THE BAVARIAN CARNIVAL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 23, 6 June 1891, Page 41

THE BAVARIAN CARNIVAL.

BRU ARY is the great carnival season in Munich, a gala time for al), old and young artists and children, a time when the carnival spirit is so high that people feel privileged to walk the streets in masks, if they so choose. Then is the ‘ children’s day,’ and tiny little ones from two to five years of age are to be seen on the streets in gay peasant costumes, or in suits of other times and centuries, quite unconscious of the attention they attracted. Masked processions walk the streets, often so ludicrous that crowds follow them, laughing and joking with them. The spirit of fun seems to be at large. The girls, too, have a hand in these festivities. Munich being the great art centre, there are many female artists here, as well as men. These women varying in age from sixteen to fifty, are in the habit of giving costume balls in the winter. From these parties the men are excluded, thus giving the ladies free chance to appear in masculine costume or ballet if they choose, without feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable. These balls are kept as select as possible, anyone wishing to buy tickets having first to show "their invitation from a lady member, and this invitation is carefully compared with the list before the ticket is sold. There have been three or four such balls in Munich this winter, but the largest and finest was given February sth at the Bayerischer Hof, one of the oldest and best hotels in Munich, and where the fine military balls of the court society are given. It was really a very elegant and unique affair. Everyone was obliged to come in costume, though no masks were allowed. It opened at 7.30 p.m., and the grand march came about an hour later. The rooms were most fantastically decorated with paintings, statues, garlands of roses, palm trees and heavy oriental draperies. The procession or grand march was most elaborate. Egyptians, Turks, Nubian slaves carrying palanquins in which a gaudily decorated Eastern princess was to be seen; Grecians driving in their carts drawn by pretty girls dressed as slaves, Japanese of high rank, clowns and ballet girls came next, followed by girls in the well-known student garb of Munich, with enormous mock scars on their faces ; Little Lord Fauntleroys followed by Little Kate Greenaways; costumes of Louis XV. and George Washington, Indians, white and black bears, Esquimaux, flowers of all kinds, night, morning and snow were all to be seen. One of the finest military bands of Munich played a march as the procession made the rounds of the rooms. After they had been all around the room once the ranks broke and the fun began, and the girls in Germany understand how to make it, especially when unencumbered by the presence of these dignified officers and men. Left to themselves their humour and fun know no bounds, and their public barefaced love-making, the antics of the clowns, and the attempted ballets of inexperienced, but witty girls, was simply excruciating. I had heard much of the drinking and extreme hilarity of these parties, but I must say that I found nothing of that kind at this ball. Indeed, I thought it a very good compliment paid the young ladies of Munich that the hotel managers complained that the girls’ balls didn’t pay well because they drank so little. At 10.30 o’clock the first supper was served, consisting of sandwiches, salad, beer and ice cream. Dancing was kept up until a late hour, and, indeed, all balls in Germany last until three or four o’clock in the morning. The artists also have their festivities. At one of thenballs the whole interior was made to look like the bottom of the ocean. Great orbs of green and blue spread a mysterious and weird light. Through this dim and curious atmosphere gleamed from every corner the most astounding and grotesque figures that would have puzzled the most learned of tne upper regions to name and classify. From every dark and shadowy corner stared with ferocious eyes monsters with glowing mouths, smoking nostrils, and sparkling eyes ; creatures of the antediluvian times brought back to life, and as if breathing vengeance for their extinction from the world, were prepared to pounce upon the first unfortunate who should venture too near. Mussels, sea anemones, and starfish of such immoderate size that surely no natural museum can boast of anything like it. At every step something new met the eye. Here wedged between two rocks, was a wreck, a sad and pitiable sight, with broken spars and hanging ropes, and the moss of ages clinging to its bottom. Strange to say, the veritable people who perished were to be seen walking the decks in apparent peace of mind, some lazily mounting the still remaining bits of rope and ladders, while others sat upon the deck and listened to the singing of Lorelei and Nixen below, who here and there were seen floating on the top of the green waves. The fantasie of Boecklin could create no better. A little farther was to be seen a curious creature, halfainphibiousj half four-footed, that trilled like a nightingale when one stroked his back. Sea nymphs with long blonde hair and dangerous dark eyes were here and there lazily singing enticing strains, and luring, as of old, the idle passer-by. Close by, as if to breAk the spell of this charm, were monstrous crocodiles, whose quaint jaws incessantly opened, and enormous snakes, writhing and turning and hissing at all who came that way. A mammoth frog as large as a ten-foot square room opened his mouth occasionally, and one could see a merry gioup inside eating and drinking. Through this curious and uncanny place were wandering a motley crowd of Tyrolers, Italians, soldiers, students, characters from well-known books and pictures, sailors with grotesque markings on face, neck and arms, convicts with hair shaved, disclosing their branded nnmber, artists with enormous palattes. A pfahldorf, or primitive German villlage, built on piles over the water for protection, held a band of music and another eating-room. Later, a great creature with enormous body and dragon’s head wound itself through the midst of this throng, rousing screams of laughter from the crowd that was only rendered more deafening by the dim lights and general confusion. Pen fails to tell more of what the young artist humour of the present winter in Munich created. It is sufficient to say that nothing like it was ever before given here, and the older artists admit that the young brains have outwitted them in fantasie.