The New York herald., 1877-02-14


vousy dsomcy decorated with the carnival coIors
purple, gold and greenl appropriate designs In gas
jets colored lights, transparencies, &C. Before dark
every spot aGording a view packed with people,
while tho streets crowded to leave barely
enough for the floats and torch bearers TO pass
Az thoir progress was slow. frequently inter-
rupted by halts, Of which however OF very
long duration. AS the light and the moving cloud
overhead grew brighter music began reach
the car, when tho excitement became intense.
coNus APPEARS.
On It came, heralded by q murmur OF admiration
Slowly tho crowd gave way before until at last the
head surged into sight In the person Of Comus himself
cxqusitey dressed character all feathers, lace and
cold bearing charged aloit his magic asop, draught
which enslavcd his victims, changing their heads
ir:o those OF animals Hc stood upon high messy
rock, with pcarly river flowing at its base. Al his
feet number Of hts transformed victims carousing
with harcquins upon the bank, as the type OF his Pc
cuiar power. In dresses, artistic appointments and
realistic effect this float, drawn by six wbite horses
wax unsurpassablo and worthy Of the highest encon
luna
ISIS ENTHRoxgD.
Following came the story Of the year. displayed
upon twenty-,hree appropriately decorated floats or
platforms. each preceded by large descriptive trans
parency. Tho bestowed upon the design proved,
however, TO be somewhat Of q insnomcr, since 1t
opened with an Egyptian scene, q people well known
have been Of Semec and not Aryan origin. IL rep
resented tho portals OF an Egyptian temple where SAT
tho goddess Isis amid group OF priests aud wor-
shippers offering sacrifice At her altar Although tho
best authorities were closely followed to archtcc
ture cost umcs &c. there just sufficient exaggera.
ton in the latter to provoke smile without
dctractng from It's nalf barbaric spendor and gave
almost truthful an idea of the costuming of the
Lad fha
ruined monuments that strew tho shores of
tho Nile Its blended harmony OF color care
full grouping anu picturesque effect produced
evidenced conscientious study and good taste.
VENUS AND sATYRs.
The second tablcau skipped 70 B. G. 400, present
ing a miniature representation Of "Greck Tragedy"
Before the facade OF theatre, adorned with iie-slzed
statues Of Venus and the Satyrs, warrior and his
bride gaZed down upon combat between actors, whose
heads we're covered with The traditional masks While
somewhat open to criticism upon the ground of incon
gruity the group was nevertheless magnificent The
delicate manner In which tho severely classic was OK.
aggeraed only to tho verge of comicality gave II
delicious touch OF humor that would havo provoked
smile IRON old Diogenes himself
RoME's TRIBUNE.
Contemporaneous with the same the third
tableau represented scene from "Repubcan Rome''-
small and promscuous group OF "iat and greasy cti
zens" the modern ''stump speech" style. This not
only gave faithful reflex of the costumes OF the
period, but also served to show. by happy stroke,
nearly humanity is kin throughout all times and
countries The noble Romans red and carbuncled
face shining out beneath the laurel crown was SO
suggestive Of present national capitol that but few
failed to appreciate tho satire thus happily suggested
A ROMAN BANQUET.
The fourth tableau brought the record down to the
second century, 'lmperial Rome" least in the old
luxurious style OF the days when men lived but to
crafty their appetites. In palatial interior was
spread the low table and couches upon which The aver
uge Roman OF the day accustomed to spread him.
sell meals. The table covered with the remains
Of u ieast--dagons, drinking cups, &c. Al its foot
spurted cunningy contrived fountain of winc Two
Roman lords and many ladies', all little the worse
for over indulgence completed the picture and served
to illustrate tho dress OF the PERIOD which appa-
renty more remarkable for undrcss. One OF the most
attractive features OF this float shelf, which
round its border, bearing paper mach6 reproductions
Of all the old Roman dishes, from the peacock pie TO
the stuffed kid, ntersperscd wi,h OF fruits and
flowers
THE DARK AGES.
The nlth tabeau, making division In the process
sion, strictly allegorical in nature and typical OF
aud glitter OF tho previous pictures, was severe aud
sombre in tone showing no touch oi bright col or.
It's theme "Science, Literature ana Art Dominated
by Man." High upon the ruins OF a broken arch
stood Gothic warrior, sombre indress and aspect,
while below, loaded with chains, covered amid shat
tered capitals and broken columns three figures,
Identifying sSciencc, I" Iiterature" and cart" The
contrast afforded by the dull, gray nts OF the picture
proved great relief to the eye and better prepared it
for the gorgeous tabeaux which followed.
AMOUNTING CLOVIS
Sixth in order came tho amounting of King Clovis
(alh century, At an altar stood the King undergo
ing baptism at the hands OF priests ana acolytes
This was a faithful reproduction OF the costumes Of
the time, dvested OF any attempt to caricature or
exaggerate and accurately reproduced old picture
of that notable event In history.
CHARLExAGNE.
The seventh tableau transferred the spectator to
the eighth century, "The Throne Of Charlemagne. -
THIS splendid structure sover twenty feet high
Al the top, under gorgeous canopy, sat the great
Christian King, holding in his hand the globe and
other symbols OF supreme sway. Grouped upon ,hc
steps OF the throne courtcrs, pages and herads
one them bearing the celebrated sword "Joyeuse "
The exaggcraton In this instance only family
suggested aud not sufficiently expressed to detrAct
from It's merits as q historic picture.
ELEVENTH CENTURY CRUSADERS
Tho eighth presented group OF crusaders Of the
eleventh century-ttc days Of cast steel waistcoats
iron potted heads and double handed swords. The
sencc OF carcature here became more apparent
though the armorcd costumes were superb The plat
FORM representing lawn front of the Castle OF Ala
canta which lowered in the background marvel
OF ingenuity and artistic effectiveness Through its
gateway was seen emerging a mounted King armed
cop-dpie
IL may be here remarked that nothing adds more to
the effectiveness of tabeaux than mounted figures
The horses made OF papcr machc. life size, but
the rider is invariably personaed by Of the char
acters
NINE HUNDRED YEARS
Smith In order came leaf from the records OF the
twelfth ccntury-a court OF justice OF that era-be-
fore Coke and Cnity had supplanted the of bill
aud broad-axc, and when muscle much moro