Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1894-04-29
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Our Fair Letter.

Special correspondent IsDEPEsDEsrj
SAN FRAscGsco April 81, 04,-On
Friday April II, San Francisco tried
u initiate sonie OF her sister cities in
the East in tie way OF giving n Mar
di Gras festival. AS this was the
first occasion Of tho kind We were
slightly handicapped, but in case it
should take pluco next year every
thing will run more smoothly. Be-
fore we go into the details OF the car
nival lot us understand " little more
about il.
The Mystic Argonauts Of the
Golden West assisted by numerous
merchants aud city officials had the
ent'se charge OF the festival. The
organization OF tho Mystic Argo-
nauts has only lately entered upon tie
duties. It's object was 10 give San
Francieco q grand festival and make
it what the Mardi Gras is 70 New
Orleans and St. Louis. IL cost this
city about $4,000, but l have not
heard, rs yet II the returns equaled
that amount. The ORIGINAL idea was
that II The carnival should Ge u Sue
cess, 1t would DO repeated every year,
thus bringing hundreds Of visitors to
tho city and plucing thousands OF
dollars in circulation. In some re-
spCcts IL has proven n success, in 9TH
ers IL has not, which ia in the major
ity is n difficult question to answer,
Al the same tIme IL created quito IL
sensation and aroused u great deal OF
euth usiusm.
Tie name Mardi Gras ia taken
from the French aud literally means,
"fat Tuesday US the namo suggests
II always Uegins on n Tuesday and it
lasts three days.
1t a heralded throughout the
city that on the 18th day Of April tho
good ship Argos would arrive in tho
harbor with Rex Felix mud his court
on bUard. Tho suite OF tie king con.
sists OF tho Royal Herald, Grand
Muster, Lord High Admiral, Chief
Justice and numerous other courtiers.
Upon DISSEMINATING at tho wharf the
royal pnrty were met by n military
body guard, and citizens OF San Fran
cisco. The parade moved up the
principal thoroughfaro and WIS mot
by the entire Second Brigade Of the
State militia and in the evening q
spsoIal mill tary concert was rendered
in tho Vienna Prater. On this oven
ing also tho finest exhibition of fro
works yet seen was prodnccd on tho
recreation grounds. So ended the
iirst day.
Early in the afternoon Of Wodnes.
day commenced tho exercises OF tho
second day A musical and literary
entertainment was rendered In Festi-
val Hall ut tho Fair, by the Native
Sons and Daughters Of the Golden
West. The recreation grounds NOR
Ibid out hs tho Field u the
Cloth OF Gold. Hero tho Native
Sons joined the Mystic Argonnuts
in tho tournament whi,h consisted Of
tents OF strength and d~cxterity. In
tho evening took place tho illuminnt-
cd Pageant OF licx Folk md his
court. The parade was led by the
float OF tho Native Sons, following
camo tho Good Ship Argos, this Is
tho Royal float occupied by the King.
Twenty othe's followed in close or
der. Tho parnde illuminated by
hundreds Of lights proceeded directly
10 tho Recreation grourds, where
each In turn was presented before n
largo frame with tho immense eourch
light thrown fully upon IT,. At tho
eamo timo took place n pyrotcchnic
display.
On Tuceday evening tho cercmon-
ies ended with n Carnival Bal Masque.
Twenty prizes were given To tho best
dressed aud most original characters.