Gilpin observer., 1913-05-15


walton of extra joyousness. at
times and seasons between
the work days. And work is very
comprehensive thing. So it is not sur
prising. given its renown, that during
carnival frolics Nice, the luxurious,
the sparkling capital of pleasure. set
like diamond framed by the sap
phire of her sea and sky, should be the
chosen resort of all Eurore and now
of much of America.
From November till May the town Is
full of life and movement, but as carni-
val looms near gets closer packed.
During the week in February (this
year the Sth) when begins the period
enthusiastically ordained to render by
safety of fun and frolic the succeed
Ing sobrieties of Lent less irksome,
no room is vacant. When Nice 'dons
her cap and bells she becomes a city
unique, and the world knows it,
Assuredly her fetes. more beautiful
and not cruel, like those Of the pagan
emperors, will live In history, like her
pageants. SO wonderful is their aspect
in Kaleidoscope of color and in the
marvels of her motley crowds in mask
and domino. Just as her illuminated
and moving streets. the scene at the
opera house, at redoubt and veglione.
battles description
Alive With Youth.
The wide Avenue de la Care, ceiled
by the lacing branches Of its giant
plane trees. all festooned with flower
like colored lamps, and with arches
and venetian masts with Haunting pen
nants. is light as noon. The pave
ments are happily broad for the surg
ing throng. and round each big trunk
from little miniature gardens cling
climbing plants and garlands of lamps.
Up the center pass the the great
fantastic symbolic cars. shimmering
with light, alive with youth in ira
vesty. dancing youth. ready with Quip
and prank and much confetti to drive
home the pictured satire. and parti-
cularly exuberant when before the
Juges Tribune on the Great Place
Massena- The place itself is a gorge
Gus sight
Between the cars that are soberly
draw by big comparisoned cart horses
come the Analcades-groups of mas
queraders mounted on donkeys and
other groups on foot. all dancing mad
ly to the vigorous music from the
tire4ess musicians car. These are
all of the people-to them 1t is the
day of days and great is the rivalry to
produce the most original Idea OF car
and costume and groups-and very
clever are some of the ideas and
wonderfully modelled and painted are
the masks. 1t is all in the genius of
the race. as different from the slow
Drained horseman as possible
But few who come to see have any
idea OF the toll, the thought. the
money that this apparently spontane-
GUS outburst of gaiety called carnival
costs
Scarcely has the last handful of
confetti been thrown and the pave
ments swept clear Of the adhesive lit
tie disks OF variagated paper Con
fetti Parisiennes' that one finds In a
hat band or cuff weeks after, then
designs for next season are begun.
drawn and painted artistically, and
the fete committee VIII sit in solemn
conclave to adJndge these no later
than May next
There are few harder worked OF
more self fdenying citizens than those
composing the committee on fetes To
that committee. AS well as the munci.
pality, largely belong the honor and
glory OF the prosperity and agrandise
ment OF Nice. An extremely able
man. the father of able sons. Monsieur
Joseph Durandy, civil engineer. Is
their president. This very numerous
body, some $50, give their time gratui.
tously to this civic duty and In addi-
ton subscribe individually not less
than 200 francs each.
Cost 10 High.
The carnival fetes can and do cost
anything from 100000, the minimum.
to e15,O0O or f1S.0O0 Last year the
latter sum was reached and nearly
$4,000 went in prizes. Apart from
the coveted fun and distinction and
the fact OF their names us winners be.
ing in the papers. the working men
who make these cars themselves must
be recouped for their outlay.
But the street procession, the illumi-
nations, the veglione or masked balls
and the 'erdoubts' are but the titula
part of carnival
The fetes committee looks after the
Battles OF Flowers. which Queen Vic
torla and King Edward VII enjoyed.
the races Dat and steeplechasing. re-