The Osceola times., 1876-02-26
MARDI GRAS IN MEMPHIS,

we would have been most agree
ably and forcibIy called back to a
lively recollection Of the fact by
the exquisite specimens Of the "art
presoryativc of all arts" which lie
upon our table, and which invite
us in letters OF gold and crimson TO
Join in the reveIs Of the mysterious
Memphi and the gorgeous Ulks on
that day. The invitations are real
ly gems.of art, and as specimens OF
printing in colors have never been
excelled IN any country. The
amount Of money expended by the
societies Of Memphis which have
the arrangement, and execute the
programme of its carnival festivi
ties, in printing alone, is an evi-
dnnce of the grandeur of the scale
upon which preparations have been
made to render their celebration,
The Mardi Gias Of America. 1t will
eclipse in magnlfcencc any hither-
to given in. Memphis or anywhere
else. In former years, New Or,
cans was almost the only city
in America that celebrated the an
niyersary, and Memphis was con-
sidered to be but Il mimic on a mi
croscopic scale of her older and
more favored sister. New Orleans
had the advantage in almost every
thing. She had very largo for
olgn population, the most of them
descendants of the people from the
south of Europe, French, Spanish,
and Italian, to whom Mardi Gras
was religious festival, fraught
with memories of childhood, and
of their homes in the sunny climes
whence they or their fathers had
come. The Gulf OF Mexico is to
her what tho Mediterranean is to
the countries bordering on it; her
skies are as blue and bright, her
atmosphere as balmy, and her air
as redolent Of the perfumes OF
oranges aud lemons, as that OF
Spain or Italy, or Greece. Added
to all tins, her people were of gay
and happy turn Of mind, fond OF
music, dancing and pageantry- no
wonder that the carnival in New
Orleans was the celebration pa,
ercelioncc. But all this has been
changed, and Memphis, from bsing
a timid follower in her footsteps
with long interval between, ha:
! boldly strode to the front, anC
already has completely thrown
inte the shade anything ever at
tempted anywhere else on the
American continent, and this j,
despite OF the disadvantages o
climate. The whole people seen
to take a pride in the matter, and
Ijoin in making Preparations tor
the occasion with an unanimIty
unknown in anything else. The
programme of amuscments fol
next Tuesday is most brilliant
one, embracing a grand street pa
geant, in which the Memphi, Ulks
and other secret societies will take
part, tableaux at the Thca'er and
Greenlaw Opera House, balls al
the Exposition Buildings, Theatre
| Club Hall, etc. Perhaps the most
elaborate entertainment that il
promised, and by far the most ex
elusive, will DO the Grand Corona
ton ball at the Groenlaw Opcrs
House on Monday night. ThcrS
"The King will be crowned, and
spectacular effects produced that
will be most gorgeous. From {
private letter we learn that the
floral decorations of the house will
cost over thousand dollars. Only
two invitations that we know Of
have been received IN our town tc
this affair, but we have no doubt
that others will be forthcoming
before the day arrives. We have
seen several tickets TO the enter
tainments of the Memphi and Ulks
and 1t is safe to say that at leas
three fourths of our adult popula
ton will be on hand to view thC
pageants. THIS is as it should be
if our people have n dollar TO spend
they should spend it with Mem
phis, with whose interests anC
whose people we are indissolubly
connected,
WE acknowledge the receipt of 4
handsome cake presented us 10y
NJ n p