The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-25

ln1rt.Cuiate voice q q crowd. - 80
quietly turned home again. Those Ar
uival crowds We're WondeiuI. - quiet
undemonstrative. silent. courteous, aua
good tempered 80 patient Yet eager. -
languid. yet keeniy alive. IiIcy stood
for hours in silent cNpaela on. and 4,
when the professions passed, realiliu-
all that the most glowing lma- uat.1a
could have conceived, not oDe cheer, mol
one word OF applause. not one clapping
OF hands testified to either then appre-
ciation or pleasure.
The next day, Mardi Gras, the city
was early astlr, and the streets crowded
with over one hundred aud twenty five
thousand strangers, 50 they said. The
Rex procession was the great feature IL
the forenoon a splendid representa-
ton of Scott's Ivauhoe. 1t was said
that the cost Of that single procession
was $4,000.
1t was beautiful, but not equal to the
others.
Foremost in il went the B0euf GraS
or Fat Ok, great snow white animal.
all decked out with ribbons and garlands
and surrounded by half a dozen butch
erS il buff jerkins. who would have you
believe that he would speedily be slaugh-
tered to furnish forth the royal feast.
That night the crew of Momus had
their procession which represented the
Legend Beautiful. And oh. if | could
describe it all just as it looked in the
soft star light! a very dream OF beau
ty and grace! There were eighteen SUI
perb floats. The first represented Momus
standing in the silver crescent OF the
moon, and driving before him glitter
inc swarm of stars, soft dusk clouds are
under him, and guazy robe of gold
shines round him. The illusion was per-
te of both clouds and stars.
The fourth tablcau was the Gateway
Of Dawn. \ bank OF soft purple cloud
tipped with gold, seems to roll up, aud
forth from It's mlsto springs the chariot
OF the sun bearing the angel OF the
Dawn, soft golden light seems to stream
about her, and her robes are Ike filmy
silver. The angels of the Morning part
the clouds before her and the plunsing
steeds of her chariot seem to stand quiv-
ering in mid air
But oh, why even try to paint these
fairy like pictures: No words could do
them justice.
The Carnival was all that the stories
of my childhood had led me to expect,
and is a perfect revelation to people who
have never witnessed one.
For my own part | like the pretty
Illusions and mysteries that SURF und it.
| Ike 10 get away from the cruel prosaic
every day life, and dream little while of
tairer things. 1t IS my deliberate opinion
that they are worth every cent of Tia
hundred of thouea nds Of dollars that
are annually spent upon them, so much
do they contribute to the general pleas
ure and happiness.
All hail To the genial and gracious
Rex, the King of the Carnival! and may
his Joyous reign never come to an end.
The Carnival balls are very exclusive and
superb. No one is admitted without a
card of invitation that is strictly non
and no one is admitted
unless dressed de-r1guer, i. G., in full ev-
enIng dress if to be on the ball room
floor, or with dainty opera cloak, and bare
head if only a locker on from the boxes.
The knights appear in the ball room in
their masks and tan y dresses. and select
their partners as they choose. No lady
knows with whom she is dancing, but no
lady ever refuses to dance on that ac-
count After the fourth sett, the dane
inc becomes general, and a tradition eX-
lists that at II O'Clock; the bail closes
as Ash Wednesday has commenced. |
fancy tho, the city clocks are set back al
hour two, for to my knowledge the pro-
cession didn't reach the French Opera
House where the balls are always held
until it was much nearer to u than to-
II o'clock.
The next day the city sits in sack
cloch and ashes, for she takes Lent as
gravely as the Carnival is gay. The
one is for forty days the other at best, but
two,
For oh, life's Carnival is short.
It's Lenten season long,"