New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-01
MARDI GRAS.

MARDI GRAS.
Mardi Gras, OF Shrove Tuesday, the day
before Ash Wednesday, is upon US with its
feast of merriment and good things. The
weatheris good, yea, delightful, and every
thing gives goodly promise that the feast
that Immediately precedes the fast OF our
church people will be joyful occasion to
all who enter into the festivities with
Christian spirit. A very large number OF
| persons from all sections Of our country
have been attracted to New Orleans TINS
| wear to witness the amusements OF this
dav. and it is to be hoped nothing Will oc-
| cur to mar the pleasure that should be In
store for all, In other countries the festi-
vities that precede Lent are observed to
much greater degree than here, many
days being enumerated as days
| of enjoyment. In Rome the
fast Of Lent, which continues forty days,
is preceded by feast of three days,
called the carnival This, says an
eminent writer. is the origin OF
the present carnival or Faschisgs as it il,
called in the south OF Germany, and which
continues in that country from the twelfth
day to Ash Wednesday. The name carni-
val is derived from the Latin words
carne and yale according to Ducange,
from the Latin denomination of the feast
in the middle ages, cdrne cranaen), be-
cause, at that time, people took leave OF
flesh. Previously to the commencement
of their long abstinence, men devoted
themselves to enjoyment, particularly
during the three lat days of the carnival.
The carnival is nothing but the saturnalia
of the christian Romans who could not
forget their pagan festivities. At least it
greatly resembles the satarnalia, which
were celebrated annually in December,
with all kinds of mirth, pleasure and free
dom, in honor of Saturn, and the golden
age, when he governed the world, and to
preserve the remembrance of liberty
and equality of men in the youth of the
world. In Rome the carnival brought tc
view, in lively manner, the old satur
MALTA in new form. During the last days
of the carnival and particularly during the
day which preceded the long fast, mum
meries, plays, tricks and freedom
of every kind abounded. From Italy
the modern satcrnalia passed to the othe1
Christian countries of Europe. The car
, niyal is celebrated in modern times, witt
the greatest show and spirit at Venice and
Rome. In the former place it begins after
Christmas. The diversions of it are
shows, masquerades, the amusements o
, the place of ST. Mark, and sometimes, II
/ case of the visit, of the great princes,
, regatta OF boat race. After this there wal
second carnival at Venice, the Venitia1
mass, called also the festival Of thu
Ascension, and the Brecentaur fes
: tival, because it commonly began
t on Ascension day, and becaus'
the celebration of the marriage o
the Doge with the Adriatic SCI
was connected with it. II continued four
teen days No character masks Wer
e worn there, except Venetian dominos
> The carnival at Rome is occupied mostl
. in masquerades and races.
. The custom is an ancient and religion
one, that belongs to Catholic countries
In former years, in this city, Mardi Gras
the day that Immediately precedes tn
> Inauguration of Lent, was cele
brated in manner becoming
> Christian people, all classes entering
into its festivities with proper and be
coming spirit. But for some years pre-
% vious to the breaking out Of the grea
: rebellion, the custom had become mucl
. abused in this city from the fact that ba
o men and women sought to make it da
O. of debauchery and crime; and during tn
o reign of Know Nothingism the day wa
often polluted and disgraced by the act
y of men, who, feeling safety in disguise
J. did not hesitate to murder those who wer
e politically opposed to them. 1t is
G be hoped that .better day ha
:, again dawned upon New Orleans, an
d that cur people will be permitted to agai
enter upon the festivities of the day an
II night of Mardi Gras as of old; that mirtf
It pleasure and freedom may reign suprem
st for the time being, in remembrance OF tn
IS liberty and equality Of men in the yout
u Of the world, and of their good feeling &c
% one another. Let their sack cloth an
ashes be not rendered necessary to wir
: out crime, but to remind them of the tim
e for exercising abundantly every species
!, charity toward those less fortunate tina
. themselves.
q THE SCHOOL BILL IN THE SENATE.
a The school bill, as it passed the Hou;
So of Representatives, should pass the Sci
ate and become the law of the State.
>, The great fault of the law Of last yes
!; was that it provided so many Boards
~ Directors in the State that it became
~ hat v,oh