The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-02-24
TIE LAND OF ALLlGATORS!
FROM ORR SOUTHERN CORRESPONDENT
Who tells Of the Carnival at New Orleans
Momus, Comus and Rcx---and their Cor
.eous paEcants.
New ORLEANS, Feb. 1G, 1877


lovers of the beautiful IN scenery txhort
us ." See Naples and die" Sight scecrs who
have looked upon the scenes presented dur
ing Mardi Gras as observed in New Orleans,
say: See Menus, Comus and die; you have
seen the acme Of folly
Las, year sent you letter on this subject
describing, as best could, the scenes OF Mar
d. Gras Of that year. and being fortunately,
on the ground again this year, shall try to
give your readers a more extended account
Of these festivities are annually at
,racting more and more attention in the north
than the Chicago papers contained.
Despite the troublous times this poor city
has endured and is still enduring, the viva
ciousness Of lis people is something that Will
not be pat down, particularly at this season
VI the year, when all look forward to period
so peculiarly, to New Orleans, one of mirth,
jolli,y and fes,ivlty as the Carnival
Mardi Gras is the holiday season of the
south especially OF this city, surprising
Christmas New Years or any OF the great
holidays of the north; and 1t is AN universal
hOliday--a popular merry-making--partici-
Da,cd in by all, old and young, rich and poor,
black and white.
u is an out.ofdoOgs celebration where only
4 could be succcsSiul-one would hardly en-
10Y rushing around Ottawa IN "a fancy cos.
'umc in February but here the day comes
perfumed with "the breath of violcts hidden
IN the green" and this year with the bios
soming of the pcach.tree also and temper
AZURE of about 60 cegrees-think of ii!
Mardi Gras proper means the day next be
fore Ash. Wednesday and is the day of tie Gel.
sbrG,ion, there being procession in the
morning and one again in the evening fol-
loved by the "Comus' and Rex balls.
The day, therefore, is crowded with pageants.
There is, however, of the mystic societies"
third, the knights of Menus, who, having
come into being later than COmus and Rex,
Eere shut out from Mardi Gras day, anc
therefore appropriated The Thursday evening
preceding Ash Wednesday for their display.
Hence their procession Is the "opening gun"
of the revcls of the week, and is always look
I'd forward 10 with much expectation, rs be.
luC III HpulC eNcIlOts way Il vi
what Mardi' proper will be.
The name of the god Momus is derived
rom the Greek, signilyins "a tester, mocker,
Or mImic; for that is his business. He fol
lowed no particular employment, but lived
n idle life, yet nicely observed the actions
snd sayings OF the other gods, and when he
lound them dong amIss, or neglecting their
duty, be censured, Knocked and derided them
nth the greatest liberty. We are told by
mythology of numerous tricks of his among
The gods oS olympus, hence II ought not to
surprise US If he kept at them while amongst
ihe lords Of creation.
At an carly hour in the evening, streams,
yas, and mighty streams. OF people locked To-
The streets through which the pageant would
move, all eager TO secure good positions Ia
view the Judge between Minerva and Nul
can" las judge he was nearly as funny
as Judge Bradley and see his mimicry, won
dering what il should be. The balconies OF
Canal street teemed with ladies aud children
what with bright eyes, elegant toilets ant
the brilliant illumiDa,ions the city presene'
charming appearance.
At last in tie glare Of torches, the strain
Of music ami The loud and long expression O
applause, the wonder appeared, the procession
headed by the banner OF the organization, o.
one side of whica was the chaste and elegan
uansarram 81 &c Order, ard ON The oihe