Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-03-23

Mrs. Emmett Writes Interesting
Letters From France and
Italy.
Hotel Ruhl ct des Anglais, ~
Nice, France,
January 80, 1921.
My dearest Mother:
1t seems hard to realize that today
is Sunday, for it has been the big
day of the Carnival here. For merry
making and knowing how to play,
these emotional French head the ma
tions. They put aside all formalities
and today have been having the time
of their lives, while I get almost as
much out of it by simply looking on.
AS the parade was scheduled to be-
gin, at two o'clock, we utilized the.
morning by attending service at a.
nice little American church nearby Of:
the Episcopal faith.
When two o'clock came the fire of
a cannon announced the beginning
of festivities. The streets which had:
been elaborately decorated were al
ready filled with the gay throngs,.
and seats were provided for specta-
tors along the center, built up in tiers.
and roped off to keep the crowds with
in bounds. Thousands were in fancy
dress and masked, and when they
were not dancing, they were throwing
confetti and paper streamers. The
floats were simple, and represented
different clubs here, but being a
stranger I could not recognize the sig
nifcance of these knowing pictures"
At short intervals betwee the floats
bands would appear, which kept the
merry-makers dancing or marching
in time to the music. 1t lasted three
hours and tired me out watching it,
SO what must the dancers have felt
who had not stopped from the time
the cannon doomed until nightfall.
|. BY that time the throng had sep.
arated in groups, each lad with his
arm around his best girl and all seen--
ed to be enjoying the last part of the
fete as much as the first. Yet view
ing it with American eyes there was
|laitostAia lsaJlls SrsIlg y g aballt ol
their conduct. 1t was just fete day
observed as was the custom Of. the
Latin race, and as thoroughly joyous
and a happy crowd as I've ever come
across. l try not to measure these
people by my standards because 1
want to understand and get their
point of view, which would be impos-
sible if Invent at it critically. So far
as my personal taste is concerned,
they don't start to suit me from the
break of day, on. l do not like the
slice of cold bread and coffee served
in your room, but if; you dared to get
up and go to the dining room, the
servants would stare as though you.
were an escaped lunatic.
Another custom here that is new to
me is eating on the streets. All the
hotels and cafes have tables arranged
out in front of the buildings and they
seem to be quite the favorite resorts
among the diners. They are always
attractively gotten up, and the meal
we'll served, so this part of their pro-.
gram 1 thoroughly enjoy:
On our way home from the parade
today, we stopped at several "the
dansante" and the crowds seemed
greater than any day in the week.
Each place we entered had two or
chestras, so when one stopped the
other took it up, SO the dance went
merrily on. Doubtless many of the
dancers were part of the masked
dancers of the street, but if they
were, they did not seems half as tired
as I was.
We leave tomorrow for Italy and
expect to have our mail forwarded to
Rome, so please continue to send our
letters to II Rue Scribe, Paris. feel.
they will be more attentive there tnan'
anywhere else, and will forward them
to us. 1 bought a little book Of pic
lures of "The Riviera" to send you
for this country is SO beautiful, and
Nice is the capital city.
There are hundred thousand per-
manent residents in this city and the
tourist population must be immense.
My love, and you don't know how
/ want to see you all! God bless you,
dearest.