The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-15
1T WAS ENJOYED BY THOUSANDS
AT LAKE COMO LAST
NIGHT.
SKATERS HAD A JOLLY LARK
MASQUED, THEY FROLICKED ON A
RINK ABLAZE WITH MEL
Low LIGHT.
PRIZES WE'RE DISTRIBUTED
To II Number for the Novelty and
Excellence of Their MasGues
and Costumes.

Como was the Mecca last night, and
the level surface of the pretty little
lake was crowded with the thousands
of skaters attracted by the announce
ment that there was to be a masque-
rade carnival, a band of music, Chinese
lanterns, colored Greek fire, and all
the rest of it. They went singly, in
pairs, in groups, but all with skates,
and the capacity OF many a street car
was properly taxed until the slippery
ground was literally black with peo-
ple-hardly black either, for, being a
carnival, the merrymakers came re-
splendent in every imaginable hue, I'M
til the scene was like those you read
about in story books
In the first place, the skating sur
face was lined with myriad Chinese
lanterns. lending the general appear
ance-if you could for the minute for
get the snappy winter air-of a We
netian water scene. Instead, however,
Of the twanging strings which sent
their sweet music across the placid
waters from gondola to gondola, there
was a small, but exceedingly energetic
brass band, whose members played
popular marches, waitzes, etc, and
times.
For an hour the skate houses We're
filled with active young men and wom-
en-. DOMINIC the smooth steel runners,
and at sharp o'clock the signal was
given for the grand march.
When the skaters emerged from the
houses many of them were in fancy
costume, were masked and had left be-
hind all conventionality. When the
crowd of onlOkers had gathered on the
inside of the circular track, and Vari-
cOlOred lights had been set off around
the ellipse there were not less than
5000 people on the smooth. This is on
the authority Of the police sergeant,
and he ought to know, for he is used
to crowds and has no interest in boom
ing the carnival. The band struck up
''There'n Be Hot Time in the Old
Town Tnoight," and it was no fairy
story.
Along came the Yellow Kid, doing
the outer edge with Miss KlOndilke,
While an Alabama coon, with an Uncle
Same uniform, pirouetted through the
various fancy steps with an almond
eyed Oriental clinging to his arm.
There were incongruities to burn. A
frog did a sort Of lake tWO-step with
Columbine a Comanche Indian was es
cert for a pensive-looking Cinderella,
while a faXen-bearded, red-cheeked
German, with ample proportions, made
bright eyes at an Eskimo maiden upon
whose mobile face could be detected
an occasional CLEAN of almost human
intelligence.
The ballet dancers. with abbreviated
skirts, did an excellent Dutch roll. and
We're closely followed by Humpty
Dumpty, who, whenever he found the
time and the space together, executed
very graceful pas seul. Round and
round they all went. The ice was not
exactly in racing condition, but it did
very we'll for the carnival. The band
played 'Mammy's Little Punkin Col
ored Coons," and the judges took sly
chances at the skaters as they flew
past the stand. They did their pref
test, and there seemed to be a gen
eral satisfaction with the decision
which gave the first and second ladies'
prizes to Misses Maggie Foley, as
Klondike, and Louisa Hoenck, as
Might" and the mems prizes to John
l.. Nichols, who appeared as the Vel
low Kid, and Thomas Sullivan, who
was a typical Alabama negro. After
the competition the music played and
the skaters stayed until the lights We're
turned off.