Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-04-04
Mardi Gras.

the exercises OF the grand annual car
nival. In those countries where the
population is largely of Latin origin,
Mardi Grss or Fat Tuesday has been
annually celebrated from time imme-
mortal. 1t, like the Saturnalia of the
Pagan Romans has ever been a season
of general license, revelry and hilarity.
The carnival festivities in early times
attracted much attention in the Italian
cities. In France it is memorable be-
cause of its splendid pageantry and
masquerading. The carnival owes its
origin in this country to the Creoles
and French residents of New Orleans.
Formerly, indiscriminate masque
rading characterized the festival.
And only since the war have the exer-
cises been systematized, and made at
tractive and interesting on account of
their gorgeous pageants and tableaux
vivants. 1t is claimed that the carni-
val is kept up at New Orleans for a
two,fold purpose, First because it at
tracts thousands of visitors from all
parts of the Continent, and secondly,
because of the influence exerted in en-
tightening from an educational and
literary stand point.
Some of the representations of time
past have been taken frem Paradise
Lost" " Shakespeare Seven Wonders,
"Lalla Rookh," History of Louisiana,
"Great Men of America" "Foul
Thousand Years of Sacred History,
etc., thus constituting system of OBJ
ject teaching an immense kindergarten
Preparatory 10 the celebration {
king and queen are chosen condition.
ally. To this king the mayor of tht
city delivers up the keys together with
his authority for period of ten days
and during this time the people pain
the town red." | said the king wa
chosen conditionally. | mean that tn,
man paying the most money for tn,
honor is chosen, provided he be a suit
able man. And | am informed tina
the King and Queen paid this year re
spectively $4,000 and $1,000 for tn,
privilege and honor of reigning tn,
brief period of ten days.
The King arrived at the exposition
grounds on board the steamer, EdwarC
Richardson, and about twenty steam
ers handsomely adorned and orna
mented with banners and bunting an,
loaded down to low water mark witt
human baings followed in line. Thes
vessels approaching thus loaded an,
decorated, their paddle wheels lashin
into foam the surface of the grea
river, the volumes of inky smoke wav
ing like black banners in the sky, tn
screech and footing of at least twent
. whistles, the commingled music of
dozen bands, the thunder and roar {
artillery and the Ginning of bells al
fected the behOlder strangely indeed
The King and his attendants aftt
disembarking proceeded at once
Music Hall. The procession was heaC
ed by company of police, and the
came four companies of soldiers and {
many brass bands. The uniforms
the soldiery and musicians were mo-
elegant. Then followed the King an
his cortege clad in costumes of ever
kind from the most expensive and ne'
: fitting to the most odd and grotesqu,
| cannot occupy your space with
general description Of the various co
tunes, but will give an imperfect d
scription of the apparel of the Kir
and Queen.
The King was clad in tunic
. blue satin heavily embroidered vii
gold, and was grit around with a be
of crimson velvet studded with pr
=" cious stones a mantle of light bit
velvet embellished with embroidery
gold and bordered with ermine, a cal
O. of snow-white fur; golden armor {
ar l the legs and arms and gauntlets
n gold upon the hands, and a glitteriI
crown heavily set with gems. H
Majesty also wore a sword, the hilt
which was studded with precious stone
and wrought with fillagree adOrnment
4 T nj