Evening star., 1941-03-02

physically exhausted Carioca, nap
ping as he dances.
The carnaval also sounds note
reminiscent of our own Hallowe EN-
in the antics of pranksters, throwing
confetti and tape and ink bombs,
Everybody in the crowd seems
to carry a little metal siphon to
squirt perfume mixed with ether
to make it evaporate quickly. This
is used chiefly for the rather start
ling freezing effect. Your instinct
is to shut your eyes when they are
touched, and the result is painful,
but, if you resolutely keep your eyes
open there is no pain"
Because hard liquors aren't sold,
the populace has discovered this
etherised perfume Oanca PerfumD +,
when shifted, has an effect of an
alcoholic stimulant when the body
wearies and the spirit flags.
Every evening there are big mas
uuerade balls of special interest to
tourists at the three important
casinos-the Urco, the Atlantico and
the Copabanca-where several bands
play continuously in rotation. These
are attended by the better class of
Brazilian society. Fun can be had
gambling at all these casinos for
low stakes.
Clubs by Invitation Only.
All the clubs, from the smartest
(Which is the Jockey Club down.
hold dances of various kinds during
the carnaval season, and one must,
of course, have an invitation from
a club member in order to attend.
On the last night, Shrove Tuesday,
the great social function of the Car
naval is the large ball at the Theatre
Municipal, or Opera House. The
total cost of admission and table
reservation is approximately $40
each. The dancers are expected
to dress in costumes of historic
period. Prizes are given for the
best costumes and consequently one
sees exquisite old family ball gowns,
jeweled and brocaded. which have
been passed from generation to
generation.
Dances are. for the most part,
sambas and marches with occasional
tangos and American fox-trots.
Peculiarly, neither the rhumba or
the conga, which are popular Latin
American dances in this country,
are played much in Brazil, since the
Brazilians consider them vulgar.
One of the most fascinating spec
tacles of the Rio carnaval, of par
ticular interest to the more sophis-
ticated tourist. are the celebration
at the Praca ONE commencing
Saturday night. This is a Jewish
suburb of Rio where Negroes from
the hill country, peasants. Bahamas
and Indians mix in pagan dances
and rituals.
Gilbert Bundy, the well-known il
illustrator, has told me that this was
by all odds the most thrilling Of all
the festivities. Here and there
about the square were groups beat
ing their drums and tom toms over
fires they had built in the streets.
He vividly remembers one giant
negro clad in a lavendar womans
dress, beating jungle rhythm on
his tom-tom and in his solitary
frenzy perfectly oblivious to the mill
ing mobs dancing the "corcao'
Qockstep) about him.
I At the Praca ONE, the equivalent
of carnaval clubs are known as
"ranchos," or "blocos.". Each seek
to outdo the other in their produc.
tions.
P0puIace Votes Fav0rite Music.
The carnival is more than a pag-
cant. 1t is a mood which seizes
the entire populace. Nothing con-
tributes more to this mood, nothing
is so intrinsically a part of the fes-
tivities as its music.
Each carnaval has a contest to
choose the three prize songs of the
festivities. Tradition has it that
they are for the most part composed
by old Negroes living in the hills
back of Rio in the Favella district
in shanties for the most part con-
Structed OF corrugated iron ana olo
kerosene tins.
For weeks in advance OF carnaval
the songs-marches and sambas-
entered in the contest blare forth
from loud speakers throughout the
city. Ballot boxes are placed on
every street corner for the popular
voting. Interest in the outcome is
intense.
One of them, Mamma ell Quiero, u
a march which was first prize win
ner of the contest several years ago
has since achieved renown as a
popular favorite in this country. The
lyrics of these songs have become
increasingly risque in the past few
years.
The custom of choosing these gay
melodies and the atmosphere Of