Morris tribune., 1908-01-04

to help in this important part of the
plan to win a prize the dressmakers
are given the immense job of prepar-
ing the robes. When it is remembered
that the train of one of the kings who
appears in this unique parade is usual
ly borne by not less than thirty pages,
that it stretches from sidewalk to side
walk of the broadest street in Phila-
delphia and extends behind the mon
arch for about third of city block,
it will be seen that such a costume is
not prepared in day or week or
month. The enormous train is usual
ly hand embroidered over it's entire
surface with brilliantly colored flow
ers. 1t is made of the best material
that the clubs New Years funds al
fords and is gorgeous sight on fine
day.
The monarch who staggers along at
the front part of this great train is
dressed from head to foot in the costli
est Of satin fabrics. with a crown to
match, and Il retinue Of pages dressed
the effect in the bright sunshine of
one of these kings ON his royal prog
ress through the streets of Philadel
phia is one that can be surpassed no
where else but in New Orleans or in
Rome during the gala season. So
heavy are some of these robes that
the king, although he is selected for
y l. L.
appearance. has been known to faint
beneath the load. The pages who sup
port the train do their best to take the
weight from the shoulders of their
leader, but at times. when the street
narrows and the tension on the cords
ed, it is usual for the monarch to
groan beneath an almost insupporta
BILE weight of fnery.
Behind the king and his courtiers
marches the motley crowd of testers,
cloWus MINISTRIES, ladies in waiting
with their enormous feet betraying
their SEX, knights. squires and the
rest of the retinue. The only order
given to the thousands who take part
in the parade is not to keep still or
look solemn for moment. Conse
quently the spectators see a moving.
whirling. jigging mass of brilliantly
colored beings dancing to the music of
the bands, challenging the lookers-on
and each other to any ridiculous an
tics that suggest themselves at the
moment initiating the rush of a band
of Indians on the warpath. giving an
impromptu scramble in panic times, |
impersonating the participants in Il
bargain counter rush with an i'm
mense display of hosiery on most I'M
shapely male limbs) and generally fur
nishing a spectacle of city usually
the most sedate on the continent gone
hilariously Off its balance for one brief |
day.
There is little to object to in the |
spectacle, however. There is an occa-
sional appearance of unsteadiness on |
the part of individual paraders, but /
this is due more to the loss Of sleep |
than to alcohol, for the clubs begin the |
celebration the night before and keep |
it up steadily all through the twenty
four hours, the parade itself, which i
the mass Of the people turn out to see. !
being the middle of the programme. |
After the mummers have marched the |
length of the line of parade and the
judges, sitting in state on the public ,
buildings. have awarded the prizes the /
clubs split up into sections and march
to various. parts OF the town to com
pete for individual prizes given by
merchants OF the district from which |
the club comes. Out Of the money thus