The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-07
MARDI GRAS IN NEW ORLEANS.
[From the New York World

The announcement that Mardi Gras will not be
celebrated in New Orleans this year is a good
deal more significant than at first appears. II
IS difficult for people who have not actually live
| 10 new Orleans to unders and how completely
the manners and customs of tho France of the
| eighteenth century have become part Of the
social life OF that unique and fascinating CITY.
In these respects the capital of Louisiana is
10 city to Americans not born in it or ac-
customed to it by long residence, although no
European OF this century would find himself
more at home in it,
| 1t is very curious to note how in all parts of
the world the social influence Of the Q inently
and above all things social French nation has
been felt IN French colonies long after they had
ceased to be French colonies and the political
influence OF France was no longer felt in them
such society Longfellow found in what are now
| the British PROVINCES In America, and preserved
| the remembrance OF it in that graceful and ten
der poem which treats of the lovers of Acadia
Such society hackeray spoke OF when he re-
ported that he had found quaint old France
stlll lingering upon the shores of the Mssis-
| sppi." 1t Is probably quite impossible for any
| stranger to New Orleans to picture 10 himself
how curiously and how considerably the reminis
cences OF the French domination have qualified
the eager and restless life of other American
cities in the society of New Orleans.
In nothing has this carnival been more ma rked
| than IN tht annual celebration Of Mard- Gras,
which dispach tells us to day is not to be held
TINS year In New Orleans, for the reason essen
like making merry. The carnival has been for
many years the chief festival of the city, The
pohtlcal festival OF the Fourth of july the rel-
glons festivals of Easter and Christmas, and the
poltico religious festival of Thank- giving are all
| and moro than all combined in the civic festival
OF the carnival to make Mardi- Gras the high tide
OF the year in New Orleans. For many wears
this has been the case.
For many years the celebration has been in
creasinS in its pageantry and in its popularity.
1t has taken so firm and peculiar a hold upon
the people of New Orleans that nothing save a
great calamity which made public rejoicing of
any kind indecent would now avail to secure the
sus pension OF 1t. 1t seems that such calamity ia
already felt to be present in New Orleans, We
need hardly say that the celebration of the car
nival in New Orleans has no political significance
whatever. The cessation Of the celebration.
however, has very great political significance,
not less great because the persons who have re-
solved upon it do not seem to be consciou. that
it has any.
1t is public notification that the outrages in
Louisiana, which are matters Of quiet discussion
in the Northern States. are matters Of grave and
immediate moment to the people of New Orleans
They have decided that the usurpation Is so mis-
chievous that they cannot deceIily spend money
and time upon the chief holiday of the year. The
pettfogging Williams, the despotc stolidity of
Grant and ISLANDERS Of Sheridan are things which
really come home to mems business and bosoms
in l. puisiana.
A resolontion not to celebrate the carnival is
thus more significant OF the condition and fec ling
q the people than all the indignation meetings |
that can be held from now until doomsday. Such |
a resolution has never we believe, been put into |
prac Ice before except during the war; 1t ow |
becomes proof that the horrors Of war have not |
ceased IN Louisiana with the actual shock of |
battle, and that after wears of So called peace
the distress and the anxiety of war still press
upon the peope.