Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-03-05

LiI/l-' day of the year, the
i ~ y s1l VI Fourth of July TO t
y n New Orleans citi
--,, IS zen isn't in it with
the great carnival, and the doings ot
carnival week, which closes in grand
pageant on Mardi Gras day, Tuesday.
The city is gaily decorated with ear
niyal flags, the royal eolors of King
Rex. being gold, green and purple, flags
of other nations are also displayed, old
glory coming in for most prominent
place in the combination. 1t was a
beautiful day, but the cool breeze from
the Gulf of Mexico makes ii necessary
to wear light wraps, aud in the morn
ing and evening overcoats We're ne
cessity to insure comfort.
The Michigan Pres association were
accorded many courtcsies here. Mayor
Fitzpatrick issuing to each member d
ticket emitting to seats on the balcony
of the city hall, where we congregated
in body and viewed the arrival of
King ReX, at lO:3J o'clock Monday. the
keys of the city were presented to him.
He was seated on a large float gorge
ously trimmed. bearing his scepter ard
attended with royal guards. Thcrc
were many bands of music, and twenty
floats were in the parade, representing
the planets. Following Immediately
after the glittering pageant of KcX
came the display Of the Phunny Priority
Phellows. Theirs was real rollicking
expression Of the broudesi fun and rid
cule: all the latest fads in manners,
morals and politics were vigorously
caricatured, and the comcal scenes
were received with burts Of mer1iment
SO well were they brought out The
Mystic Krew presented grand pana-
rama Of the seasons on twelve floats
representing each month.
Tickets TO the grand ball at the
French opera house were also issued.
aud few av&led themselves OF the
opportunity tolook in upon one of the
greatest eyentsoi the season: as full
Gsoss aao;.t = va7 snh sdptfo ana
dazzling in the extreme.
In conversation with Mayor Fitzpat-
rick he informed ne that 300, 900 was
the population of the city: fifty per
cent. of which was colored. a visit 10
the docks and levee where tho great
ocean steamers and the gulf and Miss
issippi river navigation interests are
centered is an enjoyable one and gives
a person an idea of the vastncss Of trade
and commerce. Bales upon bales Of
cotton, sugar barrels upon sugar bar
rels, rice sacks upon rice sacks, ana
every other conceivable commodity j,
piled up for shipment coming in and
going out, with "a motley crew Of people
OF all nationalities, loading and unload
ing. water crafts OF all kinds, eolored
people without number lay stretched
out upon the docks sleeping in the
shade
The Illinois Central railroad over
which we came from Chicago TO New
Orleans runs directly through Illinois,
the west end of Kentucky, western Ten
nessee and central Mississippi 1t is "a
fine road bed and the coaches are the
best used by any road in the state.
Visitors to tic south should take no
other route. At Holly Springs, Miss.
so named because Of the great growth
, Of Christmas holly which abounds in
the locality. We made a halt Of twenty
minutes and had an opportunity tomce
the may or Of The city and while waiting
ut the depot. dozen colored wchin-
formed "a ring and gave the company
one of the mos characteristic break.
down dances ever witnessed and the
scramble for pennies and nickles which
We're tossed among them was laughable.
The following resolutions were
adopted at New Orleans just before our
departure:
ReSOlrcd, that We are especially CRATE
ful TO the citizens OF New Orleans for
the hearty welcome accorded to our as
sociauOn and the many attentions
shown TO us az time when the city i
lilled with quests who are sharing the
proverbial hospitality of this cucl getic
and cvcr.lntCrcsting southern metro
polls.
That we viii carry away with Us de-
Hghtiul recollpctions OF what We arc
: universally assured has been one Of the
most brilliant festival seasons in the