The morning times., 1897-03-03
THE ICE PALACES CARNIVAL.
Final Opportunity to Contrast Sunny
Skies With Scenes of Winter.

Skies With Scenesl of Winter.
The Ice Palace carnival Friday night
win be the brilliant Iend of brilliant
season. People who come to the inaug-
uration from Maine and Michigan, and
who find blue March ,rskies and sunshine
which suggests violets and early vege-
tables in the near future, may be
trifle Eomesick. II they are, they can go
TO the Ice Palace and skate to their
hearts content.
The rink at Convention Hall is prob
ably the largest in the world 1t is half
an acre in extent, and Will be large
enough for all thc crowd that attended
last years carnival and all the visitors
who wish to see what q Southern city
can do in the way Of fancy skating and
pretty costumes. There Will be prizes
for both gentlemen and ladies. The
hands omest costume, for lady, Will win
for it's owner q gold watch; and the most
original a silver watch. The handsomest
costume worn by a man Will also win
gold watch, and silver watch is Of
fered for the most original
There is also a prize for the most
grotesque costume, and as it was thought
that no lady would be likely to wear any
thing that could merit that adjective, the
prize for that will be a gentieman's BIZ
cycle suit. No one not in fancy dress will
be admitted to the floor until after 8
O'Clock. The grand march begins at $50,
and 1T is hoped that Mr.. George A
Meagher, who will be remembered for his
exhibitions OF fancy skating, will be here
to lead IL. He has gotten up several
carnivals in other cities, among them Ral-
timore, New York and Brooklyn and has
made each one Il brilliant success. The
management has been in correspondence
with him for some time with a view TO
getting him here for this event, but 1t is
not yet known whether he will be able
to come or not. If he can be secured he
will give an exhibition of fancy skating.
The music will be furnished by the usual
Ice Palace orchestra, largely reenforced,
however for this occasion.
This is only Washington's second year
in the line of ice carnivals, but with the
facilities offered by the big Ice Palace
rink there is no reason why they should
not be held all the year round, just
Tiolcts and strawberries are grown in the
bleak months Of winter. Perhaps this IN
stitution is more appreciated by Washing
ton skaters than IL could possibly be far
ther north. The small area OF ice and
the brief tenure OF its existence has made
It hardly worth while to buy IL pair OF
skates, even for the average small boy,
but the skate trade is said TO have liz
creased almost 200 per cent Ill Washing
ton during the last Two years Last year
carnival was n great success, and there
is no reason why this one should not far
surpass it, OF course, it is ECt yet known
what the skaters are meditatlnE in the
way OF costume, but If enc may venture
to prcphesy, the Yellow Kid will be there
in all his glory of smile andea and sound
money petticoatS.
The electric costume Also will play a
large part In these affairs, being pani
cularly effective on the Ice IL is urna-
mented by tiny electric lights, which
sparkle and burn like fairy candles or little
twinkling stars all over the pretty wearer,
for of course she mus be pretty, to dare
illuminate her face and figure in this bril-
liant fashion People are alone to come III
groups, the White Rabbit Family being con
spicuous. In Baltimore, three weeks ago,
| one of the first prizes was won by Mr.. T.
| D Lewis of this city, as the Moor Of
| Venice Mr. Lewis Will be remembered by
those who attended last years entertaIn-
ment as a very realistic hobo"