Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-21
mARDr cRAs ~ SEW oRLEANs.

We extract the following felicitous de-
scription of Marli Gras--the great festi-
val day in New 0rleans-from letter Of
Cousin Nourma' 1t will be observed
that special mention is made of one of
Nashville's bellies and all who know her
will concede that the compliment is
worthily bestowed
Memphis Avalanche Correspondence.
ASH WEDNESDAY, Feb 26th, 1885, on
are doubtless aware that Shrove Tuesday
is the end Of the carnival, and is observed
in this city with sll the peculiarities that
attach to the holiday in the Latin countries
Of Europe. During the day preceding
Lent, it is time-honored custom here for
the people to abandon themselves to the
fun and frolic that Menus and his inge-
Mus agents devise. Hence it occurs that
Wdrdi Grds is especially the festival day of
the year with us, and during its season the
people mask and riot in queer obseryanees
of the times. In accordance, therefore,
with this arrangement the world Of New
Orleans and its hosts of strangers from
every portion of the world, were on the
principal thoroughfares of the city at an
early hour yesterday to see and participate
In the carnival Of fun and frolic. The day
was not too warm, somewhat clouded, and
at times the crowds were dispersed by &C.
casional showers of rain, but altogether the
weather was exceedingly propitious and
pleasant. Immense masses of spectators
gathered on the streets and banquettes, bal
comics and bowers along Canal and other
streetS where the maskers mostly congre-
gated, and by 8 P. NJ, the whole city seemed
to have poured out its teeming thousands
of people into the space of a few squares
in this vicinity. Every imaginable work
that human ingenuity could invent was
represented.
When night set in the city was ablaze
with lights and resonant with music.
Thousands of eager and watchful specta-
tors lined the streets and sidewalks along
the supposed route of the Alistic Krewe of
COmus. The inVineible secrecy of this Or
ganization is perhaps its greatest peculiari-
~, and the mystery that surrounds its
movements, etc, create the most intense
curiosity among the people. Previous to
their sudden and mysterious appearance,
the whole city was alive with surmises and
anticipations of their whereabouts, but to
the utter amazement Of the most positive
guessers, the procession appears where it
is least expected sometimes it springs,
like magical trick, from the very center
of the thickest crowds. Last night the
Krewe gave magnificent representation
ofthe incidents, paraphernalia, equipments
and appearances of that georgeonsly illus
trated poetry of oriental life-Moore's Lal-
lab Rookh. In the procession there were
some queer representations of elephants,
banners, palanquins, divans, Tnrks slaves
and all the thousand and one quaint and
beautiful incidentals that are described
in the musical sentences of the
poets utterances. After the usual
street ceremonies of the Mistics, they
went to the Varieties Theaier, and pre-
scented TO an immense select audience a &C.
ries OF tableaus, illustrative of the scenes
| described in Lallah Rookh. The repre-
sensations were not only supurb in the
equipments, but very gorgeous in their
decorations and scenic effects" The
tableaus-" Heaven and the Peri"-were,
perierct masterpieces of scenic display and
ELECTED from the immense audience rap
turous applause. The entire exhibition
evidenced much genius and care on the
part Of the managers.
Last night one of the most brilliant col
lections of beautiful ladies that has ever
been seen inside the Varieties was present
to honor the scene. The elite and wealth
and worth Of the city were there. From
point near the stage, the scene that was
displayed by the varigated colors, magniii-
cent dresses and gorgeous housings, was
dazzling beyond description. Every seat
was filled with the beautiful lady guests,
and the bright picture was one of such ex-
| quisite elegance that it is impossible it
should ever fade from the memory of the
| fortunate beholder.
A vast number of visitors from other
sections were there, vieing with the mag
uificent residents in display for charms
and graces From Tennessee the most
notable and prominent Of her exquisite
beauty, was Miss Mamie Men, of Nash
1 Vile. Her head is surrounded with soft
golden hair that floods her lovely face in
an aureola of light, her eyes as soft and
tender as violets, her neck the perfection
of form and grace, and her general ETHEREAL
appearance made her the cynosure of all
eyes, the admiration of the audience, and
the beautiful blonde was the toast of the
gentlemen. Nashville was fortunate in
having this magnificent lady to represent
its elegant and charming society on this
brilliant occasion. .
The festivities of Mardi Gras run riot as
the morning approached. All over the
city there was heard throughout the night
the sounds of music and dance and revelry
At midnight the Mistielos gave the floor tc
a thousand dancers, and until the soft, grey
morn, when the matin bells were calling
TO prayer, the dancers were tripping off the
minutes from the points of satin slippers
and with feet that had not yet wearied o
the work. AT all the other theatres and
ball rooms, there were dances and parties
the night long Every thing was under
he spell of st. Nitus. Down town tht
cun-edn held sway, and matters we're de
cidedly Partisan in style and appearance