DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62133#0226
210
AN ART-STUDENT IN MUNICH.
dance, were altogether something very pleasing to witness.
The musicians were clad in the same costume; and on the
ground before them stood a graceful little pyramid of some
light-coloured wood, on which were painted stripes of
bright blue. On this stood an elegant little barrel, with a
basket containing glasses, out of which wine and beer, the
contents of the pyramid and the barrel, were drunk in
honour of the noble Minister of War,—who, of course,
was witnessing the performance.
On the ground also lay hoops twisted with white and blue
ribbons, which were ever and anon snatched up and used in
the figures of the dance. Also there were—that I should so
long have omitted to mention them !—two lively harlequins,
whose business seemed rathed to interrupt than to assist in
the dance. Various were the antics which they played on
the crowd of spectators:—perhaps in traditional memory
of the feats of the Schaffler of old. One seized on a rosy-
faced girl who was quietly looking on, and twirled her
away into the centre of the dance,—much to the merri-
ment of the crowd, and her own real, or apparent annoy-
ance, for she tried in vain to hide her face in her shawl.
The dance lasted perhaps three-quarters of an hour; and
then, to the sound of music, the dancers marched in pro-
cession gallantly up the street.
This Schaffler Tanz may be almost considered as the
commencement of the Carnival. We already hear on all
sides of balls and masquerades and see people in milliners',
printsellers', and booksellers' shops consulting prints of
costume and fancy dresses. Masks, hideous, grotesque-
the masks of animals, of demons, and the black romantic
half-mask,—are exhibited in numberless windows in the
town.
MILITIA BALL AND MASKED ACADEMY.
I saw in the little daily paper, “ The Latest News," an
announcement of a grand ball to be given in the Ocleon,
AN ART-STUDENT IN MUNICH.
dance, were altogether something very pleasing to witness.
The musicians were clad in the same costume; and on the
ground before them stood a graceful little pyramid of some
light-coloured wood, on which were painted stripes of
bright blue. On this stood an elegant little barrel, with a
basket containing glasses, out of which wine and beer, the
contents of the pyramid and the barrel, were drunk in
honour of the noble Minister of War,—who, of course,
was witnessing the performance.
On the ground also lay hoops twisted with white and blue
ribbons, which were ever and anon snatched up and used in
the figures of the dance. Also there were—that I should so
long have omitted to mention them !—two lively harlequins,
whose business seemed rathed to interrupt than to assist in
the dance. Various were the antics which they played on
the crowd of spectators:—perhaps in traditional memory
of the feats of the Schaffler of old. One seized on a rosy-
faced girl who was quietly looking on, and twirled her
away into the centre of the dance,—much to the merri-
ment of the crowd, and her own real, or apparent annoy-
ance, for she tried in vain to hide her face in her shawl.
The dance lasted perhaps three-quarters of an hour; and
then, to the sound of music, the dancers marched in pro-
cession gallantly up the street.
This Schaffler Tanz may be almost considered as the
commencement of the Carnival. We already hear on all
sides of balls and masquerades and see people in milliners',
printsellers', and booksellers' shops consulting prints of
costume and fancy dresses. Masks, hideous, grotesque-
the masks of animals, of demons, and the black romantic
half-mask,—are exhibited in numberless windows in the
town.
MILITIA BALL AND MASKED ACADEMY.
I saw in the little daily paper, “ The Latest News," an
announcement of a grand ball to be given in the Ocleon,