San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-03-12
More Of Our Trip to New Orleans and
it, Incidents.


general way. It really begins III
day before with the arrival OF Re
who comes 10 tho city hall and
given the keys OF the city. On III
present occasion tho usual order wa
modified Rex was reported 10 hay
arrived by railroad, and instead Q
going 10 tho city hall, took boat 70
the exposition grounds. Soyera
other boats, crowded with people, al
tended him on the way. His depar
ture from the wharf was signalled b.
the firing OF cannon. Meantime
Music Hall In the Main Building o
the exposition, which is capable o
seating IL, 900 people, was crowded Il
its capacity for hours previous. i
was not till about the middle OF the
afternoon that Rex and his cavalcadC
arrived in the hall. The military and
bands Of music were out in force, and
with invited guests made q brilliant
appearance. Reception addresses
were made to His Majesty, interspers-
ed with music by the bands, and the
show was over. The result was an
immense attendance, and proportion
ate swelling of the resources of the
exposition, which, however, was coun-
terbalanced on Tuesday, nearly all
the crowd remaining in the city to
witness the carnival. The process
sion on Monday night represented
scenes from Chinese mythology, and
did not meet the popular taste. Those
on Tuesday afternoon and night were
more successful. Vast crowds of
were in attendance on all. The pres,
sure on Canal street was almost
fearful. Several times there was a
"dead lock-" so that it was impossible
for time to make way through the
crowds.
Mardi Gras appears to have origin
ated with the original French popula-
ton of New Orleans. 1t is now q
peculiarly southern institution, and to
the eye of q northern man illustrates
the saying, there is but a step from
the sublime to the ridiculous But
there is method in the madness Of
Mardi Gras, the managers no doubt
make it pay by the crowds which it
attracts, and which are made to
pay tribute to business interests. 1t
is something which, we think, a sensi.
BILE man would not "hanker" after the
sight of more than once, and we trust
our brethren of the Texas Press are
Iully satlslleu'
Something more now as to the city.
It's latitude is almost identical with
that of San Marcos, and the climate
not materially different, save that it is
much more damp, and owing to its
surroundings is less liable to killing
frosts. Evergreens abound more
than in our part of Texas. The live
oak of Louisiana appears to be a
somewhat different tree from that of
Hays county, being rather handsomer
and the leaves of u brighter green. In
addition orange, magnolia and
other evergreen trees, shrubs and
vines abound, SO the city presents a
spring-liko landscape even in winter.
The orange trees, loaded with golden
fruit, are particularly attractive, but
their fascination is considerably abat-
cd when You learn that they are of the
wild or sour variety. All the talk
you hear about tho glories of tropic-
II fruits and all that is in fact mainly
The apple crop Of the
zone alone, VIC doubt not
IS worth all the fruits of the tropics
The people of New Orleans APP
Dear to be very frank and open
hearted, Seen collectively, there is
/ marked difference in their appear
lnce from that of most other Ameri-
an crowds-the result, we presume, OF
he large original French element.
There are many handsome ladies
lmong them, but they arc mostly
rather stout--the sylph-liko style is
lot common. The whole population
seem mainly bent on enjoying them
selves. The moral tone, we Judge, is
lot of the highest. Lotteries are
by law, and two leading
Ok confederate generals lend their
names and influence to the chief of
these gambling institutions. These
ire "straws" of a very significant
character.
This great city is but the creature
Of the Mississippi river trade. The
immense piles Of stone and brick
and mortar wlsrh constitute her
public and private buildings, pave