Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-02-18
All Nations, Creeds, Races, AMI
mails, Birds and Fishes Rep
represented-A Wild
Carnival Of JOllity
and Fun.
The Balls-Our Whole Population,
with Thousands of Visitors,
inAttendance-A Day and
Night Of Mad and
Glorious ReYel.

If the hard-featured Inhabitants Of
Labrador or Greenland could be lifted up and
transported bodily 10 the shores OF the Gulf of
Mexico, in ten years they would put forth an
annual Mardi Gras blossom more luxurisnt
and splendid than was ever exhibited by New
Orleans with its strong infusion Of Latin
blood and It's lingering aroma Of ancient
EuropeaA traditions But while they are To-
Gated at the icy north where neither mackerel
nor shsd Ror even herrings put in an appear
ance until late in May, Mardi Gras and its
mummeries will never find favor with their
inhabitants. If the people OF tkese hypobo-
rean countries fiud the corrugated outlines OF
the nasal prOtuberance, the most convenient
surface on which to ignite lucifer matches at
this season of the year, is that valid reason
why we In Memphis should eschew the mask
and. look blue? The thermometer, day and
night for six weeks past, emphatically pro-
nounces I" no. thousand times "no." The
unhappy misfortune of some people gor-
msndIz ng at a bountiful and wholesome
table is no argument against sitting down TO
dinner. II the good Catholics Of Naples and
Rome and Venice indulge in few genteel
mummeIies before assuming the long sever.-
ties of Lent, should we therefore repudlate
maccaroni and turn up our fast ti3ious noses
at the savory sausage of Bologna? Perish
THE ARCTIC PROPOSITION!
The celebration Of Mardi Gras in Memphis
Is thing OF very recent date, and was inst-
tuted and carried out principally by public
soirited gentlemen OF European origin, ably
aud cheerfuIIy supported by active workers
OF native growth. The name OF Mr.. Joseph
Specht is indissolubly associated with the
wonderful and spontaneous movement OF
seyeuty-two, which resulted in an unexpected
and brilliant success. ouLeubrie and the love-
able and beloved late Lew Wexler were lead
ing aud effective spirits in that never-to-be Tor
gotten celebration which inaugurated Mardi
Gras as an Institution in Memphis-as much
an Institution as the bluffs, the cotton sheds,
the bavou, or the "corner of Main and Madi-
son" Every city has its distinctive features
By taking away those Jnst named, shat would
Memphis be? The APPEAL alone, though us
power and influence be immense, would be
insufficient to uphold the glory Of city oi
such extent and prospects as this. 1t is true,
we have the Cotton Exchange, the Peabody
hotel.the elevator and the street ratlrosd-yes,
and the gaterworks, and the sanitary police
ali exceilentin their way, but we could not
live on them. They could not afford us even
a brief spell OF prosperous sunshine In the
spring time Of the year, ere yet young lambs
pleasurabIe energy the astronomical lasSi-
tude Of
THE HIBERNA ATING PUBLIC.
Then, at this time we usually have period
OF torpor, characterizing the interval be-
tween. the seasons OF activity. The business
ueopIe ofthe city arc familiar with the charac-
teristic annual dullness that intervenes be-
tween the closing Of the winter and the open
ing OF the spring trade. Mardi Grss beneh-
Gently comes in to relieve the eHnut OF that
time OF unappreclated tranquility. NOW
when the frost-anilcted and congealed liquor
dealers OF Ohio and Indiana are trying TO harp
ont in unison the Hudibrastlc Iucubration,
"shaIl we gather at the river"
the happier denizens OF Memphis are gslIy
caroIling IN chorus, grand and lofty the oele-
brated Horstian ode,
as,et Us be joyful" and 50 on. How much
better is this in hygienic sense. After the
beneficial relaxation Of yesterday the boys
are in such good humor that they would even
welcome the hydropathic ladies OF fOhio,shoulo
their zeal prompt them 10 come hltner on
praying expedition. This universal plaeabill-
" o. temper is an inevitable result OF the
proper celebration of Mardi Gras by Memphi-
ans. This happy day Of Joy and sisdnesS
smoothed the wrinkles from many an anxious
brow, and made the coroding influence oi
care imperative, giving the weary heart a re-
spite in the midst OF trouble. The pioneers OF
Mardi Gras performed a service here similar
in It's effects 70 that produced by the public
benefacior who caused two blades OF grass
to grow where but one iourished before.
THEY CAUSED TWO SMILES ON THE
FACE
that was scarcely lit up by one in the fiinty-
- In, fHa
latter days OF the year 1871 that the APPEAL
started the movement OF Mardi Gras oelebrs-
ton in this city by Publishing a lengthy pa
per on that festival from the facile and pleas
ing pen OF DeLeon, OF Mobile. Suggestion
was also made, in connection with said arti-
Gle, that st would be q good thing TO attempt,
at least, celebration here in Memphis on the
ensuing thirteenth of February, which was
Shrove-Tuesday that year. Very little urging
was required TO rouse up to energetic action
scores Of people who had felt for years the
great want Of amusement and the still
greater want OF variety in amusement in
Memphis. We were threatened, In truth
with q deluge OF baked-beans doctrin,
and sait-cod theology altogether unsuitet
toour constitutions, both physical and psy
cal. We needed Laughter; and when few
gentlemen, about New Year'sof 1872, expressed
their determination 10 cultivate Marul Gras
they received such encouragement on ever,
hand. and from all quarters. that success wa
bound TO follow. A meeting was called IN IN
club bau. which was attended principally b
members of the club, to consider Mardi ora
matters. The idea was new. Most OF tn
members were astoDished, yet pleased, at Tn
novelty, for such the mummeTies OF the Test
val would be considered by the good people
THE JOLLY BLUFF.
Propositions were piled on propositions, an
plans heaped on plans, and suggestions ran
through the hall until one might almost In
Agine chaos had come in earnest. Debat
waxed loud and high, and regular storm
words ragged when Leubrie, perceiving in tn
energy AID excitement of the hour presAe
of success II those elements were only prof.
erly managed, sprang TO his feet and started
practical movement by heading a subseriI
ton list as q guarantee fund, and calling Il
the appointment OF an executive commits
whose business It would be 30 give body an
effect 20 the various plans. propositions an
suggestions made. This committee was
once established, and the subscIi ption II
opened. Tha; was the only meeting held