The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-06
YE MISTICK KREWE
THE PAGEANT LAST NIGHT
ON OUR STREETS.
Ovid and His Metamorphoses
Returned to Light.

With just slight tinge OF GOODNESS, zest,
MS 1t were, to give 1t piquancy, did Mardi
Gras of 1878 dawn. The first streaks OF Its
light stole over swamp and common, on by
herds of lowing kline In the young grass of
the pastures; on up into the heart OF our
great city where old and young were looking
forward to the days festivities. Never in
Rome was triumph more anticipated than
was that Of our good Comus last night. His
brother Rex in jollity ruled during the hours
of daylight and when twilight settled down
upon us Comus swnyed.
Ye Mstick Krewe, that mysterious body
that comes from no one knows where and goes
no one knows whittier. again made their bow
TO an appreciative public. The traditional
beauties Of the Krewe's deineations had come
down to u.s. and on the tip-toe of excitement
did the fair ones await the development. The
subject chosen was one OF rare beauty.
THE METAMoRpHosEs OF OVID,
that string OF pearls was chosen, and Comus,
whose rare tact Is invinoible, led US back with
Centaur and Nymph to the days when old
Olympus was the scene of lively contests in
love between the amorous deities. As an
opening to the introduction of the gods came
Ovid, with Fame and Poetry. The theme was
worthy of Comus. and right worthily did he
/, carry Ii out In the scenes the work OF Ovid
was most faithfully rendered, and the won
derful transformations OF tho poets brain
accurately shown.
THE STREETS
were alive with people. Along the whole
route the people by thousands thronged the
sidewalks awaiting the arrival of Comus. On
Canal street the mass was SO thick that there
was no means OF penetrating it. The illu-
limitations, which sent forth their genial glare
upon the scene, added not little to the effect.
The picture was one seldom to be seen in any
city, and gives us another evidence that to
the CITY Of the Crescent belongs the title to
the name Of tho Paris Of America
In blaze Of light and q flood OF enliv-
ening music, appeared to the gaze Of the
throDg, on the first car,
OVID,
Che creator of the wonderful pictures of the
nights delineation. He was heralded by tho
trumpet notes of Fame, whilst Poetry, stylus
in hand, engraved the impassioned words as
they fell from his oracular lips.
This car, as base, had gathering OF cir
rus clouds, the silvery lining shining softly
under the light Of the torches. In front,
Fame with all the tabled trappings Of that
goddess, stood. her golden trump extended to
Tell the world Of the Poets work and his de-
served praise. Mid-eyed and meek Poetry
sat on the right. her tablet before, her and her
eyes lovingly cast up wards to the master OF
the art of Love Ovid, with clear-cut features
and a Roman nose, stood in the centre In
the cloak Of his day. the likeness being won
derfully accurate.
This opening Of the pageant vas aa fit fors re-
fects were most artistic and the costumes
more than rich.
The Poet came, ushering in the advent of
his wondrous creations, whilst the masses,
as did the sturdy Romans, shouted 80 tfi-
Nmphe' to the master hand, In the New
World the exled poet received the citations
denied him in the Eternal City of the Old,
and the waving of kerehiefs and softest hands
attested the immortality Of the author OF the
metamorphoses.
Behind the creator came the first car of his
creations, reciting the
STORY OF PHAETON.
This rash youth, the son Of Apollo and ely
meme, after repeated opportunities, obtained
from his fond father an oath that he would
grant him whatever he required which was
no sooner uttered than the rash boy demanded
the guidance of his chariot for one day.
The picture was wrought out with rare ex-
-celenGe. Phmbus, respondent in his robes of
royalty, sat on his throne, over which the
DAZZLING, golden sun threw out its refulgent
rays Rich columns Of porphyry, surmounted
with lions c0tchdnt, sustained the canopy,
whilst on his right and left Old and Young
Time marked the passage OF the hours, glass
in hand. On star -bespangled azure field the
Seasons, with howery chaplets and bearing
the emblems Of their days, trod daintily. Sur
rounding the car, in finely painted panels.
gods and goddesses swept through the waters.
aGgeon bestriding whale; Triton and Por-
teus, with Doris, were gracefully moving
through the waters, whilst on the rocks
satyrs and syrens lounged at will. But Ovid
tells the tale: ...
Here Phaeton still gaining on tn ascent
To his suspected fathers palace went,
Till. pressing forward through the bright
He saw at distance the iIlustrious god,
He saw at distance, for the dazzling light
'' "' The &c god sits high exalted on throne
OF blazing gems with purple garments on,
aars and and on
stand;
Here spring appears with aowery chnplots
Here summer in her wheaton garland crowned,
And hoary winter sbivers in the rear
pHAEToN, DRIVING THE CHARIOT OF PHTRUs,
followed in the historic order of the story.
Glad in a leopard's, skin the venturesome
boy urged on the wild steeds, richly capari-
soned, from the chariot OF the Sun with
golden beam and axle. Phaetons petition to
PhGbus had been granted, ana Tor that one
day he was to guide the coursers through tho
'current of the sky" Not needing the ad-
vice of his father, the boy persisted IN his
desire
g Thus did tho god the unwary youth advise.
But still he longs to travel through the les,
When The fond father for in vain he pends)
AT length to the Vulcanian chariot leads.
golden axle did the work uphold. ,,-,.
Gold was the beam, the wheels were orbd with
gold,
The spokes in rows OF silver pleased the sight.
The seat with parti- colorei gems was bright,
Apollo shined amid The glare of light.
The youth with secret joy the work surveys
Where now tho moon disclosed her purple rays.
The stars were fed. for Lucifer had chased
( The stars away and fed himself al last.
Soon as the father saw the rosy morn,
And the moon shining with blunter horn.
He babe the nimble Hours. without delay.