The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-01
OUI BONO

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Many thousands Of times yesterday thu
question was asked "What is the use Of eli
this public pageantry and this grotesque Q,
gorgeous pantomime? Why should SO much
time. 50 much thought and 80 much money
be wasted on demonstration that celebrates
no event and revives no historical memories p
Residents Of other chimes win say to them.
selves that they have none Of these masque'
rades in their sober towns and cities, where
common sense reigns supreme and where they
pay gate money to all manner of shows, bur
lesques and spectacles.
1t can be answered that it is the hereditary
habit Of our people. derived from ancestors
who never heard of America habit whose
precedents reach far back into or hey ond the
history Of the Middle Ages, when the classic
spectacles and ceremonials of the Latin ma
tions mingled with festivities allowed and
nctioned by the early Christian church.
It lis habit for which We make no apology,
since done is needed. It is the way in which
our people, young and old, see fit to seek
their own and promote others enjoyment, as
their fathers and mothers have done before
them for ages. It is habit which gives
scope and exercise to all manner Of disposi-
tions to all degrees of culture, to all grades Of
intelligence and to every social rank and
grade Of ability. The prattling child, with
mask and plumes, the noisy youth in fantas-
tic costume, the gaudy, cheap and fimsy
dresses in which the wearers disguise every
thing but their want of taste and love of
frolic, ate the initiatives Of the elaborate. Or
nate and artistic masquerading Of later years.
The spirit is, however, the same, the whole
some spirit Of pleasure, the joyous spirit Of w.t.
invention, art, taste and histrionic skill; the
spirit of society and the spirit Of comedy
combined; the spirit Of gayety and Of the
charming license which the masquerade al
ways gives innocently to the refined and in
nosent The lineal Orleanois are celebrated
as the most skillful maskers Of any country,
and as long as the old encourage the tastes
and proclivities Of the young by example,
they will keep up their reputation.
# can not be denied that our Mlrdi Gras
demonstrations cultivate and develop artistic
taste, not only among those who SO gener-
ously and laboriously contribute to popular
but among the people who
throng our crowded streets to witness the
annual demonstration. Looking back over
q long series of displays given by as
sociations whose identity is still but little
known to the public, the memory is like .
of brilliant visions. Could the
twenty-seven pagesnts which we remember to
have witnessed during the past twenty-five
Fears pass in fact before the people Of Phila-
delphia on the night Of the Fourth of July, |
IS they pass now across our memory, those
who should see chem would No longer chal-
enge the utility Of our public demonstrations.
These annua. spectacles, prepared at great
,ost and with ursparing pains, have done
very much towards the cultivation Of the
popular taste. Oar people are no longer sat-
SIZED with mediocritH and from year to year !
here is growing desire for the grander. and
more artistic elements in each public demon
1t ration.
These holiday exhibitions have q whole
lone effect upon our own people. All our
AIDED toilers with hands or heads feel better
Ible to bear their work after one Of these
periods of joyous pastime. Our Mardi Gras'
8 anticipated with the eager pleasure Of de-
ire and hope; it is intensely enjoyed, and it
8 remembered with delight
In our utilitarian view, however, the chief
'eneft Of cur great annual holiday demon
tration is in the pleasure it affords to stran-
srs who compliment US with their presence.
a this respect it is the outspoken hospitality
( the people of New Orleans in the form of
most elegant and elaborate entertainment,
ivsn at great expense, but entirely free Of
ost to our most welcome guests. We are
enefited to some extent by what money our
steemed friends leave here, but that is q
rife in comparison with the good we derive
:om the golden opinions which they form OF
8, and of the favorable impressions which
hey carry away when they leave us.
Gallantry comes in for share of the credit
ne to those who prepare these entertain
rents. At this season the guests Of the city ]
,nsist largely of ladies, and we are warranted
! saying that every gentleman contributing
loney, labor or talent to the morning or
vening display was actuated chiefly BY the
esire 10 please the ladies who have honored
) with their presence.
It is to be hoped that our guests will not be ,
,ntsns with our Carnival display, bat that
icy will take the opportunity to look around I
lem, that they may see how We are situated,
and otherwise. Let them nm.
erstand that We ask from them neither
aarity nor sympathy; We ONLY want them to
now us - We are. In taking leave of us,
Q beg them to remember that some Of the
srmest hearted men of our city are not now
Die to act according TO their generous pro-
ivities. But in any and every event, the
eople of New Orleans are now and will