The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-02-27
Mardi Gras.
From the st. Charles Herald

Almost every person that was able to
leave the parish for a day or two went
down to New Orleans, in the beginning
of the week, to enjoy this annual festival,
which delights the children and makes
| children of grown folks. The festivities
of the day and night were many, and
were freely INDUCED in by thousands
from the country and of the city. That
this festival has SO long withstOod the
influence of American genius, which is
sober and utilitarian, shows that it pos
sesses ONE vital elements OF attraction
stronger than mere custom, for though
it could never have sprung up among a
race other than Celtic or Latin origin, it
is eagerly enjoyed by all brought within
its ~exllilerating influence.
What is this attraction How is it
That grave middle aged men, absorbed
in the haFTassing cares of life, are will
ing to throw aside their serious ayoca-
tons for this day, and either play the
fool themselves or enjoy the fOOlery of
otliersf The following brief history of
the carnival gaieties we take from the
New Orleans Republican:
Some have attributed the character of
unbridlea gaiety which marks this day
to the artful management or kind con-
sideration of the ancient Church which
sought, by endoging it with unbounded
license, to reconcile her children to the
restraint and privatiOn of the forty days
of Lent which Immediately follow it.
But in Great Britain, before the reform
alton, the eve of Ash Wednesday was
kept as Q day of penahee and prepare
ton for Lent as its name, ShroVe Tues
day. indicated. Its still SO kept by pious
Catholics all over the world. Mardi
-, IT, FV,nNcSioxA so Lfr.nv - ~
points to d totally different national
character in those naming it. Instead
of the spiritual preparation of confess
sion, itsuggests the very earthly one of
cFowding into these t~wenty~four hours
as much feasting and worldly enjoyment
as possible.
In Rome, where this sportive method
of keeping it originated, it. was most
probably the old pagan feast of the Sa-
tnTaalia, El1ristianiZed, as were many of
the heather deities and temples, and
transferred to spring. New Orleans in-
herited from it's Southern European orig
i'm this idea of q earnival-carni raIe-
farewell to meat-and, except during the
war and u few years subsequent thereto,
has always kept Mardi Gras as a day of
general license, given mp to masking
and mnmmeryt
#E+E-
EDIFoR.-AR editor il a male being
WHOSE dizziness is to navigate a naze pa
per. He rites editorials, grilNSs ont p0-
etry, inserts detlls and weddins, sorts
out manuscripts, keeps a waste barsket,
blows MP the I devil steels matter, flies
other peoples battles, sells hiz paper for
2 dollars and 30 cents year, takes white
beensand apple sass for pay when he
kin cit it, raizes d large family, works
10 hours ont OF every "a, knOze no Sun
day, giH damned by everybody, and
once III b while wbipt bi somebody, when
he can't run, liyes poor, dies middle
aged and often broken-hearted, leaves
no money is rewarded for 9 life ny toll
with d short but free obituary puff ip
the n~azepapers. Exchanges please copy.
D0sh Billings.
A[a1oNS+ rho Aa1 @a3snnnI 6t~ 7, 0va.