The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27
MADDEST CARNIVAL OF
EUROPE HELD IN BINCHE,
n LITTLE BELGIAN TOWN

CONCLUDED FROM PAGE l, PART p
takes n part, though there are professional
straw packers, like fashionable coiffeurs,
who go from one house to the other to form
good humps. To have a Gille in family
is to boast luster that is not for all, since
before any young man can join the noble
army of Giles he must nave registered MS
name at the town hall. where 1T is seriously
considered whether he has sufficient means
to carry out the part properly.
GILES GREAT ENDURANCE.
To be a Gille is indeed no joke. for it re-
quires splendid health and powers of en-
durance as we'll as a well-lined pocket.
The costume is expensive, the hat alone
costing $40. while only TO hire a get-up
obliges Gille to spend at least SO for his
days amusement The dance, which in
addition to a queer, jerky step requires
that the performer shall learn to double
and undouble his body in such way as
shall set all his bells ringing at once. is
carefully rehearsed.
Till 9 o'clock those terrible drums never
stopped exciting me TO make frantic
dashes to the window, till was nearly
frozen with the cold, while 1 became
mass of bruises from my constant duel
with the bony bedstead. All the morning
the Giles paraded the town with their
bands. dancing. but without their hats.
which are enormously heavy. They grad
ually collected behind them the whole
town, and the immense stream of visitors
pouring in from all over Belgium and
France ran the 1000 Inhabitants up to
temporary 10000. All these We're either in
fancy dress or masked, and the scene in
the sunshine was quite indescribable.
At 2 o'clock a procession formed of a
number of societies that had arrived from
all parts TO compete for the handsome
money prizes offered for the best oostumed
party, and Of which there were about fifty
this year. Perhaps the best group was that
of the students OF the Catholic College, who
turned out in yellow and white satin, the
papal coors. With violet velvet cioaks and
feathered caps. A gang of assassins, in the
traditional SLOUGH hats, dark wigs, envel-
oping cloaks and carrying wicked-looking
daggers. was very good. Fifty Frenchmen
who dressed as schoolgirls, with flowing
yellow hair, came along rolling hoops or
frocks and Holland pinafores They were
very amusing All the costumes were new
and most were handsome.
But when the GILES appeared in their
turn, with feathers tossing, hats a blaze of
sheen and color, bells janglng, ribbons
| waving, wooden shoes shifting the hard
stones with rhythmic regularity, the effect
was really remarkable. The crowd went
hopelessly mad with delight, though this is
an annual event. AS they advanced dane
ing / noticed that each Gille carried deep
basket filled with oranges and that a fresh
supply was carried close at hand.
ORANGES FOR CONFETTI
'Lcok OUT" cried Miss Belgium suddenly
while 1 was wondering what the oranges
were for. Look OUT" and she whisked me
in from the front doorstep. whence L had
been studying the scene, and piloted me to
the safe shelter of a wire-protected win
dow Then l understood. The Giles were
hurting with fine energy the yellow fruit
at friend and foe in every direction. Here,
there and everywhere the ripe balls were
falling fast
This example was taken as signal Ev-
cry one produced oranges, ard soon the air
was filled with thousands of them, cross
ing and recrossing like rockets. Within five
minutes, too, every child in Binche had its
mouth full, and while all were dancing
wildly to the old tunes the fruit was smash
| ing on balconies, against shutters or unpro-
tected faces and leaving the air full of it's
penetrating odor.
| formed an immense ring and performed a
| wild war dance after which the whole cor
tege partook of wine offered by the mayor
and municipality. Then on with the fun
| I'D the unceasing dancing until Ash
Wednesday stares one plainly in the
/ face that it is of no use pretending that
| Lent is not here.
At last the poor Giles absolutely ex-
! hausted with their efforts to amuse their
/ feliow-citizens. creep home TO be we'll
/ rubbed to be rolled In hot blankets and to
| take warm drinks The straw that is re-
! moved from the humps is always wet and
matted with perspiration, and many poor
I Gille has been known 10 die of his day S
dancing, for, like Punchinello, once started
1 he must dance, if he collapse under il. For
tunately this does not often occur, though
the heavy hat dragging the head backward
the tight leather belt, with its ponderous
| bells and the heavy wooden shoes impose,
! | was told. perfect martyrdom. There
are but two ideas in Binche at carnival
/ time-to dance and refresh the inner man
so as TO go on dancing. But drunkenness,
/ il is only fair to say, is rare.
Americans who happen to be In Belgium
| at carnival time should not miss the Car
nival of Binche. II is a sight not to be
| seen elsewhere. The little town is quaint
and pretty, and its wide street at holiday
time filed with its singing. swayng crowd
| of $4,000 gayly-dressed dancers, looks like
some heaving jeweled sea.
J. L. WHITLEY.
copyright, 1904.