crop and
proceeds to celebrate the harvesting.
This city has for the past three years
been the centre of the corn celebra-
tons. and its corn carnival, TO which
it devotes a day and night. is one Of
the unique features of the West.
The principal point on which the
most stress is laid il the decoration of
the town, aud II Is made very beauti-
full. The stores use hundreds of ears
of corn In making odd designs that
will attract the attention of the
passers-by. and there are on the side
walks strange creatures made ont of
the grain that seems impossible 20 the
novice. The young ladies make out
of the husks the most bewitching bon
nets aud capes. aud wear them through
the day. and the young men even get
up jackets and hats that rival those OF
the fair sex for ingenuity and attrac-
/ tiveness. Even the horses are decor
a.ed. and one might think that the
town was all in the corn business so
generally Is the place given up TO the
festival
The fun comes az night. When the
lights are ablaze and the streets are
shining in the glory Of corn decora-
tions. the young people--and the old
for that matter go ont with pockets
full Of corn kernels. aud woe be it TO
the passer who Is not ready 20 take his
own part Where In the Nardi Gras
there i shower OF confection or
flowers. here l. one of corn. and the
handfuls that are thrown among the
crowds soon max he streets a crack
ling pandemonium There Is a prize
offered TO the farmer who Will drive
down the street with his wagon filed
with corn and have any os Z !cs: wheu
he arrives ~ the opposite end SO far
40 one has been able 10 claim the
prize There l. license Of the fullest
sort during the night. and the police
morning. With horns and corn tn,
parade goes mp and down, laughing
and shouting. and the corn decora
tions begin 10 suffer One after an
other they are pulled down and USED
TO amuse the people. and there are few
stores that have the trouble OF taking
down their decorations IN the morning
The streets become veritable mills foi
the grinding Of the corn. and after tn,
crowd has been on them all the even
ing. the corn Is ground into -four
Bushels are gathered in the morning
aud many OF the poor are glad 10 &c
this corn. for food
The greatest fun i over the rec
ears. for the young men insist that tn,
good old custom that they shall be al
lowed 10 Kiss the girls under the re,
ear Is still IN force-and they abide u,
Its rules, too. One grain buyer TIN
year bought a large load of red ears a
a fancy price 10 sell again TO the youn
men, and they were all disposed OF.
The State has a good right 10 b
proud Of the corn this year. for Their
Is a good crop and the price i abov
that of many years The State Boar
Of Agriculture estimates that Their
Will be loo. 600. GOO bushels OF ii.
yellow grain.
One of the interesting contests &
the interior of the State was that q
the fair where the yellow aud viii;
. ears had contest. The silver advo
Gates were supposed 10 be the favor
ties on the white-corn day. and no on
was admitted unless he brought TO III
gate white ear. The corn was pile
up, and made several large WACO
loads for the poor. The speeches wer
for the white metal. and the band
played for the orators Then on tn
( next day the yellow was in the ascen,
r ancy, and the admission as an ear {
the yellow corn. and the speak el
made talks for the gold staudar,
, This was a day Of rejoicing, too. an
the excitement ran as high as on IL
one preceding. The people came fro
ali parts of the country on both day
= and the addresses were by the be
talent on both sides Of the question
Nothing was decided, but the col
was given to the poor, and many
family was glad that there had be,
the lively rivalry.
The originator of the corn-carniy
idea was T.. W. Howe. the author
the STORY of Country Town al
the writer for the Atchison Globe
popular reflections on life and ma
ners. He proposed al occasion VIII