The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-03-05
LOCAL wANDERINGs.
Special Correspondence to The COMET.

Special Correspondence To The Comet.
MOBILE, March, ., 1881
Your correspondent left Jackson, at
10 p. M. Saturday in search of pleasure
and recreation, under the dampening
influence of pouring rain, and
thoughts of probable accidents. We
ratified along over the v. & M. road
all right till We reached Morton, where
the fact soon penetrated our sleepy
brain that further progress was out of
the question till morning, as a freight
train had been wrecked just ahead of
US. In an incredible short space of
time we were all snugly slowed away
ia bed by Scott County's prince of
clever fellows, r. w. yves Bonds.
Accusing early In the morning and
partaking of most excellent break
fast, we were soon viewing the worst
railroad smash-up ever looked upon.
A bridge had given way, and three
or four bOx-cars had gone down crash
ing through and upon one another in
a frightful manner, and MASKING off
the leg of the only brakeman who
was on that portion of the train.
Passengers, baggage and mail were
soon transferred through the mud, the
bell rang, and again we were steam
ing along towards the Eastern Capital
of Mississippi, where we arrived about
o'clock without further hinderance.
Travel superinduces hunger, and as
fast Of eight hours had added its
balance Of power In this respect, we
unanimously proceeded to the Euro
peau, where, without doubt we did
justice to our "quail on toast" and
other good things. Weidman, its pro-
prietor, seems to possess natural quail
fications as a good hotel-keeper, has
located and fitted himself up with
comfort, taste and judgment, and
gives the tired and hungry traveller
rest and good living.
Meridian is undoubtedly assuming
the proportions of a city. Her streets
are clean and devoid OF mud, she con-
tinues to grow, aud her business men
are carrying on a heavy trade with a
very wide area of the surrounding
interior. One of the most noted inn
provements during the past twelve
months is the superbly equipped cof-
fee and lunch house now in operation
at the depot. 1t is decidedly comfort
able TO drop in and refresh the inner
man previous to entering upon a long
ride.
I boarded the train for Mobile Sun
day night at l o'clock, "A hours behind
time) and such crowd as was on
those ten coaches! Not seat to be
had and plenty of people standing to
keep me company! But the M. & o.
is such a good road, and bears the
traveller along SO swiftly and smoothly,
that standing up is no great cross any
way, comparatively.
/ found the Gulf City full of life and
in excellent trim for the festivities.
The sun is shining brilliantly, but 1t
is quite cool and bracing, the Their
being considerably below
temperate. There Is some frost of
Yesterday was the great day, and
everything was propitious. The het-
erogeneous mass Of humanity upon
the streets, interspersed with the
and varied attire of the
maskers, presented a Kaleidoscope
panorama throughout which was
pleasing as well as ludicrous and '
/ have attended
Mardi Gras here for the pact three
years, but l think visitors to the city
we're more numerous yesterday than $
ever observed before.
The day parade was succession of ,
ioats on wheels, each of which ap-
)eared to be huge marble base. On {
he corner of each base stood a person,
10 dressed and masked i'm snowy
white, with snow-white hair, as to
appear nothing more than a 9
marble statute; and these apparent 4
tatutes were facsimile representations
II features and costumes, of our Presi-
Tents from Washington down to Gar 9
ield. The van was led by a float I
Ipon which was heroic impersona- 4
ion Of Columbia, who bore in her 8
lands banner on which was inscrib- : J,
d "Columbia's Idols" The whole n
'as a magnificent spectacle. I
The splendors Of the night pageant
'ere grand beyond anything 1 ever e
'itnessed. 1 cannot enter into detail,
Or 1t would cause my letter to en- "
roach too much upon your valuable y
pace. The whole were reproductions
scenes pertaining to the Ancient N
nd Modern Historical Chronology Of 3,
EUROPE, America, Asia, Africa and ii
nina, which would have to be seen s,
, be appreciated. The universal n
erdict Of every one, was that the y
cystic Societies of Mobile had fairly -
clipsed their former efforts to produce n
,enic effect combined with grand &c
and that March 1, 1881, :,
'as day long to be remembered by Il
II who were present In the Gulf City. Il
Il
m Old Fashioned May Queen At !.
West Point. 10
TI,o l.l:o. ~ A. Decentralization A;d VI