The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-03-04
indessiood. Sunday is the fa vorite day

tog g1hls ss well as other sports.
I4e afternoon WIS devoted TO visiting
HaystA Of the oetaeteries, with which che
|city and it's suburbs veYy literally snp-
piled: The bodies in nearly all cases.
owing to the swampy nature Of the
gronnd, are deposited-those OF the rich
In vaults. while the poorer Glasses are
content with brick tiers or pigeon-holee.
A majority Of these places OF sepulture
are decorated with flowers, evergreens,
bead wreaths, glass devices and other
ornaments. The grounds are kept in
excellent order, and are constantly open
to visitors. At night, we dropped in to
the Varieties Theatre, and heard Tor
saw Aimee and her 1--WE suppose) talent
ed troupe, in a new French Opera, s'The
100 Virgins" We could not appreciate
tho fun, ind came awsy dissatisfied. The
next day MaFdi Gras Eve-was spent in
sightseeing around the quaint old city.
Tnesday morning-the great day-open-
ed rather dull, with every appearance Of
rain; but by 10 O'Clock the clouds dis
persed, and the sun shono out brightly.
Early iii the morning, little shavere,
male and female, began to make their
appearance in the streets, nlaskel and
dressed in fantastic costumes, and fol
lowed by crowds of shouting and de-
lighted gsnims. A little later, the full
grown maakers put in an appearance,
and by 10 O'Clock were the prevailing
epidemic" Now Orleans, perhal 8. is
the only city to whose reverence for the
customs OF the past We are indebted to q
| semblance OF the celebration of the
Msrdi Gras carnival. 1t is claimed to be
OF beathen origin, as tribute to certain
0Od9 fnY kha ~ sNk.,
kindly approach Of spring. These festi-
vities have taken such fast hold upon the
affections 6f the citizens of New Or
leans, that they make The greatest efforts
to enjoy the day in manner alike kindly
and pfeasiDg. These efforts have been
SO successful that they have attracted the
attention of Thousands, who annually
leave their homes and flock hither to
witness tho hilarity and good humor of
the people on this grand gala day.
At about II O'Clock. the procession
was formed. The advance guard, con
sisting Of several companies eaoh, OF
Arabs, Turks and Egyptian infantry,
formed In hollow square, in the centre
OF which were seen the heralds, crown
| bearers, standard-bearers, seal keeper,
&c. Following came Rsx, dressed in all
| the pomp and circumstances necessary
to his high position. The Immediate
followers In the train of royalty dazzled
| the eyes Of the beholders as much as the
stunning ''get up" Of Confederate
brigadier's staff used to do in the olden
and forgotten days. The horsemen
came next, headed by the Master of the
Horse and his followers-among whom
were the so-called Ox.ouians; carriages,
filled with all sorts of people and de-
( vices. The procession generally was a
continuous specimen of the enterprises
of this glorious country, and regular
J advertisement OF the advancement OF
| science and art. The sewing machine
department was represented by it's ubi-
| quitous agents, and many fanciful and
quaint devices attested their ingenuity,
skill and energy. Commerce lent ita
aid, and navigation was represented
by about O dozen yachts, mounted on
wheels, and properly manned. Ali ma.
| tionalities and personations were to be
seen. from the heather Ohinee to his
Satanic Majesty.
The merry maskers of the day gave
place at night to the brilliant Krewe, and
long before the hour advertised for their
| advent. the streets wore one mass OF
providing humanity, and every available
space OF standing room ON the roofs and
balconies were filed by expectant sight
seers. Illuminations were INDUCED in
extensively, and many elegant buildings
flushed forth dazzling array Of brilliant
gas jets. Promptly to the hour came the
mysterious maskers. On al altar in
front was a cup. from which came flame
with the words, "Mistick Krewe OF
Comus." The subject chosen by the
merry Krewe was "missing Links to Dar.
wins origin OF Species" The mystery
was rather cleared up, and amnsom ent
took the place OF astonishment. The
zoophytes came first, III the :orns O!
corals, sponges, SEQ nettles. and what
nots of every kind, enough to startle
Agassiz himself. Next came the shell
animals, of all imaginable kinds; insects,
from Dluebottle fly to every conceiva-
BILE trick OF the kind on record; animals.
from mammoth squirrel to polar
bear. marched serenely by. The cal
cium light lent peculiar grotesqueness
to the scene which, Vowed once, can
never be forgotten.
The march ended, aud the brilliant
spectacular scsne was hidden within the
walls OF the theatre. Several tableaux
were given-a scene at the bottom of the
seq, aud then connected arrangement
OF tho missing links, nil in ono grand