Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-02-23
REX'S Jewellers.
On the Eve of the Great New
Orleans Carnival.
WHEN THE KING AND COURT COME.
The Crescent CITY Cav With Royal
Purple Green and Gold-A HoI-
day Look Everywhere
Apparent.

NEw ORLEANS, February 22.-New o.
leans has on its gala attire for the carnival
Which opered 10 day and continues
until Lent. TIE entire city has a bright
holiday look aboutit. From nearly every
store and residence the bsnner Of Rex
floats, and the clubs are being gayly dec
GRATED with its royal color, purple, gold
and green. Canal street, the Corso OF New
Orleans, presents very curious but bril-.
liant appearance, with the innumerab'e 9
extra posts supporting the galleries ard
impeding walking, the bunting displayed
everywhere and the wreaths aud garlands
Of evergreens ornamenting the fronts Of
the houses. This is the
Greatest Day OF the Year.
There are dozen carnival societies, the
Mystick Krewe, Twelfth Night Revellets,
knights of Momus, krewe OF Poreteus,
Merrie Bsllisns and others. The organizi
tions are nearly all lesding social clubs Of
this city, giving these parades for the ben
eft OF their fIien6s. The expense averages
$4,000 for each display. Each association
owns its own floats, on which the tableaIS
are given, its own horses. etc. Nearly q
year Is occupied in making preparations
subject is chosen, designs are made of
the various tableaux, ara committee is
hen
Sent TO Europe.
Z. nerslly TO Paris, to contract for the coats
# mail, dresses, ard other articles need
ID, fer it Las been found impossible 70
procure the proper outfit in this country.
The rest OF the work, such as the paper.
n a. he, the preparation and painting OF the
floats, is done here, requiring large mum.
Der Of artists, painters and carpenters.
For this purpose deserted cottOn.pre
Il some obscure and unfrequent portion oil
the city is secured. Here the work goes
on from day TO day, without interruption,
until everything is in order for the pro-
cession.
The Utmost Secrecy
is preserved; in order not TO arouse the
curiosity OF the neighbors the warehouse
N which the preparations are going On Is
al ways kept closed IN front, aud the mem.
bers of the club only find their way into it
through a side extrauce cut through the
wall OF some neighboring building.
When the night OF the procession arrives
the floats are brought ont in the street in
the darkness. This is always very diff
cult undertaking, the he'ghth Of the tab
leaux necessitstipg the removal OF nearly
the entire building in which they have
been constructed. Once in the street the
procession marches along, without light or
noise until some central thoroughfare Is
reached, when the lamps are suddenly
lighted, the bombs exploded and the
music strikes nm
The highest honor that can be awarded
a New Orleans belle" is 10 be created
Queen of the CarnivaI;
il she fails in thi2, she would like to be
one OF the maids of honor. These posi-
tons, strange as il may seem, actually
give people standing in New Orleans soci-
ETY., for the queen is ever afterward enti.
tied 10 privileges and hOnors, must be ser
enaded two or three times year, aud feted
ard fessted.
The kirg is generally selsc;t d very much
as Did!us Julianus was cholen Emperor OF
Rome, by right OF purchase, being given
to the gentleman who is willing TO put up
the most money. One year as large sum
as s., 600 is said TO have been given for the
Office.
The carnival really began yesterday,
when the Knights OF Nom US gave parade
folowed ty ball at the Opera House. To.
day there was a grand military display, in
which military organizations from Detroit
Baltimore and other cities took part. The
column first marched through the princi-
pal streets and then proceeded TO Lee
Circle, VI ere the colossal statue OF General
Robert +. Lee was unveiled.
On Mol day comes
The Arrival Of Rex
and his court. On the same night the
Crew of Proteus will parade. On Tuesday,
Mardi. Gras, Rex appears in the morning
procession, with the military and various
other societies and organizLtions-the Mer
rie Bellians, Forty Funny Fellows and
Others. At night the Mystic Krewe OF
Comus display, and after this come the
balls st every theatre, ball room and pub
lie hsll in the city.