The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-05-10
CHAPTER l.
DEJEUNER A LA FOURCHETTE.

He lCdS apparently IN PtGfrOt costume.
A bright balmy morning of February,
1996-its summary warmth tempered by
the breeze straight from the gulf-broke
over New Orleans, to find her people astir,
with even more than wonted Sabbath
hustle.
The day of rest is ever one of excite
ment in the Crescent city, beginning
with mass, or a visit to the famous
French market, filled in with outdoor
sports congenial to the semi-tropic eli
mate, and frightened as evening falls
by the lights of many theatres. For
good Romanists, having first done their
duty to Heaven, decline the wear of sack
cloth ON the day of the Lord, and believe
innocent enjoyment equally healthful to
the spirit and to the flesh.
But this particular Sunday was red
lettered, as being the opening of Carni-
val week-the first since the war; and
already preparation was apparent every
where, from Frenchtown to those dis
tant western districts then largely Amer
icanized, now almost wholly 80.
in command, that Mardi Gras might be
celebrated as heretofore, was eagerly
hailed by the masses.
In eras of public stress the average
mind turns to pleasure with peculiar
zest: so, while the better elements Of
relatives, all of them mourning los
friends and lost cause-rejoiced Httl'
over the official permit, the "dear PEG
pie" accepted it as miniature "Bill o
Rights"
Not very popular was Gen. Sheridan
with any class in New Orleans, but tn
bait was too tempting for average Creol
temperament to resist. In quiet, dark
ened drawing rooms the revival of tn
old time revel was discussed in contemp
as deep as the talk had been hot an
loud in some of the social clubs
would be but a saturnalia for the rabblt
the ancien regime declared, until til
whisper grew to certainty that the a
ready famous Mystick Krewe of Comu
would add its beautiful masked pageant
by night. And even then some timi
merchants-just beginning to rise b.
meath new and strange burdens, impose
mainly by cupidity, or knavery, of mine
officials-feared lest some overt act, III
der the license of carnival, might tigh
\ en- still more the grip of the milita1
gauntlet.
But the revel was to be; and, thong
general masking was not permissible III
til the next day, its infectious spirit WI
abroad, showing here and there in
fancy costume on trial, or even ra
y maslzer And this was specially note
in the French portion Of the city, to tt
east, across Canal street. For that note
| boulevard, combining Broadway al
d Fifth avenue in one, is boundary lii
o in geography as distinct and as respect'
= as though confirmed by treaties.
u 1t divides the land of the past fro
v the land of the present, separating Sc
:, ments of the people, as distinct as a
:; the English and the Irish, as clearly
. does the Irish channel. Outlying ea'
:. ward, and we'll within the quadrilateI
of the four great streets, originally la
:. out as lines of defense against Indi
Is Is foray, quaint old Orleans was then II
" changed from colonial days. The We
81 turesome "Yank" who penetrated
labyrinth of narrow streets without sol
]" knowledge of the French tongue W
'e liable to lose his way hopelessly, and
IL temper helplessly in trying to find it.
Nor was it unusual, in those days,
lady to be born and reared, mar
o. and die at ripe old age, in the Fren