Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-02-18

! the city converted into bathrooms for Mardi
Gras night. The Grand Duke Alexis of Russia
made sort Of triumphaI entry into the city,
aud was entertained right royalty by our en-
thusiastic citizens, and they felt in the humor
70 carry on the frolic Til Mardi Gras. The
prime minister issued manifesto like this:
GBY HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE
CARNIVAL.
Our royal cousin, ssHis Nibs," We Duke of
| Texts, having departed for the Crescent City,
we, the only sovereign within 9 bounds of ye
| bayous, hereby assume ye crown. Now, there
! ye Carnival, Prince of Misrule. MeSter of
! Shanny Hack, Grand Juke Paynix, etc., We
command
aye knights Of ye tape-line,
aye knights of ye exchequer,
aye knights Of ye quill,
aye knights OF ye scabs,
! aye knights OF ye razor,
aye knights of ye ink-sling,
| a. 1e Knights of ye ginsling,
| "tQ appear at our courts in full fancy dress to
attend the carnival held in our honor. You
are further commanded 10 close your marts
/ at the hour of three, that your henchmen, re.
tainers, and lunch-grabbers may attend the
| festival, under penalty of being compelled 20
ball"
/ Thus the prospective fun prospered. Mem
| phis Club hall, the GreenIaw Operahouse, As
sembly hall, Cochran hall, New Theater,
| Worshsm house ballroom, were engaged, and
all the music that was within reach was
I pressed into service, so that the mssquers
might be merry.
THE DAY CAME,
and il was fine, though little chilly. In the
early part OF the forenoon people seemed du-
bious as TO how the frolic would "tske," and
heSitated to throw themselves into it for some
hours. Some few bold ones that had ventured
an early promenade down Main street. in
mask, met with such a goOd-natured, hearty
reception, and created so much fun, that the
timid became assured, hurried to their apart
ments and disguised themselves In the slender
habiliments they had provided, and thus be-
fore two O'Clock half the city at least was
given up to gaiety and harmless revelry. 1t
may be said that from noon till dark the
streets presented a kaleidoscope of wonders
and Amusement that caused the most
grave and solemn-faced TO relax into smiles
The committees halls, those Just named, were
open to all maskers who had procured a tick
ct for one dollar. The same talismRn admit
ted the bearer TO all. The knights of Malta,
the Mystic Krew, and several other impro-
vised organizations had arranged procession
for the evening, which set out after dark from
the vicinity OF the Charleston depot, and
moved through the principal streets followed
by train as large and brilliant and wild as
I
reached its hight, and yet propriety was not
once violated. The devil himself could not
find a flaw upon which he could concoct an
Indictment against the celebration. He made
several vain, iI-natured attempts TO do 1t, but
the old scoundrel failed as effectually as
when he appeared disguised in the garD OF
angel of light among the sons OF God accurs-
ing Job the patient. This ancient monster
hates above all things
TO SEE MANKIND HAPPY,
and If he can't stopthe sport by his own specific
of funadulterated wiekedness he will attempt
TO make It appear wicked anyhow. He has
so thoroughly inocculated the souls OF some
with his own ideas that they regard an unus-
ually broad smile upon the face as a sure
proguostic of inevitable perditiOn. A pious
correspondent OF this paper regarded the free
distribution Of piping hot" maccaToni out Of
a certain sort of vessel last Mardi Gras, as q
piece OF monstrous iniquity. People ought to
/ learn to distinguish the difference between
what is merely vulgar and what is actually
! sinful. People ought also be provided with a
large mantle OF charity with which 10 cover
the foibles Of their neighbors, and not be
ready, like the devil, to prefer charges and
swear away their good name. Zeal for the di-
vine law Is very often but manifestation Of
hate for our brethren.
Passing from this little "spurt'' OF proven
blsl philosophy, 1t is pleasant to find in the
strands OF our yarn concerning Mardi Gras In
/ Memphis that the benehcent and practical
! result OF the celebration was large accession
| Of funds TO the various orphan asylums of the
| city. At a Tneeting OF the executive commit
\ tee, held within a week of the celebration in
the Casino, It was found that, financially talk
| ing, the affair had been a success. There were
present at the meeting Joseph Specht MO
mus, president; Lou Lsubrie, treasurer and
minister OF s., ate; Lew Wexler, secretary I;
sam Hlrsch, +. Lavigne, F. w. Butting 'laus,
II. Tomlinson, Maurice Kuhn, Charles Le-
| Clerc, W. Mclean, ]. seligman, L. Ackerman
]. Bachmsnn, Z. L. Topp, G. w. Alexander, p.
FarsteRheiIn, Il. Able, a. Loeb, ]. A. Grau-
naur, A. E. FrankIand and Duncan Mclean.
The total receipts of the committee were
shown 20 have been SS776 and thy expenditures
1 S105l, leaving a balance OF Slz8, which was de-
cIded should be divided among
THE ORPHAN ASYLUMS.
After all demands against the committee
should have been squared up, one hun
drec dollars weTo voted to the secretary as
| compensation for his services, and suitable
testimonials were decreed to be bestowed
upon Mr.. Specht and Mr.. Leubrie for their in
defatigable and successful exertions in bring
ing about the great celebration in the city.
The public who had witnessed the show, and
laughed, were satisfied; the i've thousand
maskers that attended the balls were
thoroughly pleased. The authorities had
nothing 70 complain OF, for there was not a
crime committed during the festival, and
the stationhouses had fewer dodgers than
any other night. The chief OF police and his
active and efficient aids were on duty for
about forty consecutive hours, and were SC
viailAnt that had there been any evil desposec
persons determined 10 make mischief, sucl
persons were deferred from their bad design
by the ubiquitous presence of the police. 1
q we'll deserved presentation be ever made Il
Chief Athy from the citizens, whatever i
may be, ought TO have the simple inscription
sEMPER EFT UBIQUE FIDELIS.
That first celebration OF Mardi Gras in Mem
nhis left no stains behind IL. No biokerlngE
we're INDUCED in, no jealousies and no regrets
emhitter the pleasant recollections of day o
unalloyed merriment. twas the unexpected
and astounding success of the day that in
spired the conception and led TO the creation
OF the Memphi, mystic and adumbrated as
sociation of wealthy gentlemen that made q
thirty ty-thousand-dollar promeneCe through
the streets on Msrdi Gras night one year ago
which was supplemented by a scenic display
and ball In the Theater of unprecedented
grandeur. The Memphi had held weekly
meetings for six months previous, and ella
: borated their designs with such success
z that the public were bewildered and amazed
at the ornithoioglcal display made on
: that memorable night Of the twenty-hnh o
9 February, 1873. Issuing suddenly and mys
. teriousiy from cotton-shed on jackson
: street, in the upper part of town, at the hour
( of seven, preceded by dazzling electric lights
the great pageant moved southwark, ulumi
4 mated by a blaze of glory such as one may i'm
: agine would attend the course of & fismin
world, let loose from its moorings CT gravity
and moving portentously through the silenc
4 and darkness of illimitable space. Heade
= nv the chief of police aud a detail OF brlgs
q dIsr-renerals, mounted on white horses an
: mzrshaled In echslon by platoons,
a THE METEoRIC PROCESSION
!. noved down Main street. A caravan Of a.
y csaat Egyptian oualtermaster-chariots a
: tsnded By aboriginal employees, and losd'
4 win two hundred live birds for the army
q Ptolny Softer, formed q leading feature OF u
Il display. There were ali sorts OF birds mo
81 the flaming namingo to ducks, Mother Carey
n chickens and ostriches, and eanaries, and pc