The Republican journal., 1903-07-09
ARRIVAL SPORTS IN PERU
~. Frolics of Merry Maskers. Indian
Songs and Dances. Burying the Spirit
= the Season on the Eve of Ash We'd

~
assday.
-,...ral correspondence of The Journal.l
A,FQulPA, PERU. May 20, 1908. Should
..rsuger. unacquainted with the car
...t .nstoms of Peru, chance to arrive
,rrouipa during that merriest and
4ie,t carousal of the year, he would
,L 4 the whole city had gone stark,
.,uc mad. The railway station is
,te,i mile or more from the hotel,
.5 there being neither public nor pri-
-- arriageS-he must walk that dis
... or ride up in the horse-cars.
.... way would be bad enough dur
.imival time, but the latter pre-
S.. Ire advantage of somewhat short
.. Ms misery. AS prisoners among
..es are sometimes compelled to run
untlet of blows rained upon them
,iorns, cudgels, fire brands or
Joints. those abroad in Peru dur
three days preceding Ash We'd
-... are pelted with egg shells hurled
4 points of the compass, deluged
..rkets of blood-red water thrown
.a'couies and housetops, covered
Iur colored with all the hues OF
uinow: and besides these indigni-
.nr liable to have their noses good
rGly tweaked, their hats jammed
t.elr ears, and thousand tricks
es perpetrated upon them 10y a
crowd of convivial creatures in
r.eattire. many of them with hoofs,
and forked tails, looking like SO
mps direct from the internal
lorse-cars. passing at rare inter
rr convenient target from every
ga The luokleSS passengers cannot
.. 90 tUeir heels as pedestrians might.
ryers, knowing we'll what to eX-
.re sWathed in oil-cloth from top
-.- md each is additionally protected
unbrella-like screen rugged up
lead: but though he whip his horses
utmost speed, those inside the
sure of rather rough treatment,
carnival players have ample
-u prepare their batteries and turn
tll force into the approaching
. ave a realizing sense Of this al
sport" so like that between the
ud the frogs, the reader may
ne the principal street of quiet
.-t packed with maskers bent on
mischief people Oh the pave
-- halconies and housetOps, all eX-
o the highest pitch of reckless
aI-N precedent and custom to up
.ylr widest eXcesses; while not
most staid and dignliied cltl-
mIsclieyUuS small boys, chill
mn and servants are privileged
A4ter, ad Hbitum, upon every
rIere is 10 use in getting angry,
-l despitefully used, for one can
nj whole city full: and nothing
Jie beHgerents more than to
M of a victim WHO RACES and
to whip the crowd.
- ufoge mentioned, carnival ends
l-A Wednesday, and though only
1ree days are devoted to street
.- The fun begins the week before.
- tine whole year, every household
md has been carefully boarding
ur!Is, with special view to
uaS for this occasion: while
-euorita has longed impatiently
Hr9mised gaities, and the gallant
gr mapped out their campaigns
aimed their grotesque or stunning
es. What golden opportunities
Wdd reyelS afford for the tabOoed
to boldly enter the home Of his
cart under the friendly shelter of
io-eveE to clasp her in his arms
altz and whisper honeyed words
ear, right before the eyes Of
pater amilias-much as those
Hg households in old Verona, the
u lEues and Capulets, became so
-,.v mixed up under similar circum-
Ii o> During all that lover-encourag-
usou there are semi-public balls in
casa, and the ''gilded youth, S
.- age too, for that matter mask
a" ia fancy drest, go around from
TO house, dancing awhile and
refreshments in each till the
ug sends them home for a few
slUmber. The maskers generally
anbulate in company, headed by a
ei Of known respectability, who
~es his own identity to the master
-tgt house and vouches for the good
uct of his followers. No doors are
--d against them, but on the con-
49,. the more a house is thronged
yaTious companies of maskers, the
It's inmates plume themselves on
...g social favorites. Young and old
Wu the dance, from the father down
e children, and it is not uncommon
-.r a gray-haired grandmother swing
.- around the sala in the arms of some
e4oVn young blood disguised as a
indian, a knight, prince, or Il
- of course efforts are made to
.... t,al,1 +I,, r,,on+c ,f., ~. a1lI