Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1881-09-17

has been intense to witness q genuine
Mardi Gras parade without being fore
ed to go upon a journey Of thousands
of miles. The fame Of New Orleans,
Memphis and Mobile as the centres of
Mardi Gras and Carnival festivities
has spread throughout the entire coun-
try, and when it is promised that Bal
timore shall equal, if not indeed sur
pass the greatest efforts of any the
cities named, it means much. Con-
tracts have already been let for the
mistic pageant, the subject illustrated
in an extensive series Of tableaux to
remain dead secret until the night
of the Mardi Gras. Mr.. DeLeon, the
gentleman who has designed and per-
fected the mystic features, has had
ample experience, having been at the
head of similar undertakings in New
Orleans and Mobile Baltimore pays
him $4,000 for this special feature,
but this represents by no means the
whole of the pagent. AS much, if not
more, will be expended on other series
Of tableaux. some Of them designed
and gotten up by some OF the societies
of the city, and others under the I'M
mediate direction of the general COM
mittee. An entirely new departure
in this sort of parade, will be the use
of platform cars, upon which the tab
leaux will be constructed, and which
will be run over the street car tracks.
It is estimated that the pageant Will
reach a length of three miles, and I'M
der electric, calcium and other brilliant
} lights, will present a scene to be VII
messed but once in a lifetime. The
Mardi Gras will, however be but one
of the great events of the three days
festivities. On Monday, the 10th, the
new water works are to be formally
opened with beautiful display by
fountains and all that sort of thing.
IN the afternoon the grand daylight
} parade is to occur and will without
doubt eclipse the big parade day OF
last year, and to do that it will indeed
be great. In addition to the military
of Baltimore and adjacent cities it is
expected that several Of the military
organizations en- route for Yorktown
will stop over and participate. ASIDE
from the soldier boys, there will be a
grand display by fire departments,
Masonic, Odd Fellows, knights Of
Pythias, and other organizations AZ
night, the glorious Oratorio, with its
almost countless voices Tuesday
morning has been set apart for the re-
ception Of the French visitors, and
among them the immediate decend-
ants of Lafayette, De Barras, De Crosse
De Rochambeaux, and other great
) Frenchmen who played SO grand a part
I, as the allies of Washington during the
S revolution. With them will come
. many of the most distinguished mel
Q of the French republic; statesmen
generals and naval officers. Tw
$ French men-of-war, fully manned, ar
L now on the sea bound for the Chesa
IS apeake and Baltimores welcome t
l her illustrious guests will be memor
J. able one. Wednesday will witnes
new honors to the French and a gen
u eral series of receptions to all visitor
Il throughout the city. At night come
9 the glorious Mask and Carnival, wit
all its merry features, its eccentri
e costuming and brilliant details. !
L will be happy wind up to the thre
/ days pleasures, and if all corners d
+ not have the jolliest time of their live
lie none will be blamed for it but them
Y selves. The B. & O., with its accu'
4 toned enterprise and liberality, he
he Joined in the full spirit of the celebr'
lg ton, and announces rate OF one-ha
r the regular fare, from all stations {
a. the main line, divisions and branche
s. Tickets are to be good for ten days
y thus giving ample time for all. AS
ne well known, Baltimore has an abul
IS nance of hotels, boarding houses al
like places of comfort, and no ext
charge whatever will be made for a
commodations during the Oriole Gel
O. bration. Nothing will be spared
u make the occasion the happlest ina
8 n II l. l., II