MY FIRST CARNIVAL

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue IX, 30 August 1902, Page 518

MY FIRST CARNIVAL

The towns of Southern Germany burst yearly into an effervescence of gaiety and dissipation, which would dispel any delusions, commonly accepted in England, that the Germans as a nation are sober and phlegmatic.

No sooner are the New Year festivities over than the inhabitants of all the Southern provinces, in particular along the banks of the Rhine, begin active preparations for the coming feast.

"This feast is named the Carnival, which, being Interpreted, implies “farewell to flesh”; So called because the name and thing agreeing, Through Lent they live on fish, both salt and fresh.”

Clubs are formed, which hold weekly meetings, in reality, little carnivals in themselves, a committee is elected to arrange the details of the grand carnival procession and balls, and for six or eight weeks, as the case may be, everyone lives in an atmosphere of merriment and pleasant anticipation.

If the town in particular is a centre of art, then the painters and musicians organise a splendid redoute, or masked fancy dress ball, with living pictures and music, which is the event of the year. No redoute is more famous than that of Hermannstadt, on the Rhine. It isn’t the real name of the place, because the following story is a fact, and for obvious reasons a certain amount of secrecy must be maintained. Neither are the names of the characters genuine. It happened a good many years ago that I, Jack Ingram, student of painting. found myself spending the winter in Hermannstadt, famous for its art and music.

1 was naturally interested when the day of the grand redoute arrived, for its glories had been dinned into my ears by enthusiastic Germans for many weeks. Besides, it was my first experience of a carnival, and I was curious to see if it would fulfil my expectations.

1 arrayed myself with care, for 1 imagined myself much in love with an American art student on whom I wished to make a great impression. 1 distinctly remember that I fancied myself in my old German costume, for it was the festival of Rubens, and the costume of the period was compulsory for students. In this belief I was considerably strengthened by a remark made to me by Frau Oberst Von Kunheim, who was living in the same pension.

1 had always rather disliked the .good lady, who, as the wife of a retired German colonel of the Guards, had acquired all the authority of her husband, and was accustomed to treat all young men as lieutenants in her regiment. It was a treatment which I, as a freeborn and very young Englishman, deeply resented; However, that evening she issued a command that T should present’ myself before her before I went to the ball.

When I appeared she openly etn

braced me, and to my horror kissed me too before everyone, saying that 1 looked so nice that if she was a young girl she couldn’t have helped falling in love with me. When i recovered 1 east a glance at her somewhat subdued husband to see if he objected But he only patted me on the shoulder and tol l me to enjoy myself. “Bless me,” he said, "if 1 was only young again, 1 would show you young fellows how to amuse yourselves. When t was your age, why ”

But his wife cut his reminiscences short with a look which decided him to defer his narration till a more fitting opportunity.

Arriving at the great concert hall, 1 found the pageant representing scenes from the life of Rubens in full swing. The hall was crammed, and after craning my neck for some minutes, just catching a glimpse of the hats of the actors, I gave it up and began hunting for my fair American. 1 hoped to create a great impression and make up lost ground, for I felt that my advances had not been met so warmly since the arrival of young Howard, a compatriot of my fair inamorata. He was an objectionable young man. and our dislike was mutual.

During my wanderings round the outskirts of the crowd, and through the gaily decorated side rooms, a voice arrested my progress. “My land, you do look a regular guy.”

T turned with a blush, for it was ihe silvery voice of Vera, and she was laughing in quite an uncomplimentary way. Furthermore she was on the arm of that beast Howard who had the idiotic grin of a man who had just made a successfully funny remark to a girl about the “other man ” 1 bowed stiffly and would have passed on, for I had no remark ready to make on the spot. “Don’t be so touchy.” said Vera, dropping Howard’s arm and holding out her hand. “Come and dance wi*’’ me as yon promised when this stupid show is over; but you did look so funny from behind. I hardly knew you till Mr Howard said he guessed that no one but an Englishman could walk with such an air of discomfort in a strange dress.” And again she burst out laughing. “We can’t all be born in America.” T began, in my most formal tone. “Perhaps Howard is descended in some mysterious manner from the German middle ages. If I had known I would have taken a few lessons in deportment from him this afternoon.” It was a stupid remark. It only

made Howard’s grin develop into a laugh.

“Don’t be an ass,” he said. “If you can’t take a joke at Carnival time you ought to stay away. Absolute freedom of speech reigns to-night, and you are perfectly at liberty to say what you like.” “And from the front,” went on V’era, “you don’t look so bad. I shall certainly dance with you. Now goodbye for the present. Mr Howard has a lot of news from home to tell me. Don’t forget to appear later on or T shall be very angry with you.”

And with a bewitching glance of her dark eyes she passed on. "Jack Ingram, you are a fool,” said I to myself. “There are ocher girls here too. And you are here to enjoy yourself.”

I squeezed in somewhere, and managed to get a good view of the last tableaux of the play. Hardly was it over when the chairs were cleared away, and dancing commenced in the great hall. “Komm tanz mit mir,” said a Mask to me, and whirled me away in a valse. “Ich danke Ihnen,” 1 said at the conclusion. “Bist du ein Englander?” she asked. “Ja.” “We l !,” she went on in German, “you ought to know that at Carnival one never savs ‘Sie.’ bur ‘Du.’ And with a laugh she whisked away. Her information had given me an idea. I remembered Vera, and round her surrounded by a crowd of Americans. “Our dance, I think. V’era,” I said. She blushed, looked as if she was going to say something, but got up and took mv arm.

“Mr Ingram, how dare you call me bv mv Christian name, and before

all those men? What will they think of us?” she exclaimed, when we had got a little distance. “Jack, if you please,” I said. "This is your first Carnival, is it not, Vera?” 1 dwelt rather long on her name. She was furious. “What do you mean by such impertinence, Mr Ingram?” she began. “Jack,” I again reiterated. “The penalties are very great if you use stiff surnames during Carnival. If we were talking German I should call you ‘Du.’ Shall we talk German?” She gasped. “As you don’t know German carnival customs, Vera,” I went on, “I may as well tell you now, that every time you say Mr to me the penalty is a—” and I looked meaningly at her rosy lips. “I don’t believe it,” she hastily interrupted. “How do you know so much about it?” she added, suspiciously. “My dear Vera, it is really quite true, and if you can’t take a joke at carnival time”— I mimicked Howard’s accent—“you must stop at home. Besides, it isn’t a joke. All the Germans do it, and when one is in Germany one must do as the Romans — I mean Germans—do.”

But it is only during carnival time,” she said, her voice showing signs of relenting. “Of course,” I answered. “If it is kept up afterwards then it is only by mutual consent. I have not considered that matter yet fully.” Mr ” exclaimed Vera, indignantly. “Jack, I mean.” She corrected herself hastily, but it was too late. We were in a deserted corner of the room and the penalty was promptly inflicted.

“I think you are real mean, and 1 did correct myself.” “No.” I objected, firmly, “you distinctly said ‘Mr.’ Now we will go and dance.”

And I marched my little partner, a sweet bundle of indignation and helplessness. into the hall with a much heightened colour. I had great difficulty in restraining myself from exacting further fines.

“Perhaps you don’t find my appearance so ridiculous now,” I said to Vera as we emerged into the quieter passages after the dance.

“I didn’t say you were ridiculous.” We were nearing the place where

more partners were awaiting her return with impatience. “I think after all that these German customs are just sweet.” Between the last two words she made sufficient pause for us to get quite close to the group, and the last word was whispered as she darted to her seat.

I felt that I had got into the spirit of the thing now, and Howard’s face, as he noticed our farewell, which he rightly guessed to have been of an intimate nature, amply compensated me for my previous irritation.

The fun waxed fast and furious as the hours wore on. Young men who felt a call for wit, attired as jesters, made full use of the privileges of carnival, and the floor was in places carpeted with confetti. Somewhat tired and very thirsty, I found myself in the restaurant below and seated next to a fellow-stu-dent who was indulging himself in a huge mug of Munich beer. "Howard has been in here a great deal this evening,” said my friend Jungst, a young man who knew us all well. "It would seem as if his countrywoman has not been treating him well.”

Vera had certainly been favouring me with more than my legitimate number of dances, and Howard’s anger had been rising in proportion. "Without doubt,” went on Jungst, “the restaurant is the best place to see the carnival. The fun that 1 have had watching- the loving young couples in here is worth far more than the heat and exertion up above. Do you see that fellow manoeuvring for a quiet corner? That sort of thing has been going on all the evening. How furious he is looking because the next couple take a neighbouring table. No,” said this youngphilosopher, taking- a long draught from his mug, "1 am far happier here, and the beer is excellent.”

A young Spanish girl, well masked, with a head of glorious golden hair only half-hidden by a mantilla, came in, attended by a very real-looking duenna, and sat at the next table to us.

“That girl looks as if she might be very pretty,” said the German, speaking quite audibly. “But why is she masked at this time of night? Who knows what defects that mask may mercifully cover?”

“Don't talk so loud, you idiot,” I whispered. “Her eyes and hair are beautiful.”

"There is no need to excite yourself, my friend. They evidently understand very little German. Look, they cannot make the waiter understand. Unless I am very much mistaken, they are country-people of yours.” There was no doubt of their foreign nationality, and in an unmistakable English accent, the girl turned to her Duenna am. said. “I cannot make the wretched man understand, and I am so hungry.” In a moment I was at their table and doffing my hat.

“May I succour two ladies in distress?” I said. “I too am suffering the pangs of hunger, and if it is allowed 1 will play your cavalier.”

The Duenna looked daggers, and would have thanked me stiffly, but the girl laughed delightedly. “Thank you so much. Yes, you may sit down. Really dear” (this to the Duenna) “you forget that this is carnival time, and am I to have no fun?”

“I assure you, Madam,” I said, seating myself, “that I am acting quite within my privileges, and now, if you will give your orders, I will see that they are attended to.”

With a sigh indicating acceptance of the inevitable and a merry laugh from the girl the orders were given. “How is it,” I said to the girl, “that I have not seen you before this evening? I fondly imagined that I had danced with the prettiest girls here to-night, and now I find that I have overlooked the most beautiful. However, it is not too late, and I hope you will honour me when the pangs of hunger are satisfied.” The Duenna coughed stiffly. “My she begap. “Not at all,” I interrupted. You do not understand the carnival, Madam. This is no place for any restraints whatsoever. May I have the pleasure?” said I, turning to the

girl again, who was rippling over with most ravishing laughter. “Yes, I will dance with you,” she answered. “Really you must not be so silly, Miss Davenport. Why did we come here if I am not to speak to anyone?”

My heart gave a leap. She was not the mother, and only a gc <e»"c.-s or something.

“Won’t you unmask?” said I, as we were proceeding to the hall above, “I am sure you are cruelly hiding charms, and that is a sin on an evening like this.” “Perhaps later,” she answered, “But why do you take my charms for granted? Who knows but what I may be hideous?” “No!” I said, firmly. “With those eyes and such a voice it is impossible. And now you must tell me your name. Mine is Jack—Jack Ingram, but I warn you that only Christian names are admissib'e to-night.”

“I am afraid that I may make m.stakes. What happens if I call you Mr. Ingram?” "This,” said I, “kissing her hand, "only much worse.” “Oh,” gasped the girl. "Then 1 mils be very careful —Jack.” How sweet it sounded after the littl - pause that she made before my name. I am afraid that I forgot all about Vera, and would have witnessed her on the arm of Howard with hardly a pang. “But you have not told me your name yet,” I remarked. “You may call me Cissie,” she said with a laugh, and then, after a moment’s hesitation, “I am afraid 1 cannot tell you my other name.” “Never mind about that, Cissie,” I said cheerfully, as we began to dance. “There is plenty of time for that later on.” “Yes,” she said, with a sigh so full of sadness that I stopped. “Why, what is th,e matter?” I said in a horrified tone. “Yon aren’t married, are you?” “Oh, no,” she answered, indignantly. “You don’t think I should be married at seventeen, do you? And behave like this, too?” “So she is only seventeen,” I mused, half aloud. “That explains the governess.” “Yes,” she replied, merrily, “that explains the governess. And now you mustn't ask any more questions.” When the music stopped we were still

dancing. She danced divinely, and sigh ed as we came to a standstill.

I piloted my partner to a quiet spot, which I had, alas! already used before that evening.

“My governess,” she expostulated, but sat down all the same. “She will take care of herself very well for half an hour,” I remarked. “And, besides, she will never find us here. It took me half the evening to discover.”

"How many girls have you brought here already?” she queried, suspiciously. It was an awkward question to answer, but at that moment Vera and Howard appeared, hastily retreating as they saw us. Oh, that arrant little flirt, Vera. I had shown her this spot, and now she was bringing Howard here. I was speechless with indignation. I obtained permission to smoke a cigarette, a thing I always do when embarrassed. One cannot give an immediate answer while lighting a cigarette.

“As you are a Spaniard to-night, you make smoke, too,” I said, offering her my case. It was a brilliant idea. If she smoked, and I thought .die would, being only seventeen, she would have to unmask. If not, the refusal would bring us to another subject. To my delight she took one. “Now let me assist you,” I said, touching the mask. “But we are quite alone,” she asked, still hesitating. “If anyone should recognise me I should get into an awful row, and it is so hot and uncomfortable.” “Put it here beside you. If anyone should come we shall hear their steps, and you can put it on in a moment. Do please take it off,” I entreated. “I do so want to see you.” “I warn you that you may be terribly disappointed,” she said. “And what will you do if I am not —pretty?”

“I’ll run the risk of that,” 1 said, as I unfastened the clasp behind. “Oh, how could you be* so cruel ?" I exclaimed, as her blushing faee was unveiled. She was really lovely, and her rich colour heightened the sweetness of her face that 1 quite lost my head. "It is a sin,” I cried, "to cover up such loveliness." "Y u must stop paying such extravagant compliments or 1 shall put the mask on again,” she said, blushing still more divinely. "Compliments!” 1 exclaimed, indignantly, "I never pay compliments.” "Mr Ingram,” she began. Did she do it on purpose? But she jumped up, a picture of delightful wrath. “How could you ?” she cried, “I am going back to my governess at once, please take me.” And she began to put on her mask. "1 can’t say that 1 am honestly sorry,” 1 began. "For 1 have told you' the penalty of using surnames at carnival time. Sit down, and when I have explained I will take you back if you are still angry.” \\ ith reluctance she sat down, but not so-close. "This is your first carnival, I think, Cissie,” I begau. She nodded. "I thought so, aud now to prevent further misunderstandings, 1 must tell you that the use of surnames is punishable by what you have so justly received.” "But how could I know?” exclaimed Cissie. “Ignorance of the law can be taken as no excuse.” "You see after all,” I went on, edging back to my former position, “I acted within my rights. And having a great love for justice, 1 hope you will forgive me for my inflexible rendering of the law." 1 took her hand. "Must you go back yet?” She didn't move, neither did she draw her hand from mine. “Do you think you could break the law again," 1 whispered. "The penalty is trebled, when it is done wittingly.”

"I—l don't know," she murmured, softly-. "And 1 like Jack so much, the name I mean,” she added hurriedly. "Still," I objected “if no one ever broke laws life would be very’ dull. Besides what, would the judges do? I think." 1 said, slowly, “that I must treat you as a hardened and incorrigible criminal to-night.” "What will you think of me. Jack?” she whispered. "Think of you?” I exclaimed. "Why that you are just the sweetest little girl 1 have ever known, and after all, it is the carnival." "Yes," she repeated, with a glance that intoxicated me, "after all. it is the carnival." The Duenna was furious when I delivered over her charge half-an-hour later. She bundled her oft' at once and took absolutely no notice of me, beyond giving me terrible looks of rage. "Good-bye, Mr Ingram," said Cissie mischievously, "And thank y’ou for a very pleasant evening.” "Punishment is deferred," 1 answered meaningly and, laughing at the Duenna's look of perplexity, I lifted my hat and gave my most courtly bow. 1 walked home on air. I hardly thought of Vera and that creature Howard. 1 even found excuses for their outrageous conduct. I had not left Cissie without making a rendezvous for the morrow at the picture gallery’. I had chosen an hour when my knowledge told me the gallery was always empty, and 1 dreamt of her the rest of the night. I awoke with thoughts of Cissie, her picture was before me till the time came to wend my way to the gallery. Of course I arrived half-an-hour too soon, and hardly noticed the look of surprise with which the

custodian favoured me. To him, an art student spending carnival time in picture galleries was like a railway guard travelling in a train for pleasure on a hard-earned holiday. The man even tried to enter into conversation with me which sorely tried my patience. At last, being a man of the world, xny repeated glances at my watch gave him an inkling of the truth, and with a benevolent smile he retired. The appointed hour struck outside on the Rathaus clock, five minutes passed, the quarter sounded. I had given up all hopes when a little figure appeared, breathless and excited. It was Cissie at last, though in the first moment I hardly recognised her in the sombre and every day dress of modern times. “They were watching me,” she said, “I have had such difficulty in getting away.” “Come into this room,” I said. “It is quieter. Now tell me who you are for I have thought of nothing but you, Cissie, since we parted last night.” Tears stood in her eyes, and I took

her tenderly in my arms. She made no pretence of resisting to-day. "Are they cruel to you?” 1 went on. "Who are watching you, and why cannot you tell me your name? That Duenna woman is not your mother, and yet she seems to have a power over you. Tell me darling, perhaps 1 can help you.”

She smiled sadiy and shook her head.

“No, Jack, they are not cruel to me and neither can you help me. Yet I have been really happy for the first time in my life last night—and now—” she looked up to me sweetly. 1 kissed her, but my mystification increased.

“I love you, Cissie. It is true that I am only a poor student, but then we are both young. In a few years who knows. Perhaps I can claim you and take you away from these extraordinary surroundings. Do you think you could wait for me?” Again she shook her head with the same sad smile. I grew desperate. “Cannot you tell me what is the matter?” I exclaimed. “You aren’t a nun, and we are in the nineteenth century. Yet you behave as if you were a prisoner or a slave.” “Yes, Jack,” she said “you are quite right. I am a prisoner and cannot act on my own free will, neither now nor in the future. Therefore we must say good-bye to-day for ever. I came to say good-bye to you Jack, and you must not make it harder for me. We have only known each other for a few hours and we shall forget. Do you read the papers?” she asked, suddenly. “Sometimes,” I answered.

“Look at the morning paper then and forgive me if I have caused you pain. I believe I shall think more of our meeting than you will. For you, it is nothing, more than an episode, for me it is a breath of freedom and—love. Kiss me, Jack, once more.” I had hardly released her from a long embrace, when I noticed a lady in black nearing us with rapid steps. “You see,” said Cissie, with wet eyes, “I have been followed.” “But,” I began, angrily “What does this mean?” “Your Royal Highness has been missed,” said the lady in black, with a glance at me, and making marked reverence to Cissie. “That is what it means,” said Cissie, turning to me. “Good-bye, Mr Ingram—Jack, and forgive me.” I kissed her hand in silence, and stood as one petrified. When I recovered they were gone, and I found a bunch of violets in my hand.