The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-17
MUMMERIES OF KING REX.
All New Orleans and $4,000 Strangers
Participate in the Festivities.
Business Practically Suspended and the
City Given Over to Revelry-Brill-
liant Scenes by Day and Night.
special to the Indianapolis journal.

special 10 tne Indianapolis Journal.
New ORLEANS Feb 16-Today Rex aud the
carnival have completely overshadowed the ex-
position, and the entire population of the city,
strangers as we'll as ourselves, have devoted
themselves to enjoying and participating in the
festivities and mummeries The Orleanians
throw no more vim and enthusiasm into the car
nival than the most thorough New Englanders
who happen to be here. The crowd now in the
city to see the carnival proves this. Thesehave
come here 60, 600 to 50, 900 strong and staid New
England has contributed far more than it's share.
The thousands OF Eastern people, mainly Bos-
tonians and New Workers, spending the winter
in Florida on account of their health, have taken
advantage of the low rates TO this city for the
week. to see New Orleans when at its brightest.
Another large Massachusetts excursion party
reached here several days ago in the steamer
City of st. Louis, which they chartered from
Cincinnati to New Orleans 1t proved pleas
ant trip for them, for all along the river the
people, remembering Bostons magnificent gift
during the flood of 1874 turned out to greet
them at Memphis vicksburg, Baton Rouge and
other river towns. They were given the heart
lest reception, escorted through the town. dined.
wined and entertained. Tuesday Governor
Bourne, of Rhode Island, arrived with his entire
staff, all in uniform, and quite large party of
ladies and gentlemen from Providence. Friday
another party of 300 reached the city from Port
land, Me-, while of smaller parties there are so
many that it is quite impossible even to give a
list of them.
The West furnished its quota, particularly
Chicago st. Louis and Cincinnati which always
send large delegations here. There were five or
six St Louis boat parties of 200 or 800 each,
who came down by river for the round trip
their boats tying up against the wharf here
and furnishing them board and lodging during
their stay in the city; but the greatest increase
In the attendance, as compared with previous
years. is of people from the Northwest, Dakota.
Minnesota Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. They
combine pleasure and business, being here to at
tend the carnival and see the exposition, and at
the same time introduce into Southern and South
American markets the flour of Minnesota and
the butter and cheese of Iowa. Despite the
numbers, there has been great deal less crowding
than last year New Oreanss capacity for the
accommodation of visitors has doubled, quad
rupled since then 1t has, during the last four
months, opened fourteen new hotels, two Of
them first class, and able to accommodate some
$4,000 people, but the great bulk of the
strangers have found accommodations else
where, In private families. nearly every
one in New Orleans being willing to lease. an ex-
ira room to the carnival visitors''for consid-
Grafton" Ten days ago the registers of the
Exposition Bureau of Information and Accom-
mediation, created especially to take care of and
do otr ;c;+i 4ba o;t
had upon them list of rooms sufficient for the
accommodation of $4,000 people To-day every
one of these vacant rooms is taken. while thou
sands have to be satisfied with temporary quar-
ters-cots in the hall, dining room or parlor.
To day and tomorrow business is virtually
suspended in New Orleans. People refuse to
work. and give themselves up to the widest rev.
elry Before noon to-day the great boulevard Of
New Orleans-Canal street-was packed
with people. the galleries as well
as the banquette. From every building
flags and bunting hung, while strings
of remnants and banners stretched across the
street, from side to side At distance or to a
serious man, the whole affair of the carnival
looks singularly absurd-a lot of grown men
making children of themselves; but it is almost
New Orleans. 1t seems infectious, and grave
Bostonian professor will be seen laughing az
heartily over the grote squeness of some comical
street tab]eau as any New Orleans darby, nur-
tured and bred up to ''mardi gras."
The crowd was densest in the neighborhood Of
the Illinois Central depot, where it was an
nounced Rex would arrive, and Clio Erato, Mel
pomene and the other streets there were blocked
with people. AS the train steamed into the
depot the crowds burst forth with shouts of APP
plause which could not have been louder or
heartier if Rex had been the President himself
Descending from the cars, the carnival party
formed into procession and marched out CALI
ope There was a military escort of troops.
composed of the city militia, the Washington
Artillery, Louisiana Field Artillery, Continental
Guard Crescent Rifles Louisiana Rifles, besides
the cadets of the Alabama and Louisiana State
military Institutes and, in addition to these, =
large force of hussars in rich and gaudy uni
FORMS special guard Of honor to his carnival
majesty.
King Carnival--so they play the story in New
Orleans, and they go about it in a serious man
ner that is quite mpressive--is thousand years
and more old, who visits his capital city of New
Orleans only once year, ruling them for two
days 1t is a rule that he must never appear
any two years or two days in the same char
acter. Last year he was King Charles III on the
day before mardi gras, and Solomon on
mardi gras This year, he appears in
the character of Charles VII of France,
clad in complete suit of armor which glitters
in the sun like solid gold instead of gilt and
cloak of blue velvet and ermine thrown over it
The identity of the King is never revealed, and
is only accidentally discovered. 1t is deemed
one of the highest gifts that be awarded
citizen; and some years ago. one of the richest
bankers in New Orleans, Mr.. W. s. Pike, is
credited with having given S., 600, like Didius
Julianus, for the privilege to be king for day