New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-02-26
MARDI-GRAs FESTIVITIES.

very uuluut anu dttTdCtNt uAduIltE. Lucy WtuG /
through the streets at O'Clock with torchlights,
about as much resembling deputation from the
lower regions as the mind could possibly conceive.
The masks displayed every fantastic idea Of the fear
full and horrible whilst their effect was softened down
by the richness and beauty Of the costumes and the
evident decorum of the devils inside.
After going through the principal streets. to the
great astonishment and admiration of the outsiders,
and calling upon Mayor Waterman-for the purpose,
suppose of obtaining license to rase the super
natural in the Gaiety theater they proceeded to that
elegant establishment in order to entertain the host
of guests they had summoned. It may easily be |
guessed that after the brief theatrical perform
ance had closed, and the audience dispersed, it was
again filed with the guests to the festival
The interior of the theater was decorated with
profuson of hangings, wreaths and festoons of flow
ers, arranged in manner more beautiful if possible,
than on the night of the grand ball Of the stock
holders. The parquette had been foored even with
the stage for the tabeaux Of the Mstick Krewe and
the ball that was to follow In short time after the
doors were thrown open all the space inside, apart
from the floor and stage, was jammed with an audi
ence composed of the elite of Louisiana and the
adjacent States-none being in mask but the Krewe,
but the fashionable and costly costumes of the ladies
adding much to the brilliancy Of the scene.
In due time the Mistick Krewe appeared on the
stage, in the full glare of the lights. If may so
speak, they were beautiful in their ugliness-charm
ing in their responsiveness. Such masks were never
seen in New Orleans before. There were upwards of
hundred Of them, and no two alike, whilst all
were grotesque to the last degree. As may be
inferred, they represented the different characters
with which religion, mythology and poesy have peo.
pied the Internal Regions, and which Milton has ag-
gregated in his Paradise Lost We will not under
take to describe the masks and costumes-it is
enough to say that they displayed fertility of fancy
and disregard of expense which captivated all be-
holders.
Four tableaux were given The first represented
Tartarus. The characters in this scene were Pluto
and Proserpne presiding the three Fates Clotho
Lachesis, and Atropos the three Fairies, Alecto,
Tisiphone, and Margara the three Harpies, 4Ello,
Ocyphete and Ceeno the three Gorgons, Medusa,
Sthreno, and Euryale; with Ixion, Sisyphus, Tanta-
lus, Minotaur, Cerberus, Charon and Chmera. All
being arranged in classic attitudes, they were flooded
with colored lights in manner most beautiful to be-
hold.
The second tableau was The Expulsion. In this
were represented Satan, Beelzebub, Moloch, Dagon
Belal Isis, Osiris, Mammon, and host of other Infer
mails. The third tableau represented the Conference
of Satan and Beezebub. The fourth and last repre-
sented Pandemonum. This was most magnificent
spectacle in which the passions of Gluttony Drunken
ness, Incidence, Avarice, Murder, Vanity, Theft,
Discord Lcentousness and Jealousy were personated,
all being presided over by Satan and fanked in by
| Sin and Death.
The different tableaux were arranged in accord
ance with descriptions in Miltons immortal poem,
and they were acted out truly and successfully, in
manner which reflected the highest credit upon the
poetic taste and judgment of the gentlemen compo-
sing the " Mistck krewe OF Comus" 1t is needless
to say that these representations, being somewhat
new in New Orleans, afforded the highest pleasure to
the %udence-a pleasure which was manifested in
the highest and most unmistakable manner.
At the conclusion of the ableaux the barriers
removed and the brilliant audience present surged
forth upon the dancing floor to indulge in the revel
ries of the dance the promenade and the teteatete.
The Mistck krewe, having disbanded dispersed amid
the crowd and joined in the dance, in manner which
showed them to be very gentlemanly and agreeable
devils. 4 The manner in which they preserved their
ncognto, and the propinquty their DISCUSSES, which
stood the test of close inspection afforded equal
pleasure to the gay throng of guests. When we left
the theater it densely crowded in every part and
a scene of brliancy and enjoyment, such as is not
to be surpassed Another very pleasant part of the
night we spent at the ball Of the
| YOUNG MEMS SOCIETY.
Odd Fellows Hall was crowded with the array Of
youthful beauty and vivacity which the reunions O
the Young MEMS Society never fail to call forth
Every District in the city was represented and i
being MardtGras, very large proportion of tn,
dancers were in mask and fancy costume. Th
warmth of the night, however, rendered masks un
comfortable, and towards morning there We're yer,
few faces concealed. As we dance once in while
Joined in the sstvity, and tried in vain to decd
which District was represented by the most charmn!
bellies. We polkaed with beautiful princess of tn
First District and decided in favor of the First. w
varsoyied with Creole queen of beauty and grace
from the Second District, and changed our mind
We waltzed with most captivating nun from tn,
Third District, only to have previous opinions
completely upset. And then we sehottisched with
sylph from the Fourth District, personating Ameri
ca with such a change of opinion that we finally
decided we had no opinion at all. Really, what is
susceptible young man to do, at ball like this?
An attractive feature of the ball was the appear
ance of the W. K.s"-White Knights, we suppose
for all were dressed after the fashion of Gabriel Rave
in his White Knight presentations. They were very
completely disguised, and went through variety o
antics, appropriate to Mardi-Gras, after which they
disappeared as suddenly as they came. Whence they
came and whittier they went did not learn, being
too much interested in the aforementioned bellies tc
pay particular regard to them. The ball went of
like pleasant dream, and all went home with re
gret that Mardi-Gras was over.
OTHER FESTIVITIES.
Not being ubiquitous, we could not be present a
all the balls that took place, or at any than thu
two above described. We are credbly informed
however, that the masquerade of Mr. Ruifier, at thu
Orleans theater, was fully as brilliant and delightful
an affair any of its predecessors. There We're mas
querades also in the Fourth District and Jefferson
City, under auspices which we know must have mad
them delightful to all who attended not to speak O
private soirees in different parts of the city, given b.
those who prefer home under any and all circum
| stances
So, the rush of gaety-or at least the dancing par
OF its over for the season; and a more bran
season of such amusements has never frightened on
Crescent City annals. There will be balls hereafter
but at eisurely intervals proportoned to the ncreas
ing warmth of the weather.
STRANGE CAsE.-James DAILY died some time ag
1,Io Tn,