The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-14

procession, and what followed, proved how false
were the prognostics of the general. The Krewe
passed up by the statue, by the Pickwick Club
and there II was that q small mouse was smelt BY
| the knowing ones assembled; the kisses, waited
by the Misticks in sleeps clothing, to the gentle
men on the Pickwickian gallery, showed-e what,
"Ask not 10 know !" Obi.
The Krewe proceeded on their way up Camp
street to Julia, down the latter street to st.
Charles, and down st. Charles to the City Hall.
where they made
Call Upon she Mayor.
As time honored ceremony as the parade of
the Krewe itself is the call made upon the mayor
by its esteemed head King Comus. People knew
this and as consequence, focked to the neigh
berhood Of the City Hall. By half.past seven
O'Clock the steps, colorado and windows were all
crowded. while on the ratings and in the trees Of
Lafayette square expectant observers were M.
merously perched. New Orleans is famous for the
crowds she can gather at short notice, but never
did she send forth denser mass Of populace than
that which waited to see King Comus enter to pay
his salute to the chief municipal officers.
And when, GROUND the corner of the Moresque
Building, flashed the lights and glittered the
psgeantry of the procession passing up Camp
street toward Julia, the crowd was all alive with
anticipation, and on its outskirts ebbed and surged
In that direction. A few minutes more aud the
head of the column turned into 81. Charles. Then
all was expectancy. There they GOMEZ there
they come 70 shouted the juveniles, cioaked the
old women, whispered the pretty girls, and sure
enough there they did come. Those who had the
privilege hurried into the mayors psrlor,
the better to observe the coming in
tervisw. A squad of policemen kept open
on the steps passage way for bis majesty. In.
side the mayors Office, books sndrecords had been
for the nonce laid aside, and lo-in their place
were festive bowls of punch and iced cakes, rich
and tempting. In waiting to receive the illustri-
Gus potentste to whom we all OF us, on the
principle Of laugh and grow fat, doubtless owe
whatever corpulency we may possess, were gath
cred good number of the city fathers and the
mayor with his secretaries, Messrs. Overall and
Bower. Quite q number of ladies and children
were also present. When lo-in the doorway sp-
peared q demoniac figure, with grotssque iea-
lures, jaws wide oped, protruding tongue, csudal
sppepdage coiled upsn his back, q crown of
huge spikes rsdiating from his Uranium. This
was the first arrival. After him came more. three
or four, of the same k all ferocious looking fellows
yet goodnatured as could be; and last Of all
Comus came slso, great, Swapping fellow ten
feet high, Of rubicund vissge, shade wed by locks
of coarse hair fsllin. far below his porty waist.
He bowed; they all bowed. Spoke then the first
visitor, he of the protruding tongue aud cooled
caudal. Said he, "Mr. Mayor, we have
called to pay you the respects of King
Comus, in accordance with the annual Gus.
TOM" The mayor expressed his satisfaction at 80
high an honor. We regret" continued the
spokesman, "that our costumes prevent q visit
by larger delegation, but hope at some future
time to call upon you more numerously." The
mayor was pleased to see them all-tendered
them the bospitsites of the city. and hoped to be
the recipient of their own at the Opera House
thatssm evening. Then the distinguished guests
withdrew, the procession resumed its march. and
the vast crowd dispersed in a twinkling in all
directions.
The Opera House.
Long before O'Clock, the hour at which it was
announced that the doors of the Opera House
would be opened, the crowd who had collected
around there was SO great as utterly to preclude
the idea that any one, however hardy and how.
ever ready to throw looks of proteststion and
words Of expostuatien, could approach the magic
portals. Ladies were there-reined and delicate
were pushed, smashed, showed, and
had their dresses torn-more, " mussed )" but who
heroically through it all held on TO the places they
had won, refusing to yield to the pressure of the
surgng crowd, who every moment grew larger
holding all their waiting and all their trouble cheap
II they could only obtain that for which their soul
longed-a good seat. Those of our readers-and
they are not few-who have ever been at one Of
tbo cifnflo vhia for fhara
MardiGrss evening around the doors of the vsre.
ties can imagine the scene in front of the Opera
House last night. II possible, it was little worse,
for the larger capacity Of the Opera House had
Induced the issue of greater number of tickets
than usual, so the scrowd was more numerous
one, every element of confusion and push in it
being thus multiplied. But at last the moment
came, the doors were opened, and with a rush
such as the damned nightmare were the gates of
Paradise thrown suddenly open to them (excuse
ladies, this rather uncomplimentsry comparison,
but really it is the only similtude which is sp.
picsble), the crowd surged into the theater, and
lurrying pell nell up stairs the fortunate and
much enduring ones at last obtained those posi-.
ions for which they had struggled SO manfully. |
Then commenced the influx of a steady stream |
AZ each party came up the stairs, It was divided |
~ the ruthless decree Of the Krewe, the ladies' |
eeking seats In the first and second tiers, the |
gentlemen being allowed choice between the |
galleries and the space immediately around the |
boxes. There was no cessation In the arrivals |
Until the Krewe, having finished their procession,
uttered the Opera House, when as the doors were |
'losed, those coming afterwards could only knock |
md bewail their own lack of punctuality.
AS to the scene within the Opera House lust |
before the curtain rose what shall we say of it! |
The dress circle and second tier were flied with |
aides, not black spot In the shape Of msscu.
inc being visible to mar the splendor of the |
picture. Dresses many colored, faces many
biased in their beauty, gsslights repeated every.
where by the jewels numberlsss, a ses of fans
moving, not in the breeze, but to make breeze,
ormed sight alone in its peculiar gorgeousness,
md never to be seen but at the entertainments of
he Mistick Krewe of Comus.
Before we go further, though. we should notice
ome of the arrangements of the house which
we're well calculated for the comfort and con-
Tenience Of the Krewe's guests. The former
method of descending from the premieres had
)een done away with and the orchestra was