The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-09
ENTRANCE OF REX. YESTERDAY,
WITH ROYAL SPLENDOR.
A Warm Reception From the Loyal
Masses Anxious to Do Honor to
King of the Revels.
A MAGNIFICENT PAGEANT, PICT-
URESQUE AND STRIKING.
Charles V Of Spain aud Germany Sur
rounded by The Heroes and Hero.
ines OF the Opera.
ESPECIAL TO TIE ApPEAL.i

ment into TINS, ana we have three SUE
cessive days of pageant; yesterday tn
} Fire Department turned out; to-da
Rex made his entrance into his capits
city; tomorrow Mard Gras will win
up the Carnival, Rex holding forth il
the morning and Proteus at night. Al
, though it was cloudy the create
portion OF the morning, the weathe
continued favorable all to-day an,
contributed to the success of the frs
day of the carnival and the arrival O
Rex. There was a short rain afte
the ceremonies, but it did not in tn,
least interfere with the festivities.
There are scarcely as many peopl,
in town this year as last, probably be
cause the Exposition is not as attract
i've as then; but there is, all the same
no lack of strangers, and the Lotel!
and clearinghouse are filed to theil
utmost capacity. There is good. at
tendance from the East; people from
New York and Boston spending the
winter in Florida, and who run over to
the city for the holidays; also from
the West, st. Louis and Cincinnati
sending down, as usual, q large mum
Der of excursion parties by steamer,
the latter hitching up at the wharf
here and becoming floating hotels for
the time being; but the great majority
of the visitors and this year more
South. Texas and Arkansas have con-
tributed more literally OF their people
than ever before. The Texans came
pouring into this city as long ago as two
weeks; Arkansas has contributed sew
eral large excursion parties, and nearly
everybody in Mississippi who can
leave home is here. All the hotels
and New Orleans has greatly improved
and added to its hotels in consequence
of the Exposition-are full so is every
steamboat at the wharf, and there are
a hundred or so sleeping cars side
tracked that are furnishing accommo.
dation to parties from distant portions
of the country who do not care to be
put to the trouble of searching for
quarters in the city.
Canal and st. Charles streets have
been the centers OF attraction to-day.
Everybody who can likes to see the
procession fir m these thoroughfares
which, on an occasion of this kind,
are so impressive and striking, their
broad galleries crowded with people
and hung with fiags and bunting
showing the carnival colors of purple,
green and gold. Canal street never
looked more brilliant or attr ctive
than this morning. From Rampant to
the river crowds filled the street and
sidewalks, and gamins seven clambered
up the trees in the center of the bou.
levafd. The crowd was densest at the
foot of the street, where the royal flo
tilla lay, whence the King and his
party were to leave for the Exposition
grounds, while another immense
throng congregated at the corner of
st. Charles and st. Joseph streets, by
which route Rex was to arrive from
his supposed tour around the world.
At l0o'clock the royal train steamed
into the depot amid shouts and huzzas
that could not have been more cor
dial and enthusiastic if the arrival
had been that of the President him
self instead of make-believe mon
arch. The train, even the engine,
was brilliantly decorated with ribbons |
and flowers. Ranged along st. Charles
street to receive his majesty were the
military, the home and visiting com
panies; The Continental Guard. |
Washington Artillery, Louisiana Field |
Artillery and others. 1t is q standing |
that Rex must never appear
twice in the same character. Two
years ago he entered New Orleans ar
rayed as Solomon Gin all his glory"
last year he was, in honor of the Ex-
position, "King of the Arts and
Sciences" to-day he comes as Charles
V. of Spain and Germany. The pa
geantry of the procession that sur
and escorted him was pictur-
esque, opulent in color and set off by
the uniform of the militia. The attire
Of the majority was magnificent. A
tunic of satin, heavily embroidered in
gold and bound at the waist by vel
vet belt studded with precious stones,
I mantle of ermine, golden greaves
md gauntlets, his swords belt Of
ewels and filigree. Behind the King
rode the members and dukes of the
realm in the dress and fashions Cd
Charles VS. time. The royal order OF
st. Rex hung on their breast. A num-
Der of vans followed, containing mem
)ers of the Kings comic court and
'pera company-broad and ludicrous
The favorite heroes and heroines of
he opera filled several of these vans.
There was La Favorite, a very de-
aged, forlorn and hollow-cheeked
'eanty; Figaro, the barber of Seville,
With colossal razer and brush; the
-rovatore, very pigeon-toed and with
ttenuated legs, playingupon banjo;
"a lille de Regiment, a buxom,
curse vivandiere, scarcely able to drag
'ehind her the immense saber strapped
o her side; La Dame blanche, hcul-
nd lady," all arrayed in white; Don
uan, gallant, very much after the
Dscar Wilde order; La Muette, the
'ortici, AN ancient virago, whose
louth is closed by a paddock; La
irande Duchesse, making a very
lentiful display of striped stockings;
ne Little Duke, the Flying Dutch
IAN and other equally we'll known
peEatic characters. Another wan con,
lined various members of the Kings
ousehold, marshalled by, the master
ceremonies, very impressive in his
IMMENSE blue-eocked hat and mill
Try breaches, and waving an enor.
lous gold wand The court astron-
ner held his telescope in hand, evil
emily awakened from his slumbers
study the stars, as he still wore his s
'tiring robes. The Japanese Court
pct was in green tights and very low r
1t shirt, a Tyre in his hand. The s
aster of the Buckhounds' boots and s
,urs were most aggressive and terri g
ing, and in remar able contrast with '
e two infnitesimal puppies he led the @
lntrast bringing forth only laughter. s
ne Royal Academy occupied still an
her van, with An amateur artist, very t
ueh Of q duds; landscape artist,