Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-07
NJ EMPNIS APPEAL
MARDI GRAs CARNIvALs.

The omission to celebrate Mardi Gras in
Memphis this year has not, on commercial
grounds, proved a wise measure, and many
OF our best business men are taking active
part in proceedings to provide against a SIM
liar failure next year. The Mardi- Gras pro-
ceediDgs act as an immense advertisement
to the city. Everywhere the proceedings are
mentioned by the press, often in considerable
detail. Crowds OF strangers are brought
here as visitors, and they do not only make
the place well known abroad, but much more
money comes with them than is expended in
the preparations, so that every business and
laboring man in the city is benefited. So
conscious are many of the Western cities Of
the great advantages thus conferred
that they have made attempts from
time to time to get up rival cele-
b~rations, but invariably without success.
The Southern cities alone appear to possess
the secret of accomplishing the wonders ac-
complished by Memphis, Mobile and New
Orleans. The New Orleans Democrat had an
article on Friday upon The Cost Of CarnI-
val Pageants." That cost, it acknowledges,
is great, but il remarks that "a large portion
of the money is expended in this very city,
and probably not more than one-fourth Of it
goes abroad. The rest is expended here, and
gives employment to a number OF persons
designers, carpenters, painters, sewibg-women
and others. Money so expended is certainly
not wasted. 1t is q contribution rather from
the rich to the poor, giving the latter work,
and, at the same time, furnishing the public
with a rare treat. Not a cent OF this money
is lost to New Orleans. These carnival
shows return better dividends than any bank
ing institution in the world, bringing thou
sands of dollars where hundreds are ex-
pended" Another thing connected with the
Mardi Gras carnivals, as conducted by the
unknown societies who so mysteriously man
age them, Is that they are winning their way
10 the respect of a portion of the community
that has generally looked upon them coldly,
If not reprovingly. The change is due to the
artistic excellence and instructive character of
the exhibitions. Referring back to the pro-
cession Of the MempAi from year to year, the
impartial eye sees reason only for approval.
Not one subject chosen for illustration could
be objected TO, and the scenes exhibited on the
''hoats" have involved no Objectionable fea-
ture. Scenes drawn from history, from poetry
and from mythology have not only captivated
the eye by their beauty, but they have
aroused intelligent inquiry and have lead TO
studies of a useful and elevating character.
The article in the Democrat states that the
Southern Presbyterian speaks in favorable
terms of the late carnival parade in that city.
The Democrat says: "The Presbyterian sees
that shows of this kind contain nothing Of
~fensive; that they encourage the study of
literature, and that they interest the mass OF
the people in great subjects which they are en-
couraged thereby to read up, but which they !
otherwise would never hear of. By some
curious coincidence three of the leading dis
plays this year were on religious topics,
Vishnu, the religion of Egypt and the re-
ligious of the world, and thus the quarter OF
a million spectators who witnessed the Krewe
and knights received as much religious in
formation as if they had listened to a re-
turned missionary from Delhi or Cairo, at
the same time that their senses were pleased
by the brilliant colors and music"