The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-09-16
Semi Centennial Week Has
EVentful Ending.
KarnivaI a Happy and Successful
elimination.
MASKERS OUT IN FORCE
All Do Homage to Queen and
Her Court.
Princess Turns Out to Be
Man After All.
Parade Gorgeous and Replete
With Local Hits.
MASKERS OUT IN FORCE

The first celebration Of the Karnival
knights in Topeka since the reorgani-
cation of this famous body Of joy
makers, took place last night And Ii
was some celebration. From z o clock
last evening until 1 o'clock this morn
ing Kansas avenue was alive with
Inerrymakers. The young men of the
city who have revived this old time
spirit. have done 1t well. It Is esti-
mated that more than $4,000 people
witnessed the parade on Kansas avenue
in the evening. At the ball following
the parade, more than 800 people dane
ed on the floor and probably 5000 spec
tators sat in the galleries watching the
fun.
This morning the pavements on kan
sas avenue from Tenth avenue to
Fourth street are strewn with confetti,
daubed with talicum powder and COW
cred with broken masks, tin horns and
whistles. It was the first time in IA
years that Topeka has dressed in
burlesque costume and paraded the
streets in jollifcaUOn-
All credit for this new spirit is due
the Karnival knights, their officers and
workers. For weeks they have arrang-
ed the celebration and not a cent was
subscribed not q penny was asked of
the business men. Special credit is due
c. B. Burge, J. B. DOncyson, Chas-
Mitchell. Fred B. Jewell, who planned
the entertainment. called the prelimi-
nary meeting and worked night and
day ever since for the success of the
undertaking.
The Growing Feature.
The Karnival Knights of the old days
in Topeka who attended the masque
ball at the Auditorium declare that in
all the history of Topeka festivities,
the affair last night eclipsed them all
The old Krew was there in evening
dreSS@many of them watching their
children skip around over the waxed
canvas-and they know what they are
talking about
Not since the big Auditorium has
been built, have the people Of the city
filed its corridors and seats with such
a happy crowd From 10 o'clock last
evening until 1 o'clock this morning
more than $50 couples in complete cos
tune danced over the canvas. And
disregarding the gongs of the last cars
that whizzed by at midnight, the crowd
stayed until the floor committee an
nounced that at 1 o'clock the home
sweet-home and confetti waltz would
end the evening s-and morning s-mer-
riment.
Presided over by a queen, chaperoned
by the old original -Karnival Knights
and Topeka's leading matrons and
curbed by ething-absolutely nothing
the big crowd danced and mixed I'M
til the lights were turned out
Tt was a real masque ball, not one
of the limitations where the dancers |
wear a little mask over their eyes.
Dancers were there in full costume |
Everything and everybody from the |
colonial dame to the ballet girl ana the |
Happy Hooligan to the big fat police |
man. Modest, bashful girls of the col |
Iege set who are cautious on a muddy /
day went there last night with their /
spangled skirts tickling the tops or /
their knees. And they didn't care
didn't the men run around with cos
tunes made of cheese cloth?
OF course they did.
Men were there last night dancing |
with their daughters Flirting with /
them. too Women were swinging |
through the crowd hanging dreamily |
on the arms of their husbands
thinking of course it was some other |
man. Perfectly good Methodists and |
Ouakers. who spend all their time in
the dancing season bribing the society |
reporters in an attempt to keep their
names out of the those there lists
Of the dancing clubs, glided over the
floor. wrapped in the arms of a clown
or enclosed in the embrace of cow
boy.
Before the dance, Charlie Mitchell
had announced that unless they cared
to, no one would have to unmask- This
enlivened the spirits of the dancers
and created a new interest in the
ball. What young girl with decidedly I
proper parents would care to reveal
her face after she had been spending
the evening kicking her silk stockings
around the hall
The Princess Rataja.
Yes, the Princess Rataja of Some
where and Someplace was there You
have heard of her? If you haven't