What's a Calathumpian?

I love this:  I was perusing the Little Falls Herald newspaper this morning (while this soup cooked). I was using the search words "Otremba" and "buffalo".  I found a few clippings that I'll save for another post, but yes, Frank had a buffalo head stuffed and mounted in 1903, just so ya know.

Anyway, this particular issue was from July 3rd, 1903, and along with a mention of the dances that would take place in Hartmanns new building on the north end of Pierz and at Blakes hall on the south end, I found this description of the plans for the fourth in Little Falls.  Read thru it--our ancestors really knew how to whoop it up... ☺
 But see the word "calathumpians" there? A word used so casually that most readers must have known what it  meant, and WE have never heard it before?  This merits some investigating, especially since there were separate prizes for them (or offered by them?) after the parade.  

Calathumpians--Hmm...there were lots of related meanings, depending on your point of view, but they all seem to be based on a "word derived from the Latin “calathus” meaning a rubbish bin"; a group loosely organized around political, philosophical or religious ideals not generally accepted by the public.  There seemed to be something of the silly-musical involved, too, because the one photo I found (from Dundas, Ontario) shows men dressed as women and holding odd instruments along with a facetious political sign.

Ahhh...this concept seems pretty familiar for our relatives, doesn't it.  I doubt if dad ever said the word, but certainly, he and his friends dressed up like this for parades 30 years later. Let's all see if we can work the word into a conversation this week, ok? ☺

Reference pages:  HERE...........and HERE.  TeeHee.