The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-03-01
MYSTIC KREWE OF C0mUS.
A GRAND AND GLORIOUS PAGEANT.
FOUR THOUSAND YEARS OF HISTORY.
FROM CREATION TO THE DOWNFALL
" y OF JERUSALEM.

/ tN@.FF@ d tat .G .i
/ Comus, called by the Greeks "Komos,
which signifies luxury and banquettinl
even unto debauchery, was, true to hi
name, the caterer to the pleasures anc
ainusements, Of the twelve great gods
The companion OF Momus, he is repre-
sented In the bloom Of youth, clad il
white and with face flushed with wine
his head wreathed with roses, EN-
blematic OF our short-lived and evanes
cent Joys his right hand grasping a
torch. typical Of the brevity of life
which 80 slight thing as mere gust
OK wind may cxtinguish, his left hand
resting upon q stake, the figure Of the
treacherous hopes by which we are
buoyed up and supported through life
he stands before us the embodiment OF
the easy and sensual philosophy OF an
tiquity. His temples were the streets
and crossroads; his votaries, drunken
youths and courtesans, who worshipped
him with nocturnal dance and riot.
But Comus was more frequently the
companion of newly married couples,
and as the God Of the Toilette and of
Pleasure. his statue, with pedestal
strewn with the most odoriferous of flow-
ers, guarded the entrance to the lnuptial
chamber. It Is thus in his most agreea-
ble attribute, rs the God of Pleasure,
that he visited us last evening, to close,
with his instructive pleasantries. the
season OF mirth and festivity.
As his gorgeous pageant approaches,
we behold before us, as II by magic, the
history Of the world from the Creation to
the Fall Of Jerusalem, under Vesparian,
q period OF 4O73 years, as narrated in
Holy Writ.
Adam ama Eve.
Amid the trees, shrubs and flowers Of
semi-tropical luxuriance at that happy
period whom man had no malice towards
man, and beasts none towards beasts,
seated upon grassy mound, protected
from the ardent rays OF the sun by the
thick foliage and far extending branches
Of beautiful tree, with a lion and
lamb lying together ut their feet, and a
deer near by looking on, the first man
listens with intense interest to the per-
s,iasive tones Of his companion, and ac-
cepts from her extended hand the for
hidden fruit, which the Serpent, the
most willy Of any beast the Lord God
had made, has induced her to taste. Hid
the branches Of the tree the
Serpent contemplates with joy the re-
suit OF his teachings, mans first revolt
against his Maker. Expelled from the
Garden Of Eden, Adam and Eve have q
progeny, which, faithful to
the Spirit OF Evil engcndered by the
original sin that God repcnted creation,
and resolved to destroy man and all
living things.
or all the descendants Of Adam and
Eve, Noah and his family, who feared
The Lord, alone found grace in his eyes,
and Noah was ordered to build an ark
Of gopher wood, OF a length Of three
cubits, by d breadth Of fifty.and
TO enclose therein couple Of all
living things and, himself to take up his
abode, in the ark with his family. When
this was done the windows Of Heaven
were opened and IL rained for forty days,
submerging the highest mountains.
When the waters subsidized, the ark
landed on Mount Arrarat, where Noah
is seen emerging from the side entrance
81 the arko o,surrounded by his family.
aud followed by all the animals In the
ark. Around them is scene Of utter
Carcasses Of beasts and Of
human beings lay strewn on the ground,
which itself bears evidence OF having
been long under water.
q The Tower ea HaNcl.
The lesson Of the deluge was soon
ost upon men, and when their num-
Ders once more increased their audacity
Knew no bounds, and they resolved to
,uild city to perpetuate their name.
md therein q tower to ascend to Heaven.
The Lord resolved to punish them for
heir want OF reverence and piety, and
their language, which had
hitherto been one. scattered them |
over the face Of the earth, and
,alled the city and tower Babel, which
means confusion OF tongues. The scene
the moment the confusion OF
ongues is accomplished: In the back
,round the tower looms up, whilst in
ront, amid stones, mortar and bricks,
tand In utter ais1azement the master
builder, architect. 0verseer. hod-car-
iers. etc., trying In vain to understand
ach other. AS time marches on, and
through generations OF Gods chosen
'eople. history now carries us to the
Trial Of Abraham's Faith.
Abraham, Gods chosen servant,
vhom he had blessed with promise Of
,hrist, and to whom he had also prom
sed great nation, stands ready to
hey the Lords behests and sacrifice
lis only son Isaac. Amid wild noun
ain is an altar, built OF rough stones
nd covered with wood. Isaac stands
nfront Of the altar, an intended victim,
" his side is Abraham. sacrificial knife
. hand. He has just seen the ram.
7hich is caught by the horns In the
ushes behind the altar and will be offer
i as burnt Offering to the Lord in lieu
I Isaac. Rapidly reviewing the sacred
ore, and passing from Father to Son.
he pageant now comes forward with