Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-10-18

sidewalks, pressing upon the very borders
of the procession, and crowded the baleo-
MES upon which seats one above the other
were erected. Quite an acquisition III
! Tightening the general effect were the
toilets of the ladies, many OF whom, eS-
pecting TO attend the balls which followed
the parade, appeared in evening costume
! (tlie weather so mild and bainy
at this season, permitting III; and IN
i their light dresses, airy laces and flashing
| gems, they were not the least beautiful
! feature OF the carnival. 81 half-past 10
the streets were quiet and deserted, people
having either repaired to their homes or
| to same public or private testivity. At
the balls given by the participants in the
various professions, tableaux are given,
followed by dancing, when each masker
has the privilege of selecting lady from
the audience to whom he presents 4
souvenir in the form of some pretty
trinket.
on MARDI GRAs EVE
Another brilliant pageant was presented,
when " ProteuS and his Krew portrayed
the principal incidents in Virgirs "Alneid.'
As the float containing Proteus, the Roman
sea-god passed and was followed by pict-
ures of wonderful artistic skill, in exact
accordance with classical descriptions, the
enthusiasm was unbounded and cheer after
cheer arose 1t was not, however, until
Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday, that the
carnival reached its hight. 1t seemed as
it were, as if the people during the pre-
ceding days had suppressed their mirth,
that upon this day it might break forth
into burst Of triumphant JOY. Going out
early in the morning a strange sight greet
ed us. Everywhere there were maskers-
gay troubadours, dashing knights saucy
gypsics, lovely fairies, wandering Ministries,
in every disguise imaginable, from the
most fancifni to the most ludicrous and
hrlrrying in all directions they seemed
more like
THE PHANTAZIES OF DREAM
Than reality. Even the children were
declicd in gay costumes, with masks con-
cealing their happy faces, and they APP
peared to enter into the spirit of the occa-
sion with all the ardor of their youthful
natures. Upon the principal street the
scene was gaycr and still more fantastic.
Carriages filed with extrayagant figures
wagons of gay darkies, little groups of
maskers, some sustaining definite charac-
tiers, others CARRYING out some wild freak,
shouts of laughter upon every side, until
the stranger who has been inclined to look
upon ali this as childish and foolish finds
himself carried along by such on irresisti-
bic power that he is soon among the mer-
riest of the merrymakers, and capable Of
almost any absilrdity. As the day ad-
vanced, these stray figures were replaced
by long line of masilers, who, under the
name of "Merry Bellians," caricatured
many OF the
FASHIONABLE FOLIdES OF THE DAY.
There were fifteen tableaux in all Such
as the o Era OF Imitation" when the most
expansive dresses were worn; the " Era
of Contraction" when they were made so
narrow as to impede the free movements of
the wearer. In one scene was pictured the
"Wai Over the Departure of the
Chignon; y another presented "Ye Luz
natics Of the New IsIns," burlesque upon
the female reformers of the day and so
on through all of fashions vagaries They
were extremely ridiculous, but neverthe-
less excellent Illustrations of the absurd
tiles into which at times the tickle goddess
beguiles her yotaries.
This procession was followed by one of 4
graver kind, in which Rex, King of the
Carnival, appeared and exhibited the
"Senetic Races" In elegance Of costume,
ii equaled its predecessors, but seemed less
gorgeous in the glaring light of day. In
the evening "Comus and his Mystic Grew"
unfolded the history of Ireland, and with
the last shouts of applause the carnival,
e III IL,
produced, passed away.
AFTER THE CLOSING.
The next day the city donned its usual air
with scarcely Il vestige of its former gaiety.
Yet this holiday season is not without its
genial effect. The change from ordinary
life, the complete relaxation from all care,
and the hospitality and sociability to
which such festive occasions give rise,
are alone beneficial. Besides, in
city where disease has so often
/ made sad rayages, and taken the best
and brightest from the hearth, such diver
sions are needed to make the heart tfor
time at least oblivious of past sorrows.
| The close Of the carnival is the signal
| for the departure of the many guests who
have shared the winters pleasures; and
with the approach Of the warm weather,
the city has deserted look, all who can
leave spending the summer either North
or at some watering place Those remain
ing lead the quietest Of lives, diversified
only by occasional excursions iii the even
ing to Spanish Fort or West End, pleasure
resorts on Lake Pontchartrain, where
every variety OF amusement is afforded,
and the cool air from the lake is bracing
after the sultry day. IL.
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