New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-02
U-ILITE.

The genius Of free institutions relieves
men of any especial awe Of antiquity. The
fact that one generation found system
applicable to their wants does not entail
any obligation upon their successors 70
pursue the same sygta.,. unless it shall be
found 10 promote the object for which it
was founded. The principles Of truth
being immutable as the physical qualities
of gravitation and attraction. must be
maintained by each generation by such
systems as may best effect tina: object.
Whether these systems may DE original Or
der!yative is a matter of small corsidera-
ton. Hence. the notifications constantly
imposed by Americans upon institutions
either effete or Intellectual. Hence the
natural tendency to utilize these institu-
tons by adapting them to modern !ur-
poses. Among the innumerable evI-
dences OF this tendency. We were struck
with the entirely new phase of the Mardi
Gras celebration. impaired by the Ameri-
can mode Of its observance. Ash We'd
nesday was, in the early centuries of the
Christian Church. consecrated as day Of
mourning and penitence. Men We're adj
monished memsnto Iuod Girls es. and
in their memory that they were but
dust. Ashes were sprinkled On the
heads Of the people. This cere-
monial, while formally celebrated in
the churches with due appreciation Of
the sentiment it was intended to comment
crate, had grown to signify different idea.
11ardi Gras, or Shroye Tuesday. was in
like manner one of the days Immediately
preceding Ash Wednesday. ancient days
of preparation for the penitential time Of
Lent. The chief part of this preparation
consisted in receiving the sacrament of
penance, that is, in confessing and being
shriyen or shrove for the antecedent sins
committed. An indulgence for relaxation
having been allowed after the penitentia!
acts, it grew to be season rather dedi-
Gated to the ease than to the mortifca-
ton of the flesh. Here Mardi Gras
has been celebrated by masqueraders
during the day and by professions
at might. illustrative OF the arts.
history or literature. It had grown 70 be
a period OF revels. The American came
prospecting. Being. as q genera. thing
a very hard-Leaded Protestant. after tyac-
ing his lineage fro,A the prosecutions Of
Henry and Mary. he looks upon the pa
geantry of the day and tie attendant
thousands as upon any other public spec
tacle. Now. it occurs to this American.
usually engaged in some industrial
interest. that the occasion Of such al ass
senblage may be turned to good account.
The result OF this cOgitat:On is that it
will be favorable occasion to exhibit
the commodity or invention in which
he mav be interested. So there come, first
Al organization. military III its design
and details. After the king. knights, men
at arms and navy comes I recession -.
the corn mill and tn. SEWN. machine. tie
fertilizer and yeas! powder. the Carr"
cabins and the products OF our genial eli
mate. Who could have anticipated a dis
play o: our products so varied and 50 ELI
couraging: Denver City. an American
creation which has sprung from tie Ia
cite railroad. was represented. The cent?
inc heads Of buf.loes lro,A the plains
were presented TO the people Of New Or
leans. The attractions Of DenTer city rs
4 home and field of enterprise were atTo-
Gated. ~ an advertisement. the
was an entire success.
The press .. New p..oans >houil apply
for an Injunction to prevent this
di ;pi.y Of enterprise before more than
on. hundred thousand people hy si9n>
and inscriptions which should bc con-
veyed only by the newspapers. Bat while
y small proportion OF our people read IL"
same language, all can read the attt"c;''e
spectacle which paase; befo.e them.
Shroye Tuesday. then. was converted
from its former Use as !, medium Of plea
sure. often Of follies. 1t WAS mad. 70
minister not merely to the amusement.
but instruction 0. society. It impressed