Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-02-18
THE MARDI GRAs.

Never in its history has New Orleans
been so crowded during the carnival
season. For two weeks past visitors
have been pouring in by the hundreds
Yesterday Standing room only" might
well be but on the outer approaches to
the city.
The hotels and boarding houses are
taxed to their utmost capacity, and
every private residence has its quota ol
guests. The weather is clear and pleas
ant and everything is favorable to q big
success.
Rex, the king of the carnival, arrived
on special steamer st the foot of Ca.
nal street, at o'clock yesterday after
noon. The jam of humanity was un.
precedented. People wanted to see
the king arrive and the elbowing and
pushing was remarkable, yet the crowd
was jolly and good-natured. The king
was enthusiastically received by the
crowd, and on disembarking the pro-
ceession moved up Canal to Camp
street, thence took up its line of march
for the city hall.
Upon arriving there, the usual cere
monies were observed and the keys of
the city were turned over to the king
by the Mayor.
For the next twenty-four hours Rex
will reign supreme in the city. Last
night the Rex ball took place at Wash
ipgton Artillery Hall and the beautiful
tapleaux and procession of Proteus pa
raded.
The Krewe of Proteus in their gorge
Gus pageant last night departed from
the line of romantic and mythic SUBJ
jects which has heretofore delighted
the public and last night chose the orig
iual subject, dumb Society,"" q review
of the animal kingdom from social
point of view. Twenty floats in all
were required to display the amusing
satire.
No. contained Proteus, the change
able monarch, upon superb car of
white and red. Proteus rode upon a
gigantic conch she'll, driven by Cupid
and drawn by two gold dolphins and
cloud of swans.
No. Banner car, bearing the le-
gend on great banner, "Our Dumb
Society"
No. 3-"Royal banquet" luxuriant
tropical scene showing dinner of royal
beasts in the wild splendor of the jun
gle. Broken columns with marvellous
tracery suggested Babylon and Min
evan, whose age is not greater than the
genealogy of the feline family.
Number 1.-THE Chase" sagacity,
fidelity and affection are attributes of
the dog. When the canine became the
partner and pet of man his first duty
was to join in the hunt for food. Ever
since the dog has been associated with
the idea of the chase.
Number 5-"In Court Master Fox
before the tribunal of justice, accused
by Mrs. Hen. The owl presides as
judge. Miss Goose acts as clerk.
Number 6-"An Afternoon Drive" a
green butterfly on vari-colored leaf
drawn by big brown crab.
No. IA Spanish fort" an enor.
nous bullfrog on an island surrounded
by group of small frogs.
No. S-"Early summer guests"
woodland scene in the spring, two bears
before a CHEEKY fire.
No. 9-"Watchful guardians repre-
ssnted by two huge cats busily watch
ing the antics OF a crowd of MICE"
No. 10-"The glee club" group Of
roosters with mandolins and banjos
serenading Miss Pullet.
No. 1l-"Presidentisl SPORT" evil
IDENTIFY this is satire on public officials
who 60 sporting. On an island covered
with foliage sit crowd of fishers. Here
is fat walrus with oil hat and seaman's
toggery pulling diminutive perch out
of the water.
The remaining niue scenes are clever
satires on more or less familiar subjects.
Besides his usual court large aug
mented column of local militia and an
entirely new battalion of the naval re-
serve, there were three military COM
mands from the interior of the State,
crack companies from st. Paul and
Minneapolis, and FIVE hundred Essenino
Knights from Massachusetts and Ken
lucky. Cardinals Satolli and Gibbons
aud many Catholic leaders, the Illinois
Club, the Michigan Press Association
and many other notables viewed the
y,oro1a