New-York tribune., 1903-02-15
PORTO RICO'S CARNIPAL,
One Of the Most Picturesque Feat
urcs Is the Tots.

San Juan P r. Jan 7s-February brings TO
Porto Rico the happiest days of the calendar, the
carnival fiesta, or Mard Gras. This year 1t VIII
take place from the 18th to the 2th and it Is sid
that more Americans will participate than ever be-
fore. There is tendency to act upon suggestion
that American girl be made queen. and that
there be special Americana day set apart dur
ing the celebration. \ local paper is conducting
voting contest, in which score OF American ana
Porto Rican girls. including Miss Hunt. the Gov
ernor's daughter. and Miss Buck. OF New-Haven,
Conn. recently debutantes at the Dewey ball at the
Executive Mansion, are mentioned Tne presence
of a couple of hundred business men from New
Orleans. who will visit San Juan on trade excur-
sion during carnival time, will add TO the sayety
of the occasion.
While the carnival in Porto Rico is not preten-
tious an affair IS the annual fiesta In New
Orleans it is nevertheless well worth seeing us
long continuance however makes it bit tire
some when d person has once been through It, and
tends demoralze business while IT lasts Stii
the children enjoy it hugely, and the sro"n-ups
have lot of fun. To a stranger many or the
doings seem foolish enough when 1t is renlem-
teref that Porto Ricans are pleasure-lovfng peo-
pie. with little amase them except sports OF
their own invention, the celebration assumes oii-
ferent aspect.
The carnival starts with the din Of horns and the
bang of crackers and day fireworks. and nearly ali
the five thousand boys OF San Juan are In the
streets Many OF them wear grotesque costumes
and hideous masks and most OF them carry SOME
tongues. Squirt guns, from which stream OF
water or cheap perfurnery is sent Tying INTO tie
faces of Iucklass pedestrians, are freely used oy
the Youngsters. and the greater the amount OF
flour boy can secure the more joyful he Is Near
" every store is turned into market place 1or
confetti which is sold in little bags TO the cliii-
dren at penny Rag put noh ofored nsoer soon
cover the streets like snow flakes being sno"erGa 7
m m all diTsct9bS c = rhe5H 4dIed ike 5s the tape Of bro
ers ticker. These rolls are h1ftSS j IA air and
soon form rainbow tinted network But III IL Thess
so that they will land just right; and as ever ,
one does not possess such quaiilcauonS Ine s Ioa'
adding their share the picturesque enect as thSy
futter in the breeze ,.L o< N.
small boy and soon after the carnival is fairly ATTY
under way he easily procures his supply sd oI eon
fetfi and papeleta by raids on what mas alreao!
been thrown It is just as good for him, and II
him nothing; but it is not SO nice & IGF me ,bs
confetti the boy has scooped up plenty Of dirt
The effect white clothes IS a-stresslns T deco
rated carriages. on the day of the carnival parade
every coach II san Juan @ E osr and Viii ed With
merrynakers, who throw confetti and make the
ers seZeraI miles and even the hunbest shacks'
along the route are decorated for the event. @
is the most artistic feature Of the entire ceebra
ton. Many of the costumes are elaDorate auu cost
H. ard in not few instances historical accpTacy
is observed II is said of thousands of Porto Ricau
children that they easily rank WITH the most neau
bts on NAV be- imagined Many Of these tots dance
like the fairies they initiate There are otner oa1s
are observed strictly, the costumes and the con-
fetti corresponding At the red ball all the dancers
hs 6sfn6 5Ihe IN fGH sGd sl' an thg 5 1hite vRite
Assault" parties also add to the fun Ihey are
bv Score more or less. Of friends. when. the
hacienda Is taken dance follows In 1onor OF me ine
captors. who usually are accompanied by native
musicians.