The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-03-01
LETTER FROM NEW ORLr,,s
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF Tn.
DEMOCRAT. %
New ORLEANS, La,
February q ia.,
MARDI GRAS.

NEW ORLEANS, La.
MARDI GRAs.
Tuesday, the 2lst inst, tile sun
n a bright, clear sky, and all fear.
,ad weather disappeared, and the nse
pie prepared to have a good tim.
There were strangers here from D..
ION, New York, st. Louis and an n,,..
Of the country, who had coms
pressly to see the sights of Mardi c..
AS early as two o'clock maskers ~
peared on the streets, and their mn
bers constantly increased until aho..
FIVE o'clock p. NJ, when there x.,.
more out than remember to have er..
seen before. l went with a friend
hardware merchant from North-e,sts,.
Texas, who had come down to see -.
sights and buy his goods. FIRST r.
called at Rice Bros. & Co., 80 and O,
Camp street, who are not only agent,
for the justly celebrated Charter O,t
Stoves, but are also extensive dealers
in foreign and domestic hardware, emf.
lery, clocks, plantation implements
&C., keeping n stock on hand equal 10
any house in the Southern country
After he had given his orders there Ma
sailed forth, and the first crowd Wa
saw was an excellent buriesque of the.
vendors of Shoe Ely candy-a crowd
in a cab selling zone more at the same
price," All through the streets tbere
were representatives of all sorts of odd
and grotesque characters. The crowd
on the streets increased as night drew
near. Coming down town about seven
in the evening, from Delord to Canal.
on Camp street the crowd was almost
impossible. Both sidewalks were fuIll
and many took the streets in erder to
get along easier. Other streets were
Just as full, and the galleries, windows
and door steps were crowded with Ia
dies and children aud their escorts. It
was truly a beautiful sight to see.-
There must have been over a hundred
thousand people on the route anncunc.
ed by the
MIsTICK KREwE OF coMUs,
all anxiously awaiting their appear.
ance.~ The spectacle presented when
these magnificent maskers did come
well repaid their patience. The pro.
cession was founded on Spencers Fai.
RE Queene, and al elegantly gctter
up. As usual, they called on the May
or at the City Hall and were weleomet
by Mayor Flanders in a neat aud ap
, propriate speech, after which the bat
terry of Light Artillery under captai
Sauires, fired a salute in honor Of ID
Krewe. At the
OPERA HOUSE
L the scene was magnificent beyond de
: cription. Imagine two tiers Of ell
/ gantly dressed ladies in silks and viii
satins, in white swiss and other fl
, dresses, flashing jewels, bright ey
!, and happy faces. hundreds of beautif
ladies, like an immense bouquet
h flowers, without a thorn among the'
'e 1.-THE gentlemen were all excluded al
:" sent to the lobbies Or upper tiers, il
agine such a scene and you have sol
Ks idea of the grand spectacle present
ut by the audience. There were five ia
IN leaux-First, "The Moral Virtue!
Second, "Combat between the Knis
h. of the Red Cross and Sans JOY = Thi
I'll "The House of MammOn y Fonr
IL, "Change,n and Fifth, "Victory,n
V. supposed ending of the Poets ccnc'
.ef The subject was well chosen and N
its admirably presented, and this ye'
ne turnout will long be considered one
the creates. triumphs of the Mist
cs Krewe. After the tableaux the
he commenced, and the guests com
I'M down from the tiers, went on the s.
and mingled with the Krewe in ses
dances. At twelve o'clock the Nj
SIS. disappeared, but the merry scene
continued, and when l left at I
lie o'clock, the bellies and beaux CAV
',,ss sign of wishing to separate. II
in altogether Mardi Gras has been OF
of the pleasantest holidays we have
'u, had, the weather was beautiful am
erybody seemed TO enter with zcsi
the ceremonies of the time. L.
of now with us and for n season
IN routes aud balls, parties and we'd
III" will be suspended.
EUGENE GoSs