Arizona republican., 1896-02-23
ENDED IN A WHIRL OF RARE ENJOYMENT. Mardi GraS Closes the Phoenix Carnival Season, King Misrule Lorded the
 Night. Thousands of Maskers March
 ed in Parade. Wild West Sports at the Park in the oon-lmpending De-
 parture of the Null
 titude.
Thousands of Maskers March,
 ed in Parade.
The carnival is over.

The laSt merry maSQuerader hdS dlS- appeared, the electric archways are dark, and the very decorations, as though conscious that their usefulness had gone, are Tapping solemnly in breeze that brings breath of moist ure, delayed lest it dampen the enthu- sidsm.
 But it has been success, this carni- val-a great success from start to fin ish, without feature that might be considered obnoxious and with many a feature unique and enjoyable. And among them all the closing scenes were the best.
 During the day there was the usual run of sports. The cowboys came charging down the street, and with whoop and halo, with whirling riatas and cowboy tricks, and in the after noon they performed at the park be- fore pleased thousands. But the clos ing scenes were tlp bast.
 At 7:30 the combined bands marched down the street, their pathway illumi- hated by red fire in reckless quantity Following came the subjects of the King of Misrule. There were a thou sand of them at least. They fairly swarn1ed down the streets. Clad were they in every conceivable costume The stock of masks and of grinning false faces must have been large one with the dealers to have withstood the demand. The spirit of levity and of freedom from care seemed to rest up on maskers and public and jolly were the sightseers as"well as the seen
 There were many neat makeups to be picked out of the throng. There was the new woman as tramp and her attendant, Weary Wraggles; there were Chinese, Arabs from the desert, Spanish bull fighters, the neatest of Parisian dancers, clowns without num- Der, on foot and on burro back, a few Uncle Sans, the Heavenly Twins, (ro- bust ones) fat men and women, harle- fisher folk, soldiers and quaint con- ceits without number.
 For hours the human currents, bright colored and very much alive, eddied through the streets, even down to Chinatown, where an ear-splitting din of frecrackers was kept up till assuredly every ounce of ammunition had been used.
 Later the merrymakers boarded the overloaded cars and trooped to the park where the official ball was in progress. It lasted till after 1 and was scene of brilliancy and mirth never before seen in Arizona. But the jam was something terrific. There o+Jo 1,o1J 01J One was at Gardiners hall; the other at Ford's academy in the Redewill block
 The police, despite the confusion. had an easy time and few were the re- ports of mischief, recklessness OF crime
 Today will leave the majority of the visitors, and the city will by tomor- row be dismantled of its colors of fiesta. The regular soldiers, to whom and their officers all praise and appre- citation, leave at by special train for WhippIe, and the outgoing regular trains of both roads will be loaded to the platforms.
 But from all come expressions of satisfaction. Far more than was an tclpated nave the promises Of the management been carried out and in a manner that receives naught but praise To Direetor-G General Hatch is given the laurels of very victor over difficulties, of a worker who has di- rected his forces to successful con summation. The programme was am- bilious, but the realization was even better.
 The people of Phoenix joined well into the spirit of the time and showed adaptability that augurs well for the success of all future entertainments of this kind To those within our gates last night was repeated the invitation to join with us once more in '97, and till then was extended all wishes of prosperity and happiness.
 Arizona's hospitality has been