Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-02-26
MARDI GRAS.
The Procession and the People.
The Grand Display-Magnificen Tri.
umph and Merriment.

By o'clock yesterday various masked
parties were to be seen along the streets,
followed by boys. 1t was evident that
THE CROWD
was making for the Square where, in &C
cordance with the orders Of King Momus,
the procession was to form. By halfpast
one o'clock thousands of citizens had as
sembled
ON THE SQUARE,
and every window in the neighborhood was
crowded with anxious spectators. The
streets were jammed, and-it was difficult
to move along any of the avenues leading
to the Square. From the number present
1t was evident that general interest among
our citizens had been aroused for the
TRIUMPH OF THE OCCASION,
which having never been celebrated In
Nashville, it was not thought would be at
tended With fortunate results. In this they
were mistaken, for By the appointed hour
THE PROCESSION
had commenced to form and presented a
grand appearance. Wagons, buggies, car
riages, tootmen, cavaliers, old men, anti
quated women, monkeys, bears, etc., were
congregated to for m the
GRAND OVATION
to King Menus, who strange to say, was
disabled by an cratic thunderbolt and was
unable to be present. He deputized as bis
representative Col. Charlie Decker.
THE SMALLEST MAN IN THE SOUTH.
Charlie wore a hoary beard, and his ap-
pearance attracted much attention. Ac-
cording to the published programme the
procession was formed on the Square by
THE CHIEF MARSHAL,
who, with his attendant trumpeteers, all
grotesquely attired and mounted on gaily
caparisoned steeds, were most active in
having everything properly arranged. At
the given signal the
LINE OF MARCH
commenced mid deAfening shouts from the
enthused spectators, who were more than
pleased by the novel and
MAGNIFICENT PAGEANT
which glittered meath the glancing sun
beams. Five mounted policemen under
charge of Sergeant Cullum headed the pro-
cession and kept it clear of instructions and
awe struck countrymen. Following the
police came squadron of
HoRsEMEN
dressed in varied costumes and represent
ing comic personages, among the number
being .a-
40 $780,. A RED DEMON
whose wings of fire and glittering eyeballs,
as they tercely rolled in their sockets,
affrighted more than one nervous woman
and caused countless children to scream.
This squadron also numbered in its ranks
bushy. headed individual, whose locks
danced to the music of the breeze in a
strange manner. Then came a wagon of
Ethiopians, the principal one of whom rep
resented, and most faithfully,
- CAL WAGNER
who himself would have laughed had he
witnessed the scene. The Post band in
full dress uniform followed this wagon and
then came footmen and horsemen, whose
varied costumes and manifold colors, all
combined to render this part of the process.
sion very attractive.
THE GERMAN TURNER'S
bearing national colors and armed with
brooms, pitchforks, clubs, etc, presented a
very comic sight, attired in the ancient earb
and lofty cone-shaped hats peculiar to the
past age of their native land. Their masks
were most frightful and CAUSED much mer-
riment among the thousands of persons
that lined the sidewalks, A
market wagon filed with
uncouth hucksters, among them a female
who had lived since the flood, followed the
Turner'S. And now so many funny iudi-
viduals present themselves that it is impos-
sible to give depletion of them. A wagon
filed with clowns, old crones. eypsies.
witches, ETC., followed next in order, all of
its occupants being dressed differently. A
handsome appearance was presented bv
large platform wagon, gorgeously decorated
and containing maidens brilliantly CARRIED
er pdrte in gold lace, spsngles and rich vel
vet, with wreaths Of flowers in rich pro-
fusion. The display OF caIues on this wapon
was very fine and attracted general atten-
ton.
THE COMIC COACH
followed the wagon and in it rode persons
whose costumes were of the most laupha-
bic character. Following this cana a
wagon drawn by four white steeds, and
then
A WILD NEGRO RIDER,
mounted on a bareback horse, without
reins to guide its course; clowns, numerous
vehicles, a Brazilian ape and uncouth fig
ures passed along. The wagon with plat
form, on which negro characters were
dancing to the music Of the string band,