Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-02-10
THR EVER GLORIOUS MEMPHI.

AS the evening drew on, the attention
of the people was turned to the subject
of the procession OF the Memphi, whose
displays at previous carnivals have made
them famous. Who are the Memp1i,
and what is their GRAND Ouro, and fy-
phOD, and Pauoggh? were questions
asked everywhere and answered no.
where. That they are numerous body
was inferred from the vast Outlays made
in their professions; how is it that none
of them should be known? Where do
they meet, and when? What is the ma.
ture of their organization? Does it en-
brace other objects besides the Msrdi
Gras celebration? 1t was in vain to dis
cuss; nothing could be learned. 1t was
even impossible to tell where they would
meet last evening to put on their dress
es, Oh to point out where the vast array
of their procession would first be seen
in the streets AL about the Mem
phi was darB, secret, impenetra-
BILE, inaccessible. The line e
their march was known, however, from
publication of the Grand OurO, and to
the streets where it was to appear the
immense multitude began to thrOng as
soon as it was dark. Every window
along the route was crowded, every
balcony filled, and aspiring youths &C.
cupied every elevated object that could
be made lodging place or perch. At
length the cry arOse-they are come
and the grand display commenced. In
beautiful order to the sound of stirring
music, it slowly passed along the ap-
pointed way. 1t was an imposing spec
tacle, arOusing wonder that so much
could be accomplished, admiration for
its splendOr and almost worship for its
beauty. People of other centuries
lived again and moved before the eye;
heroes of long past years appeared III
majestic reality. Kings, mobiles, philOs-
Ophers and soldiers = subjects of the
proudest histories, inspirers of the ro-
mancist and the baTd-were gaZed upon
by the applauding thousands. Master
pieces Of architecture, scenes of the for
est and the flood, pictures OF historic
incidents, creations of the most capti-
waiting fancy, were presented in the
most fascinating guise. The eye was
pleased, the emotions touched, the sense
of the beautiful aroused in all the vast
multitude that thrOnged the streets and
gazed from every house and awning,
and from stands erecte for the purpose.
The effect of the inspiration made the
spectators themselves q portion, by no
means the least significant, of the grand
pageant of the hour, No pen could
describe the thrilling effect. The air
was rent with shouts of admiration as
the wonderful spectacle wound its way
amid the countless thrOng. The whole
was clearly seen to the minutest detail
by means of lights that seemed num-
berless, that were carried on each side
of every car, and that streaned from
some OF the cars themselves. Calcium
lights added their splendor. ReflectOrs
threw dazzling glare around; cOlOred
lenZes added their effect, and streams of
green, blue, purple or other tints gave
magnificence to the scene that is inde-
scribable. The clangOr OK trumpets, the
fierce strains Of martial instruments, the
rolling of drums, the splendor OF stream
ing lights, the array of the beauteous
and the wonderful in the procession,
the scenes Of picturesque lOveli-
ness, the rich costumes, the waving
flags, the fluttering streamers,
the rush Of the enthusiastic crowd, the
tramp and shouting of the vast multi
tude-what pen, what orator could de-
scribe it, what painter could transfer the
sight to canvas, what poet could reach
the hight of the theme in mightiest tor
rent of his roaring verse. The rich cos
tuning of the characters presented, we
almost hesitate to speak about, so i'm
possible is it to give the feeblest notion
of what it wss. 1t was the work of the
old Paris house of Nonnon, which for
three generations has passed from father
to son as costumer5 to the Thedter Fran
Gals and the Grand Opera. The head of
the firm, who has occupied the position
thirty-one years, now enjoys pension
from the French government as reward
of his long services, and recognition
Of his brilliant genius. With such talent
and unstinted means it will readily be
understood that all that is within the
compass Of human skill, directed by the
inspiration OF cultivated art, was to be
found in the cOstumiDg of the process
sion Of the Memphi. The principal
scenes were Spanish, and the brilliant
dress of the illustriOus and the great in
the time of the magnificent Ferdinand
offered scope for all the distinguished
Partisan artists could do. Kings, mobiles,
knights, pages, princesses, cardinals,
generals, and many others, Were splen-
did subjects for the cOstumer, and they
were made the most of. Silk, satin, vel
vet, jewels, turbaus, helmets, swords,
aTquebusses, diadems, armor, costs of
mail, and thousand other objects had
each received the best attention of the
first of living costumers.
Prelude