Eureka Daily Sentinel

The Carnival.
Terpsichore On Ice - Lightens the Frozen Zone.
Last night was a bad one for the thugs on the back streets. Everybody was at the Eureka Skating Rink, as well as everybody's uncle and niece. There must have been 400 persons under the canvas at half-past 9 o'clock, of whom nearly 200 were skaters. The rest were lookers-on. The masks were not generally striking or grotesque, though there were a few disguises that would do credit to the sketch artist of a comic almanac. Sheets was the prevailing dress. Most people look alike enveloped in a sheet, and there is undoubtedly some monotony in a sheety costume. There was somebody gotten up in a balloony outfit that took the cake. Whether it was a man or a woman, or neither, or whether it represented a Chinaman or Chinawoman, it was not easy to say; nor is it easy to tell right now, after much reflection. But it was a tremendously funny figure. An inflated horizontal sack for hair; parabolic breeches, bow-legged and dropsical to the fullest extent. It would seem that any stretching of the nether garment of this uncertain character would have left him or her, as the case may be, in the proverbial embarrassment of being caught with the breeches down. But it was not so, and it is likely that the escape from the ragged edge of the exposure made the people laugh. Don't know what else. This was the cynosure figure of all eyes during the earlier part of the evening. He, she or it lost some prestige though, when the sheet covering of a tall individual went asunder in front and he had to be caught and pinned up to be prevented from giving himself away. This is all said presumably of the males that decked the ice, although it is pleasanter to be deceived and to feel sometimes that ignorance is bliss and that it is a matter of no moment whether you know the difference between a man and a woman. The baldheads will all appreciate this, although they may pretend not to tumble to so icy an intimation. There was a tall man, no doubt about him, decked out in a suit of cards. He was playing to win, but his hand was too much exposed. His shuffling gait was good, however, and he would have taken in the pot if he had had four aces when he was called down. There were some gentlemen undisguised, who were possibly afraid to spoil their looks with masks. They were unadorned and lost nothing by appearing in propria persona. If there is beauty in curved lines these gentlemen will be beautiful hereafter, if there is no Hell, and they describe mathematical curves in their ascent to heaven. The cream of manhood was in the figures of the Athletics. It is a pity that these fellows were disguised. Nothing so knightly as a Knight. The Mills grind slowly, but fine; and from the Smithy sparklets sometimes fly. Nellie Folli's comment ce va called up Girouette roufla. Inspiration of Oates - the high kicker, or possibly rye, though the kicking is not all awry. Monday, dear boy, first day of the week, kept his sweet voice at a squeak, and that ends the tale about him. President Baker swore he'd never forsake her, but he glided so rough, she gave him a rebuff and he said he would drop her; thank heavens she responded, Mr. Baker. The music was really good. We have never heard "Marching Through Georgia" better rendered anywhere. If General Sherman had been here he could not have survived the first playing. Jeff. Works, renowned for his delicacy of sentiment and niceness of discrimination, barred out all the "bads" of the community; hence the performance was clean. There was not a single bad break made during the entire evening. There were a few ladies who did not wear sheets and pillow-cases, notably one pretty figure that wore flannel with the rough side outwards. There was another lady who was elaborately dressed in curls. This was a pleasant reminder of the earlier and purer days of the Republic All of which is said without fear, favor or mental reservation.