The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-02
DE SOTO AND HIS VISION.
MAY WEEK TO WITNESS a REPRO
DUCTION OF MARDI GRAS.

Rates Granted Savannah for Within
a 300 Nile notwithstanding the
Celebration Far and Wide.
The browning feature Of the May week
celebration has been secured, and 1t is to
sclipse all other attractions seen during a
Nav week celebration.
The feature is an exact reproduction Of
one of thu most unique Of all the MardI
Gras pageants, the contract for which was
closed and signed by Mr.. J. c. Shaw In New
Orleans yesterday. The following telegram,
received at headquarters, fully explains
itself:
NEW ORLEANS, La, April |. 1898
Mar Robinson, Secre arg, etc:
Have Just closed contract for DE Soto's
Vision or the SplendOrs of the Orient one OF
the most gorgeous spectacular productions
ever designed Or put on in any city. Comprises
twenty five tabeaux and requires 2OO characters
Costumes being made, artists at work, and
shipments begin at once. VIII bring corps OF
artists to complete superstructure in Savannah.
Procession will be one mile long. One hundred
and fifty horses necessary. Calcium and other
Illuminating effects being made by Pam q sons,
New York. This should alone bring 10000
strangers May week. Return next week. Tele-
graph further Instructions. J. C. SHAW.
A number Of kilograms have passed be-
tween MIR. Shaw and the association officers
who sent him on for the purpose, which
eliminated in the closing Of the above con-
tract. A Geographic cipher code was ar
ranged to facilitate messages.
A GORGEOUS DISPLAY.
From views and diagrams it is safe to
predict that the pageant will be one OF the
finest carnival displays ever seen in the
south The tableaux have over fifty lay
figures in life size. representing animals and
other necessary figures, all OF cork ana
papier mache. which are only made in Paris
aud imported under heavy duty.
1t is hoped that sufficient number OF
men can be enrolled from the ranks OF the
military to impersonate the 200 characters,
all of whom must be under perfect dlscip-
line. as the tableaux requires Intelligent ar
rangement The costumes are very ex-
pensiye, costing from 500 to $3.50 each,
having also been imported from France.
About thirty-five ladies will also be
asked 70 represent the fair sex, the
costumes for which will excel the finest
that will appear on the usual Easter dis
play to-day and are complete in every de-
tail even to the jewelry that is necessary
to portray the oriental splendor.
OF course the participants are all com
mitted to secrecy, as no one is 10 be known
until after the display. Parties IN other
cities are usually made up in groups to take
each a special float, and the committee will
soon arrange how many they require for
each subject to be represented.
SOME FAVORABLE LETTERS.
The efforts toward securing attractions
from Washington seem to be meeting with
favorable consideration, as is shown by the
following letters from Hon. Hoke Smith
aud Hon. A. H. COlquitt:
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR. I
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 80, 1898.
Mr.. D. @. Purse, SaUdnudh:
DEAR SIR--Your letter relative to the Spanish
caraveS for your May week festival has been
referred TO the proper channels, and l will do
all In my power to influence favorable action on
your request. Very truly yours,
HoKE SMITH.
Senator Colquitt writes:
WASHINGTON, D. c.. March 30, 1898.
M. Mac Robinson, Seer etdrH SGDda,dh, ca:
DEAs SIR--Your communication relative to
the oand of the Fourth artillery at Fort Nc
Pherson and that of the Fifth infantry at Fort
St Francis barracks for your May week cele
bratIon has my prompt attention, and have
made the request Of the war department, which
will issue the necessary orders providing il does
not conflict with present engagements Very
truly yours, A. Ii, CoLQUIrT.
LOW RATES HAVE BEEN SECURED.
A telegram from Commissioner Stahlman
of the Southern Passenger Association eu-
nounces for all roads rate Of one fare for
the round trip from all points within q
radius of 800 miles of Savannah and one
fare and third from all points beyond.
These tickets will be good from May TO ID
inclusive coming and up to and inclusive of
May Is returning. Some of the roads will no
doubt extend the return limit to Sunday,
HAY IA, thus allowing visitors to spend
Sunday in Savannah, which many are glad
70 take advantage of. Florida roads beyond
the 300-mile limit will, 1t is confidently as
sured by the Savannah, Florida and Vest
ern railway. cooperate with them In the
one fare rate. The Florida roads not being
in the passenger association are privileged
to act lnd6Den0pDtlV in this matter.
The transportation committee met last
night, and is arranging details for adver~
tisiEg the rates, and for the transportation
of the pictures and artists, which will no
doubt. be rendered free by the transporta-
ton companies, as is customary in these
cases. This will be quite saving to the
association and an act of llberality on the
part Of the railroads.
The Savannah Travellers Association
met at headquarters last night, and de-
cided to cooperate with the May Week
Association in a parade. The ass )ciatiou
win have every Savannah drummer in
pks, together with travelling men from
other cities who will be asked to join. The
following committee was appointed to
arrange all details: Joseph Lovenstein,
Sig. Binswanger, A. H. Solomon, M. ].
Epstein, and Capt. e. KulmRn.
The travelling men will ride in carriages,
the msrshals mounted, and preceded Dy
the Merchants Week officers and committee
chairmen.
WORK AT HEADQUARTERS.
The secretary's staff is hard at work ar
ranging and classifying the lists sent in by
merchants About 1000 preliminary invi-
tations have already been issued TO all
southern newspapers and railroad officials.
AS soon as the list Of subscribers in COM
pleted it will be alphaf eticGlly arranged
and printed on the official invitation, 10000
of which will be mailed out direct to the
merchants and others OF the surrounding
territory. The preliminary invitation in
vites the merchants to participate IN May
week."
The envelopes Of all firms are being
printed at the expense OF the association
with forms advertising the great attractions
to be presented during the celebration and
returned to them for use in their mail.
Over 20. 900 will tbs be distributed, and it is
one Of the best forms of early advertising.
Other advertising will be prepared by the
secretary and as soon as the plates for the
colored posters describing the carnival are
received these will be printed and the ad-
vertisinR agents sent Out
TAKING AN ACTIVE INTEREST.
Letters are being received from travelling
men saying that the merchants generally in
the Interior are anxious to visit Savannah
this year. Oue from Florida to-day
says. 81 am talking up May week