The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-01

As the day wore on, the streets became
TANNED, Canal street being so full IL was
Almost impossible TO make way along 1T, while
the windows and balconies were nued wlIh
spectators. II is entirely beyond the powers
of my pen to describe the scene, ana can
only say that the whole town seemed 70 nave
entered into the spirit Of the masquerade, aha
to have put on the cap and bells LOT tnis
day, devoting Ii entirely TO carnival sports.
BY night there were not less tnan twenty
thousand people ont waiting for the APP
pearance of the Krewe, who were 20
appear somewhere near the Clay statue.
The pedestal was filled six hours before
O'Clock by about fifty persons OF both
sexes who were willing to wait that length OF
time for sight Of the strange procession.
Precisely as the clock struck, the music struck
mn. and the Krewe came up Royal street ana
crossed by the statue. Such shout as was
then given was never before heard In the Cres-
cent City. They were cheered vociferously
every step Of the way, and the crowd pressed
so closely upon the procession that Gordon OF
poIice had q difficult task to clear way lot IL.
Fifty thousand people, at least, were out mat
night The Krewe made brief call upon the
Mayor, and then repaired 10 the "Narletes.
And here was witnessed another scene That
will be long remembered in New Orleans.
Tickets had been issued with great care; the
number being limited, the person name Delpg
written on each, and "not TRANSFERABLE: In
this way the company was select, and although
embracing some three thousand persons, IT
was the elite OF the city. 1t was not alone the
festive display that gave the occasion sucn
popularity but there was political and So
cial significance that made 1T peculiar expires
sion of Southern sentiment and feeling The
" strangers f" in the city looked upon IL
rs folly; but if it was folly, 1t was
custom of the past, and one in which
no strangers could join. And besides,
despite the mystery in which the kreWe
was enveloped, it was whispered that some OF
our best citizens were behind the masks-men
who were identified with the weaker side In
the late struggle and who now held great in
fluence over the ideas and opinions OF the COM
munity. 1t was supposed, too-and perhaps
not erroneously-that some OF them were hign,
civil, naval or military officers under the late
Confederate Government, and this, OF all
things else was best calculated to rouse the
enthusiasm of this strongly Southern people
But while this was the case there was nothing
offensive, nothing that could possibly be con-
strued as an unwarranted or improper express
sion of Southern sentiment For four long
years the young people had been separated,
and now the opportunity occurred 1or lhem
to renew their old sports and to go over again
the pleasures of the past. 1t was proper that
they should, and to the harmless recreaton OF
this night no reasonable person could OBJECT.
The theatre was crowded with the loyellest
daughters of the Crescent city, ana the plaze
of beauty that shone from the large audi
torium was inimitable. New orleans mas
ever been noted for its beautiful ladies, and
the habitues of Newport ana saratoga
before the war, will very well understand the
the wide world finer scene could not be pre-
sented. Four appropriate tableaux were
given, representing the "Past," the =" Pre-
sent the " Future" and the "CourtI of
Comus, - and then at q whistle from King
Comus, who was distinguished by 4 Royal
Tigers skin the Krewe capered down the hall
towards the side boxes. Stretching out their
paws the Satyrs selected the fairest for their
partners, and in few moments picture was
presented to the spectators that carried the
mind back to those days of Tenescine games
and sports-to those times when the fertile
imaginations of the Greeks and Romans
peopled the woods and forests with Satyrs
and nymphs, and when they galloped upon
the green to that grand anapastic air-the
song of Caster, the Dorian demigod. To sum
it up In few words. it was an ebullltion OF
the Joy that overlooked the warm southern
heart at meeting again, after four years oil
war, in the wild rounds of pleasure at -HdT0'
graS.
Besides this, there were number OF MASKED
and fancy dress balls-the theatres and ordl-
nary places of amusement were closed, ana
the night was devoted to Terpsichore. The
next morning was St. Valentine day, but the
whole city was on the stool of repentance
as was fitting at the beginning of Lent-and
New Orleans had headache, and retired TO
sleep it off.
So much for one of our pleasures. In my
next / shall have something to say OF the
serious avocations of life-of busnes and the
cotton trade BOHEMIAN.