The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-28
interesting Historical Sketch Of His Cclebra-
. tions in New Orleans, Memphis, Gin.
cinnati and Elsewhere.
AN EFFORT TO INVADE NEW YORK.
Shall We Surrender Without Fight to
the Mistick krewe?
WHAT COLONEL ST. MARTIN HAS TO SAY

Along through scenery peculiar to the southern part
or the North American connent-aiternae forests ana
swamp Below, an impenetrable jungle Of csneorake
swamp above bearded Expresses rearing their gaunt
limbs here and there the delicate tracery OF palm
hmned against the sunset for II was now nearly night
Soon shot into the New Orleans station Taking
car, by OF change ut last found my
self in the French quarter Of the CITY, and comfortably
settled in the pension of Nine. s. had a month 8
vacation from my not very arduous duties as state
official of neighboring State and having often heard
OF the New Orleans carnival resolved to participate in
the gayetes preceding and eliminating qp Mardi Gras,
the 18th Of February 1874 had arranged matters 80
IS to arrive New Orleans two weeks before the
commencement of the festivities, In order 10 enter
more thoroughly into the spirit of the season ana
therefore be able TO appreciate the coming turning
topsy turvy Of society.
At our pension, though only two streets from Canal
street, the dividing line between the French anu
American quarters, French was the language OF the
house Our bedrooms were ranged around the gallery
Of courtyard One floor comprised the henage, salon,
stuie manager and all; underneath perruquier, a
laundry al the back OF the court, and the Office and
printing rooms OF the CARLTON newspaper Coffee at
six, breakfast at nine and dinner at four. French
creoles French people. Russian countess, Mexican
three Northerners made the party that gracsd
tho table dh6te characters, petit crere fresh from
Paris the countess who the vile Of one ex-iov-
OF Siba and daughter OF another the editor OF
the paper published below, and French creole lady,
married TO a carpet-bag Nortnerner, against which
class she constantly inveghing who also Kept up
mild Irritation with the young man from Paris.
The days were pass ed in examining all points OF in
terest the city, including the lovely creoles prone
nadpg Canal street in the AFTERNOON and IN smoking
cigarettes and eating countless bananas. In the
Ia. f,pe oil
stakes the salon with fellow boarders. On Sun.
days magn cent singing was to be had at the Church
Of the Jesuits. at Protestant church by
those who preferred it. One visit TO the State Legs
lature then in session, and composed to great ex
tent of negroes satisfied curiosity, and left no incl.na
ton and listen to further debates between
the parti-colored legislators
PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS NARDI
GRAs
Imperceptiby the preparations for the delivery of
tho city the rule OF the King of the Carnival took
shape With these Kept courant by occa.
sional visit the sanctum OF the Earl Marshal bc
Before proceeding further 1t may be well TO give
brief history of former ceebrations In New Orleans
n which city the festivities carried
scale of greater magnincencs Than Italy. For
most of the material for this history am indebted to
Ahttle Handbook OF the Carnival. - published In New
Orleans, and announced containing "Mardi Gras-
Its Ancient and Modern Observancs-History Of the
Aystick Krcwe of Comus--The Twelfth Night Revel-
ers and Knights OF Momus-together with the Annals
Of tho Reign Of HIS Majesty the King Of the Carnival
In New Orleans"
AN OLD CUSTOM.
With tho people of New Orleans 1t has been the
tom. the FIRST emigration from France and
Italy and Spain to celebrate with festivities the day
knowa Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday Shrovc Tuesday.
ehrat i0n had hut on
and at last degenerated into a which gave
Tor much rufiansm, under the cloak Of prac-
tcal joking that It fell somewhat into disreputc.
FIRST MYSTERIOUS ORGANIZATION.
In that year appeared first the mysterious organza-
ton known the 'Mstick Krewc OF Comus," which
each year gives magnificent representations costing
immense sums and yet manage to preserve the incog
nito Of its members The proceedings commence
with procession, eud with series Of tabeaux and
ball AS the tickets Of admission come from asonym
Gus invters they highly priced people in some In
stances gong far to bribc the person to whom
their delivery is ntrusted to sell to them the tickets
addressed to other parties The first representation
Of Mlton's paradise Lost" with a hundred
different characters representing the shapes OF heaven
OF he'll and Of the earth Iu 1883 the characters Of
the gods and Roddesscs of heather mythology were
taken by the impersonal members of the Krewe In
1859 Twelfth Night the Pageant OF Misrule" was
represented the characters taking part In procession
during the day and reappearng at night in tabeaux
the Varieties Theatre, ending the days entertainment
In ball. each member punctunl to the hour OF twelve,
disappearing before the last stroke In 1850, .Amcri-
History" from the earliest to the then day. In
1861 "Sccncs From Life were Swallowed forth In
truth, real prophecy the last represented
DEATH skeleton in ashroud. Tho civil war prevented
further representations unt 1866, when the subjects
were Tho Past" ''The Present." "The Future" and
1.-THE Court OF Comus." "The Triumph of Epicurus''
brought out the best talent OF the in 1857
did 1.-THE scnses'' In the following year. Gorgeous
..Laa Rookh" was given in great splenuor In 1869.
BY this time the fame OF these representations had
spread over. the country and crowds OF strangers
thronged the city, at each recurring festival s1he
History OF Lou siana" was represented In 1890 while
In 1871 Sponsors "Faere Queene astonished the be-
holders In 1872 ''rhe Dream Of Homer" the tabled
world Of 'The Iiad ana Odyssey, sprung to life The
tableaux were "The Judgment Of Paris" 'The Com
bat Between Hector, Mars and Domcdcs." "The Trials
oil I'll uses" and last by curious CONTRAST The Battle
OF the Frogs and Nice"
In 1873 ''The Darwinlan Theory" the subject
chosen, and OF the spectacle of the following year
propose to give description.
The Twelfth Night is celebrated by festivals each
year, the first having been given in 1870 and the
exhibitions have We'd with those given by the Mystck
Krewe.
The Knights Of Menus were organized in 1872, and
on the last night of the year have annually gwen
festivals which, like those Of comus aud OF the
Twelfth Night, have ended IN magn iIcent balls
SUCCESS OF THE cARNivALs.
AS time passed 1t was found that tho number oil
the city for Mard Gras each year increased
aud many, OF course, were unable to moro OF the
representations than the procession, and naturally
went away rather disappointed. To obvate this diff
Gcuty, and onor inducements calculated to attract
stiI people TO the city at carnival time, pan
was hit upon winch has proved worry successful. The
Mayor OF the city ana the Chief OF Police lent their
aid and evcrythin was satisfactorily arranged.
In the name of the liking or the Carnival" taxes
were levied on the merchants and Others, proclana-
tions issued suspendng all other forms of government
but that OF His Majesty, com manding that all public
afnces places of hnsness sclooIs hanks. &c should