The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-24

them, which so 10 the poor. In this pro-
cession you would see representations OF
nearly all the people OF the globe-Mexi-
cans. Arabians. Indians, Cinnamon,
Hindoos. Russians. Turks-in trust any
costume that would attract attention or
bring forth admiration or awe.
| have seen one man with chicken
feathers pasted over his face accom-
panied by another whose costume con-
sisted OF dried sugar cane leaves. The
Skeleton was represented, too, riding
along in a fine open carriage. bowling TO
the spectators In his gruesome manner,
while the smaller children looked on in
fear and trembling.
The dances held in the Casinos
Dignity Balls" as they were called by
the very few English speaking people on
the island, like the parades. are never
to be forgotten, and similar ones will
never be seen elsewhere than at Marti-
nique. To say they were interesting
would be putting 1t mildly, indeed. for
the dance bore with IL a fascination that
cannot be readily expressed.
They assembled in the evening about
the hour ofeight, surging thither and thith-
er through the ball rooms, jabbering pa
tois' IN their high, shrill voices laughing.
singing, playing little jokes on one another
ALI waiting for the music 10 begin. Men
were dressed as women-some women had
/
possible TO tell through the masks just
which were which; men paid coy ad-
dresses to men, not knowing that they
were men and many were the amusing
scenes when occasionally a mask was
lifted.
The musicians. seated upon a high plat
form at one end of the room finally com
menced their 'scrappy' music--imme-
diately there was a general scramble ror
partners and in the twinkling OF an eye
the floor was covered with dancers. IL
was not as easy floating waltz and far
from being modest. this native dance or
"bouene"-very different in fact and one
that would cause a Nautch girl 10 look on
IN amaz,ment II was wierd TO say the
least, and the laughing, singing. twisting.
whirlng mass OF humanity grew more
and more animated as the time OF the
music increased. The dancers hugged one
another. pressed their bodies together,
separate only 10 embrace again. keeping
in perfect time with the music on they
danced. faster and faster the bodies OF
both men and women going through con-
tort.onistic movements that were remark
able for the the sensuality displayed. yet
all I'm such graceful manner that did, 10
a great extent. take away from theo~vu-
garity OF II.
Someone started a creole "patois" Car
niVal song.
Femme qui dou
Femme qui dou
Femme qui dou
Tout Bonnement
Pas car dormi au Casino"
Almost Immediately the air was taken
up by scores of voices and they sung
with a whole -heartcdness evidently felt
by all. All care seemed 10 be thrown
aside and few seem 20 ne the thoughts
other than those OF the present. Even
the musicians caught the spirit Of their
own music as they sat. one blowing his
life slowly away on a poor fife. another
scraping on n violin that had seen bet
ter days" another beating a drum. while
stili another working az a cornet as n his
very life depended upon Il. all meanwhile
keeping time by rocking their bodies TO
and fro and scraping their feet upon the
floor. At midnight the revelry was at Its
height. the drinks. rum. "tafiia' "a low
grade Of rum. white IN COLOR imhibed
between the dances. added greatly 20 the
ma tural activity and livelinf So and things
began 20 assume IN extremely gay as
pcct often dancers were seen 90 lay
prone upon the floor. singing and laugh
iuC I'm a mad sort of way as more ex-
prcssve manner Of showing the good
time they were having Then. too. II
dancer was unlucky enough not % have
partner he or she would follow some
other couple about the room. keeping
close TO them and In unison with their
steps and movements. evidently enjoying
II as much as anyone else.
N was Wild hi,arity. yet there were
no quarrels no bad expressions. each par
ticipant seeming bent ON having the best
time possible. The dance continued un-