Evening star., 1897-03-03
CARNIVAL on ICE.
Unique Entertainment at the Ice
Palace Friday Night.


Palace Friday Night.
| As a brilliant close to a successful sea-
! son. skating carnival will be given at
| the Convention Hall Ice Palace Friday
evening. This carnival will be one of the
most interesting features in connection with
| the amusements of Inauguration week. and
| 1t Is expected that a great number OF visit
ors to this city from the north will take
advantage of the opportunity .hus pre-
| sented for indulging in their favorite sport
| 1t seems little queer to a Maine, a Yer
| mont or a Wisconsin man to start for an
evening on the ice without mai king any extra
| preparations as to wraps but those who
attend the rink Friday evening or in fact
| at any time during this week will expert
| ence Just that state Of affairs. The car
nNal last year was one of the events of
| the season. and it is thought that he af-
| fair this year, on account Of the inaugura-
| tion period, and the better knowledge
| Washingtonians have of the art of skating
will even go beyond that in the magniti-
| cence of costumes and in poin. of numbers
| visitors who attend the rink will find
| every convenience for comfort at their
| hand. The reception rooms, parlors and
| retiring rooms are all elegantly fitted while
! the Ice surface inclosed within the four
| walls of the building is The largest inclosed
| ice surface in the world, not even th, i'm
| mense rinks of Europe going beyond it in
| point of size. The rink is thoroughly equip
| ped. having an excellent orchestra of six
| teen pieces, an orchestria1. which gives
! music during the intervals of the O ches-
tral numbers, and any number of skates. to
| be hired by those who have not their own
weapons of attack upon the ica.
At the carnival Friday night several prizes
| will be given. The management offers a
| gold watch for the handsomest male cos
| tune, and a like article for the handsomest
| ladies' costume. Silver watches are to he
| given FOR the most original costumes in
| the two classes. while man s bicycle suit
| will be given for the most grotesJue suit
| the judges believing that no woman would
| try for this prize. OF course, nobody knows
| exactly what the costumes will be, but it is
likely that several Yellow Kids will lie in
| attendance, with ears and smile, and there
| will be campaign caricatuies. patriotic
| ladies from various states. and the conven-
tfonal costumes always to be at n
masquerade. such as kings and queens,
clowns and countrymen. One of the pref
| test effects that can be achieved in the
| way of original costume Is in an cleo
| trical line, tiny incandescent bulbs that
| twinkle and are reflected in the clear, pol
| ished surface of the ice in the most be-
| witching fashion being used for decorative
purposes. There will probably also he some
| groups, .'Brer Rabbit and his family be-
| ing conspicuous feature at the event last
| year
The grand march, headed by competent
skaters will be started at laIe. past
| o'clock. and no one who is not i'll fall cos
| tune will be allowed on the ice before .
O'Clock. After that time the surface will
De thrown open 10 the general puDilc, and
! skating will be general. The judges will
| distribute the prizes and select the cos
| tunes to which they are to he awarded. be-
| tween $50 and o'clock.
| The management of the rink has been in
| correspondence with George a. Meagher,
the champion fancy skater of the world
| who is remembered here by all who attend
| the rink for his wonderful work on the
steels and it is hoped that he will be here
| in time to lead the grand march and gen.
| orally supervise the ice during the time
| the carnival is at its height. MI. Mcaaier
| will also give an exhibition o. his wonder
| full art during the evening, and visitors TO
| this city who miss seeing this splendid
! skater, whether they are acquainted with
| the intricacies of ice skating or not. will
| miss one of the features of the week.
Mr.. Meagher has managed several car
| nivals in New York, Baltimore. Philadel-
| phia and other large cities, and has made
| them highly successful. The carnivals
which have been given in the north this
year, and even as near home as Baltimore,
have been wonderfully successful both in
| point of costumes and in attendance. but it
| is thought that the affair in this city com
! ing just at this time, will eclipse anything
\ in the line attempted in the east.