Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-03-27
PORTO RIco's CARNIVAL.
picturesque February Celebrates
which Is Much EnJored by
Old and Y0un2.

Wnlle the carnival IN Porto RlcO Is
not SO pretentious an affair as is the
annual fiesta in New Orleans, it is
nevertheless well worth seeing. It's
long continuance. however. makes &
bit tiresome when a person has once
been through it, and it tends to de-
moralize business while it lasts. Still,
the children enjey il hugely, and the
grown-ups have lot of tun- To
stranger many of the doings seem fool
Eish enough, but when it is remembered
that Porto Ricans are pleasure-lOying
people, with little to amuse them ex-
cept sports of their own invention, the
celebration assumes different aspect,
says San Juan correspondence of the
New York Tribune.
The carnival starts with the din OF
horns and the bang of crackers and day
fireworks, and nearly all the 5000 boys
of San Juan are in the streets. Many
of them wear grotesque costumes and
hideous masks, and most of them carry
something with which to add to the
| noise Of their tongues. Squirt guns,
from which a stream of water or cheap
perfume is sent flying into the faces of
| luckless pedestrians are freely used by
y
| amount OF flour boy can secure the
more joyful he is. Nearly every store
| is turned into a market place for con-
fetti, which is sold in little bags to the
children at penny bag, but which
adults buy by the pound. These tiny
disks of colored paper soon cover the
streets like snow flakes, being show
cred in all directions. There is also
| an immense sale of papeleta, which is
rolled like the tape of brokers' ticker.
These rolls are hurled across the
streets from balcony to balcony, high
in air, and soon form a rainbow tint ed
| network. But it requires strong arm
and an accurate eye to hurl these SO
| that they will land Just right; and as
everyone does not possess such quail
6cations, the rolls often fall short and
| trail down to the cobblestones, adding
their share to the picturesque effect
as they fiutter in the breeze.
The waste by many makes the wealth
of the small boy, and soon after the
carnival is fairly under way he easily
procurcs his supply of confetti and
papeleta by raids on what has already
been thrown. 1t is just as good for
him, and it costs him nothing; but it
is not SO nice for the person at whom
it is thrown, especially if with the con-
fettl the boy has scooped up plenty OF
dirt. The effect on white clothes is
distressing.
Another delight of the boys is to
chase the decorated carriages. On the
day of the carnival parade every coach
in San Juan is covered with bright pa
per and artificial or real flowers and
filed with merrymakers, who throw
confetti and make the air ring with
their shouts. The line of march covers
several miles, and even the humblest
"shacks" along the route are decorated
for the event.
The children's ball, or "baille," in
the big theater is the most artistic
feature of the entire celebration
Many Of the costumes are elaborate
and costly, and in not a few instances
historical accuracy is observed. 1t is
said of thousands of Porto Rican chill
dren that they easily rank with the
most beautiful on earth. The effSct.
therefore, under brilliant lights, may
be imagined. Many of these tots dance
like the fairies they initiate. There are
other balls, for the grown-ups, where
special color schemes are observed
strictly, the costumes and the confetti
corresponding. At the red ball all the
dancers attend in red and throw red
lpapeleta; at the blue ball, blue, and at
| the white, white.
Assault" parties also add to the
fun. They are the capture" of private
houses, Of 'bombardment" by score,
more or less, of friends. When the
hacienda is taken a dance follows in
honor of the captors, who usually are
accompanied by native musicians.