San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-01-14

Through the dusk many nfLea COS
TUNES filed the eye with color; the high.
squealdng treble of msskers disguise
piped above music, laughter and the ON
nipresent TIN horn; old time scenes Of
peace were re-eDacted In the very center
OF warlike occupation, and the evening
air was glad with passing maskers' songs.
And still the most interested and most
wistful of all observers were the Fed
Craftsmen and officers off duty. Every
where they mingled in the thrcng. Civ
ing and taking chat with high good
huInor and equal regret that their gem
erals order forbade participation. For
in all that revived revel not one unto
ward incident, not one rude act even.
had been reported; and the fears of the
timid were wholly set at rest by the in
born courtesy and tact of the creole.
And now the throngs began to form
spontaneously in order, lining the sides
of Canal street in dense masses, added
to each instant from the emptying
houses and by fresh crowds pouring down
the side streets
The hrewe was coming!
Ushered in by rosy glow of distant,
pulsing light and softened blare of
brazen march advanced that strange
procession 80 dear to creole tradition, SO
little understood beyond its reach.
Deep silence fell upon the massed
thousands; every eye strained to catch
the first hint of the cunningly hidden
theme OF the nights display. Then
gradually through the rosy cloud were
seen the rich and stately forms, in an
tigue cruise, marshaling the mystic host,
and next trGnsparencies that told its
subject theme to be ''Past. Present and
Future" aHt# f
Nearer, slow moving, came the brill
liant and unique pageant, incarnating
thought through deft design of form
and color, lit by thousand bright re-
Electors, toned to softer glow by colored
fires.
The Past was typified by imposing
figures of war, destruction, confagra-
ton. want. grief and terror-each a
chapter of the moving epic, varying In
suggestive shape, and each made clearer
by consenial forms attendant. All were
in classic pose and richly draped, with
strict adherence to best models of an
tique art And slow, they passed, be-
tween the silent masses, all delighted
with the glitter and the glory Of the
show, all stilled 10y memory of the re-
cent past from which it drew its being.
Then came The Present, more modern
in conception, but allegoric still-per-
sonified by industry, commerce, agri-
e,sltare, science, arJ and history. Plnin-
w recogpizah each of these stately
shapes passed on, arched by les floating
cloud of rosy light, each greeted by APP
preciative p!audits for its beauty and
sympathy for it's suggestion.
And last rolled by the last division Of
the mystic trilogy. The Future. Radiant
figure, the calm face grand and noble.
And round The Future grouped pence
and hope and love, simple and pure, as
emblematie of the new life to follow that
active Present born from the hot and
evil Past! .lr. sft
And again that sensitive southern
populace, ever apt to read the lessons of
mystic allegory, clave the night with
plaudits, loud, long and heartfelt!
singular people. these Creoles!' the
general remarked to brilliant party GA
his balcony. "a pretty affair; but. poor
as they are, can't see why they throw
away thousands on a useless show"
81 hardly think it useless Dale Ever
est answered quietly. ut strikes me
that this Krewe of Comus teaches deep
lessons to itspublic. and that they not
only enjoy but understand them"
~ hope they do" the commander re-
Piled bluntly. but is there another
people under the sun who, under such
circumstances, would attempt it,"
probably not" the Puritan soldier
answered .tBut is there another that,
so attempting, could so succeedS'
D,Du, 1T CHA DTED WI