Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-22
THE MARDl GRAS.
Opening of Carnival Under AUS
pices of MartePs Band.
Conditions of the First Night We're Not
Entirely satlsfactory-Bright Music
and Costumes and Decorations.

The Mardi Gras carnival, under the
auspices Of Martel's brigade band, open
ed Monday night under most inauspic-
ious weather conditions, which would
dishearten many who might be less de-
ternDined than the leader of the band,
John H. Martel. In the first place, the
elements kept away a crowd which
would otherwise have enjoyed the pleas
ures of the evening
Then there was another drawback
part of the management. and that was
an attachment served by Franklin M.
Cross, a Greendale constable, at the in
stance of local printer, for pay for the
programs. Mr.. Martel told a Spy man
that the whole matter was misunder-
standing, which would be adjusted
without doubt.
Though less than 200 spectators were
present, those in costume entered into
the spirit of the occasion, and thorough
ly enjoyed themselves. The music was
good, the costumes bright, the girls
pretty, the clowns and various other
grotesq characters very funny, and the
program went off smoothly
The decorations were beautiful, and
were credit to the art of "A. G. Lalime,
who fairly outdid himself. The carnival
colors yellow, green and white) pre-
dominated, and were arranged in an ar
tistic manner. The various panels
about all sides of the hall were trans
formed into magnificent arches of the
carnival colors, and the fronts Of the
galleries were also adorned with var
ious colors. The "story of the flag" in
a hpn " nf bn N o
features of the decorations. The ad-
vance of the flag from the old colonial
times up to the present beautiful COM
bination Of colors was study in itself.
Then there were the flags of the various
South American republics. These were
intermingled with the more up-to-date
flags, and made a pretty combination
The festoonings from the center Of the
ceiling and sides were principally OF
baby blue, and made a pretty relief to
the more pronounced colors. Those sus-
pended from the center of the ceiling
ended at the four corners of the hail.
and those from the sides came to a
graceful termination at divers parts OF
the gallery
The organ front was completely con-
cealed by the national colors, and at the
front was the famous throne of King
Carnival. This was an elaborate affair
and duly fitting to the dignity of the
famous parsonage who occupied it in
due time The seats for the pretty
young girls were also placed upon the
platform, and were appropriately decor
ated with the prevailing colors of the
evening, yellow, green and white
Shortly past o'clock the concert pro-
gram was started by the full Brigade
Band, and the selections were much ap-
preciated by the spectators. At the con-
clusion of the program, the march of
the costumed participants, particularly
the carnival of nations, entered the
main hall from the west ante-room.
This was headed by the lord high cham
berlain, court jester, Prince Carnival
and other dignitaries, including Uncle
Sam, Queen Isabella and the Goddess of
Liberty. Inspiring strains from the
band ushered them into the hall, and
shortly afterward came the presenta-
ton of the nations in the following or
der: Russia, Italy. Poland, Sweden,
Austria, Germany, England, Ireland,
Canada, France, Cuba, United States.
AS each nation was presented, repre-
sented by a young lady in national cos
tune, the band played the air of the
nation and it's representative waved the
| flag.
| Canada, France, Cuba and the United
States were heartily applauded partic-
ularly the two former and the latter
This part of the program was concluded
| by the United States. The band played
THE Star Spangled Banner" Uncle
Sam waved the colors over all, the other
nations saluting gracefully, and the
| formalities closed.
The grand march for the general dan.
cling began about 10. 20 o'clock, and was
led by the lord high chamberlain and
Queen Isabella, preceded by the court
Jester and followed by rs couples of cos.
tuned dancers.
| Clowns grimaced at queens an6
princes, the daughters of the regiment
| flushed under the steady gaze of the
| her head in disdain at the Indian squaw
graceful pages and the minute mer
guarded their fair partners with
chivalry suggestive of the old colonia
days
Uncle Sam, with the Goddess of Liber
ty, looked approvingly on with a merr.
twinkle in his eye, as the merry dancer
waltzed to the tune Of Elsie from
Chelsea"
And so continued the round of pleas
ures until 1 o'clock, when the pleasM
seekers reluctantly went into the stree
and waded in slush ankle-deep.
Those noticed on the floor by the Sp!
man were: Court jester, Wilton Jones
clown, Charles ViIaude; Poland, Mrs
Charles Vilande; pink dominoes, Misse
Nina and Marie Thibeault; clown,
Laford peasant woman, Mrs. A. La
ford cadet, A Laford; Russian anC
bear, Messrs. O'Boyle and Sullivan