The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-25
Speculation Rife as to the Appearance
of the HMistio Krewe" and in
What Questionable Shape.
THE FOLLIES OF A NIGHT.
Four Grand Balls Announced to Give Closing
Eclat to the Great Event.
Immense Influx of Strangers Into
the City.


Mardi Gras Is o festival known at the present
time almost throughout the civilized world, al
though it's celebration is principally confined to the
Latin races, among which there is a singular una
nimity In its cemmemoration through all their
chronological fragments, however widely separated
Marking In the older communities, or those of
modern date most Latnized the elimination of q
festival period lasting over several days, when
folly reigns supreme monarch and the sober COM
monpaces OF life give way to gay conceits, we, of
the present time, look to Italy, the home of the
Latin peoples as the place Of Its Inauguration and
where 1t finds its grandest demonstration. Seek
ing here its origin, we learn that, like many other
festivals that have come to from the same
source many occasions Of Christian celebration,
where pagan traditions OF feast and holiday were
adopted into the early Church, and, dis
severed from their heather association, placed
under the patronage OF saints and martyrs ana
dedicated to their honor, it, too, antedates the
Christian era. Among the more cultivated nations
OF that PERIOD Greece and Rome, the close OF VIM
ters reign and the gentle advent OF gracious
Spring. the season of planting, the gods who were
supposed TO have charge the fruitful yielding of
the earth were propltiated in song and dance, and
the Observation-Disclosures being most hOn0red in
this respect-whle the shepherd piped his lay to
the god Priapus las the garden deity, and sought
dainty joyful, fashion.
In the Catholic Church Mardi Gras is Shrove
Tuesday, or Shrovetde, so called from the practice
recommended the faithful, and in the primitive
times generally followed, to go to confession on
that day in preparation for the better observance
Of the penitential season OF Lent Immediately fol-
lowing. Thus the merry madness OF Mardi Gras il
Illustrated not only the eliminating point OF the
ntvastic period, but the wild. reckless enjoyment OF
the flesh in its last hours, before entering upon a
protracted period Of fasting and modification
Such was, no doubt, the spirit in which the early
pastors OF the Church looked upon the froicsome
excuses Of this day but it would be too much to
assume that all the pranks that the modern cele-
bration permits, or gives opportunity for, can
claim the same fatherly Indulgence. In connection
with the recognition Of the day as Shrove Tuesday
1t has been and still is celebrated in both England
and Ireland and in some parts OF this country, as
Pancake Night, batter cakes fried on pan forming
an important part Of the evening repast.
OUR OWN REX.
Leaving out Of account in the present narrative
the carnivalistic history of Cuba, Mexico and the
different Spanish American States OF South Amer
lea. 1t Is interesting to the growth and extent
OF the carnival spirit among our own people. And
here 1t is worth while to remark that only in this
city, New Orleans where the population is largely
OF Latin extraction, does 1t find Its fullest or
grandest development. And, further, 1t will be no
ticed how the influence OF the other races repre-
sented here has toned down much OF its extrava-
gsnce or exuberance, subecting it to regulation
and discipline and bringing into welordered
demonstration, with ample opportunity for the
indulgence and display OF individual idiosyncracles
or pet presentations where desired, q spirit OF
mirthfulness previously sporadic in its exhibition
and likely to give hurt or occasion OF offence to
many worthy citizens less tolerant Of folly than they
who INDUCED in IL, while affording the criminal
classes ready chance, in Stimulating folly, to ply
their several vacations, with little risk OF detection
We have It on the authority OF Mr.. O. q. Hancock,
historiographer to the Court, now filling the high
position OF Envoy Extraordinary to the people OF
New Orleans to consult with them concerning the
reception promised His Majesty on next Tuesday,
tence, like Minerva rom the brain Of Jove, fall
armed. on January 81, 1872" Searching, however,
further back into the historic period In which New
AHTE-SArAL HONOR
TO this high and mighty parsonage we come upon
iHed rule tsereafter to be- Established by His
Majesty other than those already mentioned, the
most important OF which we trace back as far as
leans. on the evening Of February a. OF u pro-
cession of masks, who announced themselves as
tne "Mistic Krewe or Comus." They cane, no
one knew whence, representing in their costumes
x nfUus g., OF the Internal deites and personages
sPSrna ia mythology and described by Milton IN
streets In the light OF blazing torches for some
n0urs repaired to the Varieties Theatre, where.
an.eI .aoeau exhibition of various groupings,
suggested by the source whence they Borrowed
.nei. Costumes they INDUCED their friends and
,,n gues,s IN brilliant hop. At precisely
WE'VE O'CLOCK they as suddenly and myste riously
as they had made their appearance vanished INTO
the shadow land, leaving only the spirit Terpst !
ch0re Behind 70 rule the reveis until morn,no
The success which had attended this 6rst ~ xoSa
Of the "Krewe" stimulated them tocontinue kin.
dred display yearly which they did dewn IN ana IN
Guiding Mardi Grss OF 1861 annearins s anu ln-
siveIy In fuller representation Of ancient mvtS.
'oogy In 1858; the gods and goddesses. Comns
Momus, Janus, Flora, Diana, Jupiter ana otbe,,
Olympian heroes and heroines giving rracinns |
sight Of their graceful forms portrayed by MOI
tai man In painting or sculpture, illustratino |
Twelfth Night, or the County Pageant of Mis-
rules In 1863: representinR In living proupa nroin