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4io The Book of Indoor and Outdoor Games |
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tering beaming smiles impartially on the spectators as they passed along the sunny path.
Upon their heels came a noisy, disorderly mob of men and women, roaring forth the "Marseillaise." Each wore the revolutionary "bonnet rouge " and a tricolour cockade, and was made to look as disreputable as disorderly garment, unkempt hair, and red paint could make him. A barrel was rolled forward, upon which a young woman was helped to mount and shouted an incendiary speech amid the tumultuous applause of her companions, whereupon they resumed their march and song.
Next came a procession of white-robed nuns, who chanted a selection from the church music of the fifteenth century.
A band of picturesquely attired gypsies sang to the accompaniment of tambourines, much beribboned, a song of Romany.
One of the most successful effects was the "Christmas Carol" represented by the daughter of the hostess, a beautiful girl, whose white dress covered with mica-dust suggested the glisten and purity of snow. Her hair was wreathed with holly, and among sprays of its leaves upon her shoulders were perched some little snowbirds. She held in her hands a music-book of the old-time shape, that permitted long, unbroken lines on the page, —and sang a quaint carol that was popular in Shakespeare's time.
Tyrolese peasants sang their jodel choruses, and all were much delighted when a Scotchman in full native costume—imported from a neighbouring city for the occasion—played many of the songs of his native land, contriving to coax real music from his curious instrument.
All were feasted by the generous hospitality of the |
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