The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-29

cess1on, headed by the King himself, plp9
in mouth, astride the turkey -eoek, was az
that moment vending his way.
The gun from the old Chateau mao u
few minutes before doomed forth the
signal + the opening of hostilities, ana
the thousands of jewellers on foot ana III
carriages, all wearing masks and doni-
noes, were carrying on terce. and relent-
less com bat. Alighting, Liane and her
companion plunged into the rol]lck1ng
riot, pelting the onlookers who were I'M
masked or who wore no dominoes, cover
ing dark coats and dresses with great
white dust.spots, and compelling the I'M
fortunate ones to cry for quarter. On
This, the maddeSt day of Folly's reign,
Nice from two O'Clock until five present.
ed the appearance of town run mad
with fun. Every balcony, decorated with
red and rose, was filled with spectators
laughing at the antics of the armoured.
quantity dressed throngs; the tilnorous,
taking refuge behind closed windows,
peered curiously out upon the wild con-
hict, while some, more brave than others,
ventured out into the thick of the fray
with no further protection than the black
velvet haIf-mask Woe bet1de these how
ever, when detected. Wire masks were
the only safeguard from the showers OF
bullets which everyw here were projected
from the small Tin scoops.
Joining ia the Corso were many car
riages deoked out to correspond with their
occupants costumes, many in the carnl-
val colours, one in pure white, another IN
a mauve, and a third, belonging apresum-
ably to a political enthusiast, in the nus
sian colours, orange and LACK. Every
where were scenes of wild and reckless
gaiety. In the side-streets, in the oper
squares. in the cafes, on every side con-
fetti was thrown. Ths garcoES de cafe ,
compelled to stand amid tine continuous
cross fire that swept across the strees,
had all assumed masks, and The roads
and pavements soon became an inch deep
in confetti trodden to dust.
All along the line of the procession and
in the thick of the fight bags Of ammun1-
ton were offered by men, women, or
boys. who stood behind stalls or, mingling
with the crowd, cried "Bonbol; Bon
bonl" AS Zsrtho and Liane walked to-
gether, pelting vigorously at carr1aee
containing three Of their friends. an
urchin came up to them crying, Bon
bonl'' whereupon Lame. with mischies
GUS laugh, threw handful OF confetti
straight at the crier, much to the urchln 3
encouragement.
"Come, let us follow the procession,
Zsrtho suggested. and across the Place
Massena they accompanied the Corso, ano
down the gay streets until tun was at Its
height The scene hsre presened was ex
plCpuhCGdoO. hO bbAAN, ".lANA.
was really band, and not merely q
medley of ear-splitting, discnrdant noises
y CHI too frequently mars the Carnival,
was the centre of attraction round which
TIE maskers danced with wild abandon
joining hands and screaming with laugh :
ter. Lame. infected by the mad gaiety
and as reckless as the rest, her domint
whitened by the showers of confetti rainet
every moment upon it, plur d into tn,
crowd of QaDCer3, and han hand WIFI
Z5rtho whirled round. laus g gleefully
inc dancers m ade a human Kaleidoscope
of colour, framed by the mphithestre-
like tribunes, which were likewise tllet
With Ipaskers, and made q setting "a
bright and out one degree less animated
than the rollicking, eVer-moving fore
grs und.
T ON minute to minute, che animation
increased Every street was aglow witt
COLO ur, and the mt lee was general Thos
seated in the tribunes maze furious al
tacks upon those on foot the latter retail
ating with shower upon shower of pellets
until the battle became fierce in every
quarter. Hour occupants of victoria
attired alike in pale blue dominoes
opened vigorous fire upon Ii ne ant
Zartho as they passed, and received in re-
turn many scoopsIull oil weii-almed cor
fetti. But tne pair were decidedly gettins
6ae worst OF it, when suddenly litha
ntLlo man ID CLOWN dress OF cheap lue
lreue joined Liane in the defence, an
nex6 instant received handful of COZ
fetti full in his facs. Bor an instant he
felt in his pouch but found his ammuni-
tion had given out Then, espying Il
stall few yards away, he rushed across
with sudden impulse. flung down Il
couple of francs, caught up four large
paper Gags, each containing severa'
pop nds of confetti and flung them ons
after another at Liane's assaiIants The,
were aimed with sure hand, and a.
each struck the head or shoulders of one
or other of the unfortunate occupants, thu
chin paper broke. completely smothering
them with it's contents Yells Of uproar-
ious laughter arose at their discontinue,
and the coachman hastened his horses
speed.
Then, turning to Lame, the man. evi
IDENTIFY an honest. happg hearted Nicois
from his accent, bowed gracefully, ann
with a smile. said: 'MademoiseIle,
believe we have taught them lesson"
Before she could thank him he was lost
in the turbulent, laughing crowd.
(To be continued