The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-03-08
Mardi- Gras.
The Crescent City's Great Annual Foolish
ness.


Our friend o. d. H." who witnessed the
recent MardiGras carnival in New Orleans,
SAYS in spite of adverse circumstances, the dis
play this year was really the grandeSi of lis
Kind ever Witnessed in the Crescent city
! The term m0fdi-graS, as most Of our readers
doubtless know, means fat Tuesday, or the last
day before lent on which among Catholics flesh
may be eaten, and answers to the English
Shrovc Tuesday. Among Catholics and Epls-
lcopalans everywhere the day is kept as Il fcs-
tival, and especially throughout Italy France
and Spain it's observed as high carnival, IN
which all kinds Of absurditcs and excuses are
allowable. The observance of the festival, I'M
der lis French name, has for many years been
n usage Of great force in New Orleans, and to
promote It's highest enjoyment, and with Il
show of dcccncy and good taste, number OF
the better and more wealthy citizens have band
cd themselves together as the Mystic Krcwc of
Comus who annually elect IA Rex or King OF
the Carnival, under whose joy bringing sceptre
all men are compelled to be mirthful and do
their best to forget care.
Our friend j ID. H., rs already minated,
sends Us Il full account of the grand pageant,
with New Orleans papers illustrating the whole
deliberately with pictures. Wcarc compelled,
however, greatly to shorten the account only
giving its man features.
The pageant this year assumed to give, in Il
series Of living pictures or representations, a
l. 4 fl,
down to modern times. This historic pano
rama was not however, II dull record of facts,
but show under the objective aspect appro-
pirate to mardi- gras view of life and its do
history was under pains and penalties to look
at everything ON the bright side We proceed
to copy the outline before us:
Preceding the procession proper came the
royal pageant of Rex and his court. Rex, ON
this occasion, chose to put on the style and title
of Richard the Lion Heart, whose exploits
form such brilliant page in history and ro-
nance.
After these came the several cars with The
cmblematic and historic groups
Car No i-t;ardcn of Eden Rural Scene
Tree with serpent. igures-Adam, Eve, Cain,
Abel MCthusalah. Cain and Abel represented
as boys; Mcthusalah rs SChoolmas,cr.
Car No 2-Dclugc-Thc Ark loaded with
animals; Noah IN bow taking an observation
of the sun.
Car No 3-Tower of Babel Scene--tower; ;
in front, five figs; architects with implements ,
Saxon, African, IIndoo, Amencan Indian,
| Chinaman, Brother Jonathan
/ Then followed cavalcadc of Nimrod and
Semiramis, accompanied by Ashur the found
er of the Assyrian Empire, Cyrus and NcrXe's
the ancient PcrsianS, with modern Shah of
Persia accompanied by Nebuchadnczzar.
| Car No. represented India Il. &. 200O-A.
| ID. 1879 This car was painted To represent Il
Jungle elephant with an Indian service (oflicerl
and natives in the howdah of elephant
Car No was next in order. representing the
era h. C. l49l-l00i. solomon ON throne in
magnificent costume, proper 10 king, re
lnowned for his riches and glory. In front of
the throne was group composed of Aaron in
priests garments, Samson got up in lion Skins,
attended by his fair friend Delilah, and the
Wandering jew. a mixture of Dore, Sue and
Chatham street, long coat, high hat, striped
brooches, box of jewelry David IN his green
and salad days, with harp. Samuel and elder
lly parsonage with white beard and hair. flow
ing robes.
Car No. 6 was made up of Tyrrhenians and
IPhpnicians in an ancient galley. The crew
'of (five) Tyrrhenlans and PhGnicians. Thes,