Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-11-24
Written for the Oxford Democrat.
Priests Of PalIas Parade.
THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF A WESTERN
CITY,

THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF WESTERN |
CITY.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Nov. 2, 1908.
The season for fall festivities has passzi
ed, and each locality has held Its fair or |
horse show, or some other form OF pub |
| lie entertainment. The custom so large |
" followed throughout New England, OF
holding fairs each fall, no doubt isan
inheritance, handed down from the
mother country. One of its chief charms,
and one reason why they can be main
tanned profitably in the sterile New
England States, Is because such large
number of the people are active in the
work of preparation, who understand
that by united efforts only, can they be
made q success.
Kansas City has never been able to
maintain paying fair, and has given up
trying to hold any, but has Its annual
fall festival, known as the priests OF
Pallas Parade" In this we show the
southern, rather than the northern trait
of character, for we copy after st. Louis,
and st. Louis copied New Orleans, and
New Orleans being largely of French
descent, made use of religious festival
that was observed in France. The
Mardi Gras of New Orleans has become
so celebrated as to be almost national in
it's observance, many visitors going there
Just to see the parade. The term Mardi
Gras means "fat Tuesday, 80 called
from the French practice of parading a
fat OK during the celebration of "Shrove
Tuesday"
st. Louis has for its copy of this
its "Veiled Prophets" who parade the
streets some time in October of each
year.
Kansas City has its parade during the
first week of October, and all the city
people a, d many from the country fill
the streets through which it passes, to
see it 90 by. A secret society known as
IP. o. P. priests of Pallas) have control,
and manage all it's affairs. The chief
source of interest in seeing it is, it is
something new, something that has been
planned and made ready in secret, and
it must be seen to fully realize its beau
ty.
The founders of this society took for
their patron saint "Athene" or Pallas,
the NEUROLOGICAL Greek goddess OF
knowledge, arts, sciences, and righteous
war. So we have the Priests of Pallas,
waiting upon and doing homage to their
queen Athene.
The nature of the festival is to have a
gorgeous equipage drawn through the
streets in the evening, on which some
beautiful lady is seated, with her COM
panions and attendants around her, fol-
lowed by train of beautiful floats.
These floats were formerly built upon
large wagons, made for the purpose, and
were drawn about by horses, lighted by
torches, carried alongside by men and
boys.
Last year the experiment was success
fully tried of having electricity do the
moving and lighting, that being the first
electric parade of the kind in this coun-
try. So pleased were all with the re-
suits, that this year the same idea was
carried out. The design this year was
to have some of the nations in the parade
as the queens escort.
There were fourteen floats in process
, sion following the car on which Athene
rode. These floats were bui on street
cars, and were propelled by electricity,
so were taken through certain streets
that were provided with tracks. The
sides and roof of the cars were removed,
; and on the floor of the car the design
, was built up. Much tinsel and delicate
drapery were used in the decorations,
their beauty being shown by the very
brilliant lights placed within and around
the float, making each one blaze of
glory as it passed through the crowded
, streets. This parade takes place after
: dark, as it, like fireworks display, needs
the nights background to bring out its
full value. 1t is like fireworks also, in
that it must be seen to be appreciated.
To attempt to give description is all
that a writer can do, and that will give
the reader but little real idea of it.
The first car or float in this years
parade was designed as fit carriage for
, the queen to ride upon. Perched on the
front of it was an immense white bird,
,, with it's wings spread wide and reaching
/ out beyond the sides of the car. The
imitation of feathers in the makeup of
the wings was skillfully done. The
electric light bulbs were so placed about
them that you could almost believe the
thing alive, and that the goddess came
from the unknown realm, borne hither
by this trusty servant. The throne up
on which the queen sat, was built high
3 up at the rear of her car. 1t was spot
lessly white in imitation of ivory. The
queen, selected for her beauty of form
and feature, was georgeously dressed,
and about her were her attendants, all
dressed in brilliant costumes. One of
n the servants had reins fastened to the
; beak OF the bird, and holding them in
. her hands, seemed to be guiding its
Q movements, for one of the charms of the
display was derived from the easy move
ments of the floats, passing by without
any apparent motive power. The troll
, lev pole was scarcely noticed, no tramp
. ing of horses feet was heard, no smoke
a from an engine blinded the eyes, just
the car moving smoothly and noise
, lessly, as though the great bird was
{ sailing on its outspread motionless
wings, bearing the throne with its &C.
cupants upon its back.
One of the nations represented was
: England. The legend of st. George and
, the dragon was the subject selected as
its design. The dragons head was made
a the prominent feature, with its large
Jaws made so that the machinery of the
car kept them in motion. Rows of white
, electric light bulbs were its teeth, while
concealed red lights within the mouth
gave the impression of real flesh. Groups
of bulbs of the right shade made the
flashing large eyes seem like the hideous
creature of the story. On its back and
about it's sides were st. George and his
retainers, dressed in glittering armor
and snowy garments.
, Russia was pictured by large sleigh
, drawn by three white horses abreast,
driven by some of the girls who were
seated within.
Japan's car was thought by many to
be the best of all, both with regard to
design and display. An idol, with very
large head shaped like monkeys, and
long arms reaching out as if to grab hold
of the people along the street, was
the striking feature of this float. Many
felt as though there was actual danger
of being caught by the monsters out.
stretched hands. In the makeup of
this float the teeth were the white light
bulbs with the jaws in motion, and the
eyes were made to move about as well
giving to the image a grotesque lifelike
appearance.
This attempt to give the reader some
conception of these floats will help but
: little in imparting their real beauty: AS
well try to make a dweller Of these
parts understand the nature and mag
IL I'll, L., 1r1o