Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-02-10
THE CARNIVAL.
The Day We Celebrate Twenty
Thousand strangers in the city,
Procession of the "Ulks," and
Display OF the Memphi.

OF strangers having arrived
the previous days for the purpose
Of enjoying the great carnival Of 1875.
The sun shone out and tempered the
cool northwest breeze for the benefit of
the masqueraders. During the forenoon,
Main street from Adams to Beal was
densely crowded by citizens and stran-
gers, who laughed aud enjoyed the antics
of the maskers and mummers.
AS the day wore on the fun and revelry
became more exciting and grotesque,
until it eliminated at 8 o'clock, when
the head of the "Ulks" procession de.
bouched into Main street from Exchange.
The "Ulks'' gave a fine representation
Of the Darwinian anti-Adamic period of
the worlds history, when human life was
only developed in shell-6sh, monkeys
and other primary types of humanity,
and through which was gradually devel-
oped in process of time, that social
monster called man. AS Tyndall has it,
you can find, in matter, the potency
and the promise OF all life, and in these
primal forms that could hardly be said
to be living, humanity had its inception.
The characters or tableaux were
mounted upon nine floats, which were
headed by bands of music, aud were
escorted by the "Ulks" on horseback.
The society received unboUnded praise
from the assembled multitude.
During the afternoon the fun and
frolic grew fast and furious. Wagons
loaded with maskers paraded the streets.
Among the turnouts was a monster
wagon containing n big bell and hung
with advertisements for a printing estab.
lishment. The bell tolled in a sepul.
chral manner all day long, and for this
reason q clown mounted upon a pony
and bearing a banner with the device,
Funeral tomorrow" followed the bell
wagon during the day. 1t was the best
hit made, and was persistently carried
out by the clown, who seemed to be OPP
posed to this kind Of advertising.
When the shades Of night fell the
pageant Of the Memphi became the
chief topic Of conversation. At eight
o'clock this mysterious association com
menced their march and appeared OF
Mair street amid q blaze of coloreC
lights. The procession or pageant de
picted the history of Columbus o.
Spanish exploits in America. The tab
leaux we're mounted upon nineteeI
floats, and we're surrounded by b%rillian
lights and flashing costumes. The band
broke out into delicious music, and tn.
w%eird.looking but enchanting pagean
advanced down Main, then counter
marching returned from whence
came. The display was wonderful
grand and imposing, and elected tn
most joyous expression of admiratio
from the thousands who filled ever
available spot on Main and adjacer
streets. The Memphi gave a successio
of tableaux at the theater at nigh
which were witnessed by the elite of tn
city and a crowd Of distinguished guest
Then came the court ball, in whic
those assembled participated until lat
into the night.
The ball OF the Ulks" at the Expos
ton was Of course the great affair Of til
night. Here were assembled ten tho
sand people, who enjoyed the %revelr.
which continued until streaks of daw
appeared in the east. The costum,
worn by the maskers were rich and a
propriate, and depicted everythiu
known 10 history or chivalry. Coul
Paris, dressed in green and scarlet sntil
trimmed with gold, attracted no lit
attention. Lords, ladies, warriors, clown
, monks, Turks, heathens, Christians, ape
etc, danced with each other rs if the
had been friendly for years. The ba
d, was a grand success, and it, as well
! the procession by the "Ulks," relec
! the greatest credit upon the Germs
. Casino, which body of enterprising eli
zens originated and got up the fir
+ Mardi Gras in 1872. The members
/, this society started Mardi GrAs in Mel
phis, and to them is due its succes
Now the " Memphi" adds its great pre-
tige and lavishes both money snd tas
l upon the carnival. In the hands OF {
" Ulks" and ".Memphi' our future eel
bratiOns will he, III possible, even mo
attractive than that of yesterday.