The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-01-13

MAEnI GAAs
We SEQ that New Orleans ard Mobile ant
Galveston nru ma.llng grSnd preparations i'i
the celebration OF Nufdi 1rM, II IL hardly
necessary in this sr,icle Ia 20 into datsl' N
to the origin Of Msrdi Glas celebrations, Tie
meaning Of The words aud tbe significance 81
the ceremonies Of tho dry, as isrr@umabl'
that all our resdcrs FRO equally familiar Will
these things, with CURSE YES. But it 10 no'
amiss TO say that the custom Of celebrating
this last day, Shrove, or fat Tuesday, teic q
Lent, in this country, 10 borrowed rom u,
Italian carnival. The canons oft 9 Catholic
church require that the forty DAYS Of Leni
shall DO vigorously observed in Tho way Of
fasting and sbsteniousress generally. TIE
Savior went into tho wilderness und fasted
forty days, and hence wa have Lent. Tho
carnival, as INDUCED n, 10 italy la'ing for a
number of day., nj Mrtii GIa,, Us celebrA-
ted in this c unity, lal,iug through but a
twenty four bcus, are but occasions Of ex-
cess ct wCfldGsss and indulgence in the
carnHl things of life preliminary to tho forty
days of fasting required in Lent Mardi Grns
celebrations until within the psst fOw yoar5
have been confined to the southern cities of
the union, notably New Orleans, Mobile and
Memphis, and some OF the other smaller
cities Ofthe section, Tsscsyy have been mado
the occasions Of magnificent psgcanu, dis
plays and festivities, and by their attractive
ne. and SplSndors generally have drawn
Aheusands TO witness them. 1hvs they have
become mediums Of business advertise
mentp, and they have invariably been
the mesns Of gain to those cities tina! have
gotten them up. Now Orleans has led in
those undertakings aud the gorgooususss Of
her MArdi GraS pomps and reyels have been
unequsled anywhere. Multiplied thousands
fook TO that city to witness the scenes and
join in the pleasures. Planters, merchants,
professional men and artisans all 20 for &
holiday ahd also take occasion to make pur
chase Of such supplies and necessities for the
year that they. may want. They spend
money for board, for sightseeing, and the
various pleasures in which they may indulge,
rs well ~ for the merchandise, ETC., they
msy.buy, and the consequence is that every
branch Of business from the boot.black up
to the wholesale merchant makes money and
tho cost of the entertainment is more than
paid for, tho city and its business is advsr-
tised, and the visitor is royalty entertained.
Dallas has had one one Mardi Gras celebrs-
ton. 1t cost no little money, il is true, but Il
paid. Why, then, oAn we not have another
this year, Oar city is growing and thriving.
Every branch Of business has been more or
lsss prosperous, and with peace, content
msnt and plenty smiling upon US, and a
grand boom ahead Of We, it seems that we
might advertise our place, got up an attrao-
hoH that will draw US thousands from all
over north, east and south Texas, and while
we give them the full worth Of their money,
provide fer them m entertainment
that will make them remember Dallas, that
will impress them with our mercantile facili.
ties, with cur literally, with cur standing
and prominence as city. II will cost some
thousands o. dollars, 1t is true, but lot US
look at the question from business stand.
point. Everybody knows that these celobra.
tons are gotten up by Now Orleans, Mo.
bile, Galveston and other cities, not fol
fun, not FOR nero frolic, but to draw :
crowd, TO give sclat to themselves and to &C.
cure the expenditure BY their visitors o.
money, be ii much or little. The grocer
the dry goods merchant, the millinsr, III,
drsss-msksr, the newspaper publisher, tn,
hotel-kesper, the livery nan and hacknian
the clothier, the salosnist, all expect I,
make some mbnsy by reasen of tho inau,
Of visitors, and the whole expect to pro
ducs that favorable impression which bege
kindly remembrance and lead TO tho con
tinuation of trade. The visitor comes be
cause he wants day or two of recreation
and pleasure, and as II 10 offered to him h
comes with his wife and family if he b
married, or alone II single, On
avails himself Of the opportunits
offered by the occasion to purchase his sup
plies II he be farmer, or stockman, or pre-
fsssional man, or artisan, or to replsnish hi
stock Of merchandise IL no be msrcantiI
man. The cost oil the pageant, and of til
entertainment generally, is largely rsturns
by tho money spent by the visitors. This
the whole matter in nutshell, and plainlI
stated. Now, New Orleans will hay
grand time of II, and Galvest$
is going to follow suit. Dallas can do 4
same thing If she will only make the sffo3
and In the fOrty-'lx days that remain j