The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-05-21
CARNIVAL NOVELTIES IN PARIS
Toy Guns for Throwing Confetti and
''Serpentines."


The pretty carnival and Mi-Careme
custom of throwing confetti upon the
heads of masqueraders afoot, in car
riages and in the overhangiHg balconies
of fine residences has worked its way
from Italy and southern France up to
Paris, and this year two or three nov
elties were seen at the French capital,
which rendered easier the work of car
rying on this amiable warfare. Hith-
erto it has been found tiresome exer-
else to throw many handfuls of confetti,
especially to height of II or Is feet.
And it is difficult for anyone but an ex
pert to deliver this shower of pellets
exactly where he wishes. In conse-
quence there is apt to be an exceeding
~ wasteful use of ammunition. On the
following day one may find the boule
wards covered with confetti to the depth
of an inch or more in places.
This year number of people were
provided with spring gun, which bore
the appearance of an innocent bamboo
cane. y properly prepared cartridge,
containing colored confetti, could he
inserted in this gun on the sly. The
charge was rammed down with rod
which forced a spring. Then the bear
er of the weapon awaited his Opportun-
ity. When the queen of hearts or some
other charming creature approached in
her carriage he would aim at point
! above her head, press trigger, and 10!
rain of rubies, emeralds and sapphires
would descend upon her and her suite.
So accurately could the fusillade be
directed there was no escape.
\ modification of this device was an
imitation of champagne bottle, for
use at the family table or in restaurants
where small parties were celebrating.
The company is in froiicsome humor.
The host removes the fastenings of the
cork. The stopper is loosened. The
froth is about TO squirt forth, wine
glasses are in readiness for filling.
Then, to the surprise of all, except those
who are in the secret, like sheaf of
rockets up fly the confetti! This dis
charge, as well as that from the cane,
is controlled by concealed spring.
Of late a little colored ribbon, known
as ''serpentine," has been much used.
1t is thrown up into the air as projec-
tile and often becomes entangled in the
branches OF the trees along the boule-
Yards. But when thrown from the
hand it does not go very far, and it Isl
more likely to miss than to hit the hui
man target at which it is aimed. But
| this year. the 'tSpirobole" has been in
PRODUCED to aid one in managing these,
ribbons. The spirobole looks some
thing like a crossbow without a bow
that is, it is a light wooden gun, with
long groove like that in which an ar
row lies in a real crossbow. There is a
stout rubber band which is pulled back
and caught on trigger. \ roll of rib
bon is now laid where the notched end
of the arrow belongs. One end of the
strip is made fast to the weapon and
does not move. The trigger being
pressed, the rubber contracts like bow
string, and away into space flies the
roll, unwinding as it goes. y serpen-
tine 100 feet long may thus be sent iiy-
ing at q mark with great accuracy and
in the twinkling of an eye. A French
contemporary observes that the effect
of this form of attack is tires joli.
Y Trib11rc