Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-02-28


EDITOR INTELLIGENCER: Since 1888,
when Vaudeville Marigny, a descen-
dant of the noblest blood OF France, in
augurated the first public and general
masquerade that ever took place in this
city, cur people have been true to their
instincts in keeping up the custom OF
masquerades on the day known inFrance
as Mardi-Gras, and in old merry Eng
land as
PANCAKE TUESDAY.
The carnival of 1880 presented u
scene as important and magnificent as
the preceding years. The spirit OF
harmless, healthy nonsense was abroad,
and developed itself in numerous mas
querading parties. Thousands were in
mask, thousands were in fancy cos
tunes, and many thousands more in er-
dinary dress crowded the boulevards or
peered from the windows Or galleries as
mere spectators. Along the line of our
great thoroughtare, Canal street, there
was seen the tangled web of life, en-
bracing the young and old, white and
black, male and female, the foreign
born and native born, the home citizen
and the stranger-an undistinguishable
indescribable throng.
From as early an hour as ten o'clock
the motley crowd OF mimic horses,
mountebanks, fiends, cavaliers, gods
and demi-gods, were moving as by
common impulse toward Canal street.
at eleven o'clock there was heard in
the distance the sound o, the bugle call,
Announcing the approach of
REX AND Ills PAGEANT.
The procession came winding its way
ia its almost endless details, from street
to street, headed by the kiag's division,
which consisted of Assyrian warriors IN
chariets, followed by two generals, su-
perbly mounted. Then, in quick sue
cessisn, appeared astrologers, mounted
upon mules, magicians. .eunuchs, scribes
and warriors. Three heralds, elegantly
costumed, ushered Rex, King OF the
Carnival, clad in the magnificent royal
robes OF
SHALMANESER,
the warrior king of Assyria. The win
dows in every house were illumined
with the face of beauty; the galleries
Groaned under the weight of thousands.
straining and crowding to see the King
Of the Carnival as he passed in all his
grandeur and magnifcencs. The great
wave OF life along the route, AS it sway
cd to and fro, under the excitement OF
the hour, was like the waves of
STORM BEATEN SEA.
The elements. embodying Earth. Air,
Fire aud Water, was the subject chosen
for illustration. The pageant represen-
ted the animal, OF the earth, inhabitants
OF the air, deep sea animals and car
representing Fire. Then came the
chariot OF the sun and golden grotto,
containing the stars, planets and liked
stars, collected in a dazzling armament.
| This latter car was the finest represen-
tation OF ALL
Borne on Il large float followed by
seven Assyriau butchers, was the
| "BOEUF GRAs,'
milk. white animal OF the short horned
Durham breed, and weighing about s..
900 pounds. His appearance was cx.
csedingly docile, and he rather seemed
to enjoy the outfit of ribbons and ban,
nsrs that adorned him.
The appearance Of tbs
PHUNNY PHoRTY puELLows,
this year, was burlesque upon sur ra
administrators and city officials. The
exaggerated heads of our city fathers.
were surprisingly correct likenesses
which added new zest and interest t.
the exhibition. The most ludicrou:
travesty of all was the
GREAT suowPAN."
a take-otr on Doctor Chopin. presiden
ef the Board OF Health. Amid swan,
OF marsh grass stood an absurd carica
turs OF the doctor, fishing pole IN hand
whie on the line dangled the ..Hiber
mating Germ" Overhead was inscrib
ed on banner "Eureka-I have foun,