The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-02-28
OUR NEW ORLEANS LETTER.


Carnival Week and its Pageants-At the
Exposition-The Murphy Trinl-Senator
Jonas.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 26, 1885.
EDITOR CHIEF:
The carnival week was the occasion of
such an inpouring of humanity as to as
tonish the natives. They came in by
hundreds on the trains and boats, they
filled the street cars, filled the streets. On
the day and night of Mardi Gras Canal
street presented the appearance of q vast
hive of bees collected and buzzing in one
spot. The coachmen shouted, cracked
their whips, and worked their vehicles
through, the police were readyto give warn
ing. and with the exception of a few pock-
cts picked in the crush, not an accident of
moment occurred. At one time some
thoughtless individuals clalnbered up on
top of the blockaded street cars that were
full of ladies and children to witness the
night pageant. This looked dangerous.
Two years ago this correspondent saw a
car top break through at Clay statue. heard
great shout, and saw miscellaneous
mixture of lively beings for few moments,
but strange to say nobody was seriouIy
hurt. The drivers and police, by use of
threats, whips and other means of persua-
sion cleared the car tops last Tuesday.
Everybody was in good humor. showing
and pushing being outlawed, and a little
squeezing being accepted rs a matter of
of course.
Rex this year illustrated Sir Walter
Scott's " Ivanhoe," and while nobody Sc
riously complained, it was thought by old
citizens to be not equal to previous dem
onstrations. To vary these pageants and
to keep up to public expectation is a very
difficult task, requiring no little artistic
skill in the execution. Momus at night
brought out the q Legends Beautiful and
fairly entranced the populace. The great
sea Of faces smiled, hands were clapped
and handkerchiefs waved with delight. Right
well did New Orleans provide for her guests
and keep up her rank OF superiority on this
continent for these spectacular perform
ances.
The Exposition was not forgotten hy the
multitudes. Every two minutes on the
leading lines the street cars groaning un-
der their weight, moved on to the gates,
and tens of thousands entered On one
day the gate receipts exceeded $4,000, the
most respectable showing since the open
ing. The crowd came however to take in
the Mardi Gras, and began to leave at the
close of the festivities, and the like may
not be witnessed again i'll the history of the
great fair. What can be said to impress
the people of the country, beyond what has
been said already on the subject of its mer-
its? Under one roof every nation of mark
has something to note the marvellous pro-
gress of mankind. A student of the ne
chanical arts has fruitful field: the lover of
art can find models; the scholar taxider-
mist or antiquarian can spend hours here
with profits The like can only be seen by
a majority of our people once in lifetime.
It is wise and benevolent to ask our neigh
bors to come and see the Worlds Fair.
The second jury has been impanneled in
the Murphy murder trial and the lawyers
are deluging it with testim ony, sharp prac-
tice and oratory. The States cause is in
good han DIS, but what will the jury Go? The
jury system is the topic uppermo ost for dis
cussion, and there must be reform or rev.
olutlon say all. There must be some re-
straint for the lawleSs: if i1ries willd their
sworn duty, we'll and good; if they are TO
he as putty in the hands of corrupt tools of
criminals, their verdict will go for what it
is worth, but justice ought not. to be de
frauded, or the legal procedure converted
into mockery. Cincinnati was insane for
a short time, but her frenzy worked a dur
able impression. Her hoodlums do not
breathe SO much of the air of freedom az,
before.
With Senators Randall Gibson and B. r.
Jonas working in harmony, the Democrats
of the State feel that their interests at
Washington. during the coming admins
tration will be safe. The suspicion had got
abroad that they We're disposed to be an
tagonlstic. but Senator Gibson silenced
this by a special dispatch to Major Hall,
applying to an editorial in the Evening
Chronicle which referred to the matter.
Senator Jonas term in the Senate expires
soon, but his fortunate record on the Dem
ocratlc campaign committee, to say moth
ing of his numerous home testimonials,
will make him an important factor in tie
distribution of Federal patronage. Some
hope he will receive Cabinet appointment,
but no one knows on whom the silent: Pres
ldent- elect will confer those substantial ex-