The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-25

lthair march till its close, must be witnessed
ana heard to form An idea Of the superb en-
tertainment.
THE LINE OF MARCH.
Momus. with his gallant followers, appeared
on Camp street, near st. Joseph, and moved
out Julia to st. Charles, down St Charles K
south side Of Canal, out to Rampant, across
to north side of Canal, along Cent to Char
tres. down Chartres to St. Louis, out st
Louis to Royal, up Royal to Canal, on Cana
to Camp, up Camp to Poydras, out Poydras t.
Carondelef, down Carondelet, across Canal tt
Bourbon, and down that street to the
OPERA HOUSE.
If the scenes on the streets were indiscrib
able who will attempt delineation of the in
terror of this grand temple Of the MUSES., now
given over to Menus, the merry, and the
guests who had assembled at his mandate
around his most revered and august person
Early in the evening ladies and their escorts
began to wind their way towards the Opera
House. Group after group of beautiful
matrons and lovely girls assembled the spa
cious staircase, entered the charmed portals
and were lost to the view of the crowd who
had watched them as they passed, with won.
der, admiration-perhaps . little envy, and
| long before the arrival of the Knights there
mense building
The Crescent City has, since it's beginning,
been famed in romance and song for the
beauty of its daughters, and the brilliancy
and refinement of its assemb lages-yet even
New Orleans never convened fairer or more
elegant company than that contained IN the
Opera House last night.
The matrons Of Louisiana are renowned
for their dignity, courtesy and suavity Of
manner, sand all the lovely qualities Of mind
and heart that are so surely reflected on the
face and repeated in each action, as our sum-
mer skies on the pure waters OF the crystal
lake, while her msidens are as queenly, state
", and as pure as the white petals of our
own peerless Magnolia-beauties Of the high
est and holiest type, and such ladies were the
fair guests of Menus.
Essy-self possession is the inseparable COM
panion of every true lady or gentleman, and
there are few occasions when this quality
shows itself SO plainly as when q large
audience has to sit unoccupied for some time.
awaiting the object of their meeting, as did
the company last night. Yet among these
hundreds that We speak of, not one ungentle
gesture, awkward movement or impatient
| word was seen or heard. Fans waved, recog-
| nitions were given. smiles and friendly in
quiries were exchanged, gentlemen and ladies
convers ed irted little, the younger ones
butno unpleasant elevation of voice or bolster
ous manner marred the lovely scene.
When the strains ofsmusic which announced
the arrival Of the Knights we're heard, .
charming futter of pleasure among the
guests gave evidence how earnestly the merry
band was looked for, and bright eyes turned
expectantly towards that now very interesting
object-the stage curtain.
Soon the tread Of feet and hustle behind
the scenes told that the longed for moment
was fast approaching season of delightful
yet exciting suspense, and the curtain rose on
FIRST tABLEAU.
WINTER AND sPR1Na-srAPLEs AND FLOWERS
The rare groupings of the figures in the
first and fourth divisions we're received with
murmurs of appreciation, and when the cur
tain fell on the beautiful picture, perfect
shower of applause and commentator gave
assurance that it was an unbounded success.
Another short time of waiting and watching,
but this time enlivened by commenting on
the first course of the entertainment, when
the bell tinkled and the curtain was with
drawn, showing the
SECOND TABLEAU.
SUMMER AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND FRUITS.
In this mosaic the figures of toe second ard
third detachments of the street parade were
combined with judgment and artistic taste
that were most pleasing and wonderful. When
the curtain fell . second time the plaudits
were even more enthusiastic than before.
Now came q longer intermission, but the
two beautiful scenes just witnessed, and spec
ulation as to how much more elegant the third
would be, furnished conversational matter
enough to occupy much more lengthy in
terval. Again the tinkling of the bell drew
all eyes towards the stage, and 10! the gor-
geous spectacle Of the
THIRD TABLEAU,
MoMUs RECEIVING THE SEASONS,
broke upon the astonished and delighted au-
dience. For few seconds there was unbroken
silence, ss the dazzling picture stood unre-
vealed, then q murmur, then perfect ava
lanche of enraptured applause; and no wonder.
for the immense arena was occupied, from
wing to wing, from its extreme. rear to the
footlights, and from floor to dome, with the
group, comprising every figure in the great
display. In the background. directly in the
the tableau, Union, Justice and Confidence
were seated; to their right and left. Bienville
and Louisiana. Immediately in front of the
center group stood Menus, in his chariot,
graciously acknowledging his pleasure at the
presence of his wondrous visitors.
Standing against the clouds in which
seemed to rest the feet of the horses attached
to the royal chariot, to right aud left, were
the goddesses Flora and Ceres, and between
them, but less elevated, Pomona and Irene,
while the majestic King Cotton sat enthroned
ct their feet, his Merchant and Planter to
either side, and having seated around him on
the dias that supported his throne, his Pick
ers, Carders and Spinners. To the right of
King Cotton. Queen Sugar held court, her
Planter and Merchant to right and left, while
seated at her feet were her swarthy cultiva-
tors. Behind her, on more and more elevated
positions, flowers were ranged, and the su-
premely groteeque Vegetables rose higher and
higher till the mailed Knight Beans and Peas
and the substantial Ruta Baga stood on the ap-
pex of the pyramid. To the left side of King
Cotton another superb structure was raised, at
the base Of which the magniicently arranged
Princess Rice and her gatherers were placed, |
while near the royal parsonage stood the Gala |
Lily and other flowers and behind them, tier |
on tier, the Fruits we're displayed in all their