Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-10
MARDI- GRAs.

nature are TO be corrected and educated,
rather than repressed. Mardi-Gras with
ms is merely day of frolic, without any
reference or kinship to its significance
across. the water in former times. The
neople of Memphis for two seasons have
observed the day in a spirit of fun and
abandon. OF course many foolish things
are done, and excuses committed by
those who are so inclined. The comic
vein of mankind is brought to the sur
face. and the most grotesque and fan
tastic capers are cut by people who
were never supposed to possess a bit oil
humor. Those who believe that the
opera. the theater and circus are sinful
amusements, arrive easily at the conclu-
sion that the uproarous merriment oil
Mardi. Gras is also immoral in its ten
denotes. and they are entitled to the
highest respect for their conscientious
oninions. The church unanimously dis
courages the latter amusement from the
nuluit and through the religious press.
But IL must be remembered that nine
tenths ef the people of Memphis do not
even attend any church, and cannot be
supposed TO suit their actions to its teach
ipgs. We have to take things as we find
them in this wicked world, and not as
they might be, if man had no. eaten the
forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.
There is nothing in Mardi-Gras per Sc
that is contrary to law, decency or good
order. but some reckless persons who
were immoral before, and not suddenly
made so by the day, take advantage OF
its privileges to disport themselves in a
manner that, to say the least, is in ques-
tionabIe taste. But if any law IS vio-
lated by drunkenness or indecent expo
sures, its officers are on hand to promptly
arrest tie offenders. Do not occurrences
of questionable propriety take place on
Christmas and New Year s days2 Are
not young men seen in state OF
glorious inebriation on the former day,
parading our streets in crowds and firing
of ire.crackers by the bushel, smashing
window-panes occasionally for past
time, and making themselves ridiculous
without masks2 We rather think we
have seen some such excuses commit
ted on that day, but never hear or read
any philippics against Christmas as a
holiday. Its celebration nowadays,
outside of certain churches, has no more
reference to the birth Of the Savior OF
the world than has the modern Mardi-
Gras or St. Valentines day to their
ancient, and we might say pagan, origin.
New Years day is likewise abused by
thoughtless or vicious few, who take ad-
vantage Of its immunities, but no great
outcry has ever been made against this
as holiday. No one is obliged to don
a mask and fancy suit and act the
clown on Mardi- Gras day any more than
to fire off cannon on the Fourth of July
or fire-cracxers on Christmas, or get
tipsy on the LIST of January. 1t is a
matter of taste. in which people can ex-
ereise their discretion as they would
about going 10 an opera, snake show.
n race course, concert or any other en-
tertainment or custom either gross or
refining. New Orleans has heretofore
celebrated Mardi-Gras with great bril-
Hancy Of display, which will be quite
eelpsed, however, in Memphis this year
but we are not aware that the Crescent
City is a more wicked place than New
York, Boston, Chicago or st. Louis,
where such a thing has never been IN
iroduced. The question Of health is I'M
worthy OF notice in this connection. IT
people lose their Judgment 30 far as to
wear thin clothing aud otherwise incur
disease on such an occasion, IT merely
develops the fact that they had little TO
lose and nobody is TO blame but them
selves. No sanitary law or voice OF rea-
son will reach such cases. As general
rule, the American people are over
worked, and there is a sad lack o. proper
recreation for the masses. We think
the more holidays the better. 1t is only |
against their abuses that public teachers
should direct their efforts. But anaihe-
mas never effect reforms. Pure morality
is acquired gradually, and its teachings
should begin at the hearthstone, in the
family circle, the very fountain OF virtue
and honor.