Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-01
aEw ORLEANS
1no Paris Of America on Mardi-
eras as Viewed by a
Aemphian.
The Usual Grand Display Of the Mystic
crewe 0mittsd---Scenes and In.
eldents Of the Occasion.

LEANs February 26.-I promised you
aleser. from this famous old city Of
the South, which, before the yandal
wrecked it, was unQuestionably the
Paris Of America. The same warm
hearts and cultivated people are still
here but they have Been shorn of
their wealth and crippled in their
aspirations Yesterday was Shrove
Tuesday, or Mardi-Gras which in the
bye.gone constituted the grand event
Of al tne gala days that Catholic
p~pleE like these, we're capable of
au4ng about 1t was celebrated
here % some extent in the daytime.
but none Of the mystic societies which
were accustomed to render Mardi-
Gras nie blaze of beauty and
wonder Reproduction of the gilded
dreams OF the Bagdad tailor-made
any demonstration. There was moth
aaig to be seen under the starlight
slike those magnificent art creations
Whichsyour own Memphi, under the
master hand of General Cotton
Greene, have held the thousands of
ookers-on in your streets spell bound
by the hour as the wheels of their
triumphal floats rolled along your
ioroughfarcs All was quiet save the
tramp of the crowds moving along in
idle quest OF whatever might happen
70 be met up with. A great many
rangers Though not an oyerwhelm-
az crowd Of them--had been called
the city by the well circulated pos
s Of Rex, the head and front of the
daylight revolers who proposed to
display the grotesQuo creations of his
fancy in a procession along Canal and
other principal st cts, commencing at
II O clock in the forenoon. And for
carnival displays, Canal street is by
far the best in America. Broad
and straight Tor many squares, the as
sembled multitude yesterday. located
on the sidewalks, in the windows and
balconies and the many stands pre-
red for the purpose, with. the flags
IT all nations flying from every house
sp, Canal street. under an unclouded
sky and pleasant temperature, pre-.
sented most charming scene-one.
indeed, not to be surpassed.
TIE PROCESSION.
ST the appointed hour the distant
Ounds Of brass bands and the conse-
uent swaying Of the crowds in Canal
treet announced the approach of Rex
nd his long train Of twenty floats.
The subject Of the display, as the
programme gave forth, was to be
he Comic History Of the World, !"
commencing 1900 years before the
hristian Era, and leading oft with
ne temptation of Adam in the Garden
Eden, by the ORIGINAL maternal an
st0r of Mrs. Elizabeth Cady STAN
N. This float will give an idea of
.e balance, comically considered. In
ie center stood tree, surrounded by
sn.e, snce, and upon the body and
'anch.s of the tree was entwined the
rpent, which brought all our woe
ia misery into the world. Immcdi
ely in front sat Adam, encased in
Try large and sombre looking mask.
non which was an expression of utter
ipldlty- perfectly devoid of humor
@nd conveying the idea that he did
Of care continental either for the
pple, Eve, or the snake, or even
Ae display in which he was taking
art. Eve was standing by her
oges side with no apparent attempt
3 work him an injury in the -ay of
ruit-chewing. She lad the owful
pple IN hand, but instead . gro
esquely allowing Adam to biz, she
vas constantly shaking the forbidden
ruit at her fair sisterhood on the bal
onies, as if she desired and really
ganted women of the present day to
ilelp her in business transaction en-
erely her own Behind the tree and
lrpent on the rear Of the float, stood
dethasalah in the role of spelling
lok teacher to Cain and Able; all of
shich three looked solemn and as
much like Adam as A6am looked like
himself You might have placed Cain
in Adams position, and Adam in
Valns, without disturbing the
lGrmony Of the float or make change
III the somberess Of the whole pic
tur, which was meant to be humor-
qus-so the papers said. This was
characteristic Oft all the rest. The in
ehton was undoubtedly to present
Comic History of the World"
lumorously, but unfortunately. Rex
|oitted his humor to run into
A9tony, and the fun designed was
dly damaged This is simply nv
IN opinion, and others will doubt
sss disagree, as they have the right
he procession, however, as a process
n, was a success and gave pleasure
to the spectators in many ways.
TAKING POSSESSION OF THE CITY.
On Monday afternoon the King an
preached New Orleans on the steamer
&. d. Lee, amid the laundering of
rtillery, and was received BY num-
ser OF military organizations. The
procession then moved through the
reefs to the music of several
bands and some of the worst
maneuyering Of the soiers | have
ever seen, Rex finally brought up at
the st. Charles Hotel where a sort of
recept0, was holden.
BEX's BALL.
The ball last night in the spacious
hall of the Exposition Building ON
tl st. Charles street, was a very brilliant
affair and largely attended by the very
I incest people Of the city. The king
and ms court were present, but gave
no tQblcaux or any sort of exhibition,
Taking it altogether, the celebration
fell so far 5 hort of what New Orleahs
,srl,, Il. L a