The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-02-05
Carnival at New Orleans.

ell great StagnatlOn OF business
throughout the entire South, seems in
no way to have dampened the ardor OF
. His Majesty, Rex, or the exalted 0fli-
GERS of his Carnival Court now gather
ing at New Orleans.
The managers of the Mardi Graz
festivities there intend to make Ne
display this year eclipse in grandeur
and magnificence anything hitheft0
seen on this continent, and to this end
have arranged programme of novel
ties which will attract to the Crescent
City thousands from all parts of our
common country.
The first of the street pageants will
take place on February 22nd, when
the Boston Lancers and Charlestown
Cadets, two celebrated companies from
| Massachusetts, will be received as
guests by the Veteran Continental
Guards. This is the first visit of citi-
zen soldiery from the north to New
Orleans, and is paid at the invitation
of the Continentals, who were the
guests of the Lancers on their late
visit to Boston. The Lancers are rep
resentative men of Boston, and as citi-
zens will be warmly welcomed by the
people of Louisiana, Mississippi and
tennessee, who have not forgotten
their open-handed generosity during
the dark days of the pestilence of 1878.
The Lancers uniformed in scarlet,
blue and gold, armed with glittering
pennant-decked lances, and superbly
mounted, will add not little To the
| gorgeousness of the display, and their
| appearance will be in entire keeping
with the magnificence of Rex and his
Court, whose special escort they will
be on the day Of his Majesty's arrival
in the city.
The regular Uuited States troops,
stationed at the barracks, will also
take part in the display, and with
their regulation blue uniform, busi-
ness-like step, and martial, bronzed
and veteran faces make an excellent
foil to their more gaily-attired citizen
comrades, the whole making such u
picture rs has seldom been seen on
this continent.
Next in order will be the illumina-
ted night street pageant Of the knights
of Momus on Thursday evening,
February 2ith, which will be carried
out with all the gorgeousness of detail
for which this organization is famous,
and which is only equaled by their
Mystic Brethren ofthe "Krew.n
On Sunday. February 27th, the
whole division of State National
Guards Of Louisiana will parade to
receive the list Regiment of New
York State National Guards, who will
arrive on special train of sleepers,
accompanied by their famous band of
forty pieces and full "drum corps"
The train will be gaily decorated and
will have attached an open car arrang-
cd for the band and another bearing
a twelve-pounder served by "A special
detachment of artillery, the intention
being TO salute with cannon and
music the different towns en- route. "
The next day, Monday February
2Sth, will be the reception Of his maj
esty Rex, the guard to be detailed
from the Louisiana State troops.
Tuesday, March LIST (Mardi Gras),
magnificent imperial day pageant of
majesty Rex, /" the king of the Carni-
val" escorted by the I" Kings Own"
Phorty Phunny Phellews," I" and kim
dred organizations, and guarded by
the home and visiting military.
On Tuesday evening the grand fea-
ture of the Carnival, the gorgeous IL |
Illuminated street pageant of the world |
renowned "Mystic Krew of Comus"
finale to those that have gone before. |
1t is night, and from the remotest |
environs of tho gay citv, from every
square and street and by-way come
the expectant populace-old age and |
childhood hand In hand, the rich, the |
Door, all conditions of life crowd mer-
rily with laugh and shout towards the
centre of the city, the usual focus of
display. Crowds of maskers dressed
i'm every conceivable costume under
the sun elbow their way, with many
a Jest and joke, through the laughing
throng. All is merriment and gaity,
aud from every side sounds the laugh
of old age, manhood In its prime, gay
maidens i'm their "teens", youth in all
ages and infancy in its nurses arms.
The streets are packed-from every
vantage point adventurous youth sits
triumphant; every window, door and
gallery Is filled with bright and happy
groups, all eyes turned expectant to
the looked-for point where the heav-
ems will indicate the approaching pa
gcant-for be ii known, all are igno-
rant of the exact direction or point at
which the Mystic Krew will appear.
Suddenly the heavens are aglow, and
from ten thousand throats comes the
cry "They comet They come !" and
the vast crowd, up TO this time NOV
ing uncertain thrOng, resolves itself
into an audience, expectant, escorous
and appreciative.
The lights grow briGAter, all is
hush falls upon the
waiting crowd, and then, with burst
of applause from the assembled thou
sands, the long-looked for spectacle,
with strains of exquisite music and
crash of martial drums, breaks upon
the admiriDg throBg, coming from no
one knows where, and disappearing as
as they appear. To the
the scene Is weird and won-
derful. and will remain impressed up
ON the mind of the beholder as some
thing to be marked by a milestone ON
the road Of life.
At last all is past; the crowd dissolves
and each individual seeks the after
pleasures incident according to his dis
pDition. The Mystic Krew ball, the
Kings Own, the Opera House the
of Music, the st. Charles
ball and a dozen others claim the
attention of the stranger ard the lover
Of the dance, aud keep the devotee
busy in the pursuit until day dawns
and compels the reluctant relinquish-
ment of the worship Of the goddess ,
Pleasure.
such is Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
This year the managers Of the Great
Jacks on route have determined toput
The pleasures Of the Carnival within
Ihe reach of the citizens along its line
md to this end have reduced their
ARE 10 a point that will enable rich
md poor alike TO visit New Orleans.
We notice the large posters issued by
he company gives rates from each !
tation and fnll particulars.