Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-19
THE KREWE KOMUS
Its Pageant a Fitting Conclusion Of II.
New Orleans paradeS.
MONTHS AND SEASONS OF YEAR.
Twenty Fioats Used for the Ta-
bienux, Which Are All Very Beau
tifui-Thc Comus BaIi-saciScloth
and Ashes To-day.

NEW ORLEANS, February 1s.-lnr
carnival parades were concluded tonight
by the gorgeous and dazzling tabloaux OF
the Mystic Krewe of Comus This or
ganlzation is the oldest of its kind In
the city. having made It's first parade
on Mardi-G ras-night. 1851 Since then lis
annual display has fttingly been the goe-
geous conclusion Of the street parades.
The months and seasons Of the year
were the subjects illustrated tonight.
Twenty floats were used for the tableaux.
On Car No. 1 Comus himself rode in
the centre OF a large founeain. rising
from the mouths OF four golden dragons.
and pouring out sparkling streams, while
bubbling directly in front OF him in trans
lucent sheets. played iridescent water, a
thing of beauty ana Joy forever.
40. 2. The It'll. THE Year 1856" on
n winged hour-glass. resting OF rosy
clouds. The sc,the Of time cncircles IL,
typical OF the gathering In OF the years.
The calendar ~ We know II was not In
general use until llsl. Toe months kept
their Old Roman names, but simply chang
ed places. January was The eleventh, in
stead OF the first month. as now.
No. 3. Time" seated on the top or
the earth. watches the ceaseless flow OF
the sands in an hourglass. Below. in
mystic cloudlands, the magi. or wise men,
pore over ponderous volumes, reckoning
the moments and computing the calendar.
10. (. winter" In front of two col
umns OF snow and ice stands the hoary
guardian OF the frozen kingdom. Held by
his spell are gllstening falls OF freezing
water. On either SIDE bask polar bears.
No. s. Birth OF the New Year In
the Oldest book IL IS written how the
sands OF time accumulated until they rose
I'm cloud-like mass to the moon. the
soft light of the moon was shed over
space like a veil. into which the ssrrs
gathered. until there were so many
months that only the sphynX, who Is
the sister Of the stars, knows the secret
OF II all. In her arms are Graded ali the
years. This was a striking tableau.
THE MONTHS.
No. c. January" so named for Janus
the double-faced god who was supposed
to look with an old face on the year thai
was gone and with a new one on tn,
year that was to come.
No. Z. February" symbolzed by
Comus's chariot Of dripping and gleaminl
icicles, IMPLYING the breaking up OF win
ter. The fishes, embems Of February II
the zodiac, rest unsnared In loops OF RIB
bon around the car.
No. s. Spring" a tableau OF great orig
lnallty and beauty. The brown and rag
ged branches of an ancient tree, deckec
with festoons Of Jessamine. Snowy storks
from time immemorial her special mes
sengers. stand ready 10 fly and announce
the glad coming Of spring.
tsAIurqh Rain and cloud IND
snowy sleet follow each other. now one
now the other.
No. 10. April" Easter is typiied by q
huge egg, in the shell Of which sits a gilt
terng fairy, "Aprirs Lady" watching
over all.
No. II. May" typlfed by a chariot
made of a golden sunhower. drawn by
doves; within the chariot Sit Gemini, the
twins.
gushing from masses Of rock. luscious
green corn, and cherries ripe yie with
each other in beauty
No. u. June" typihed by June herself
standing in the midst of exquisite roses
and around her attendant maids. swing
ing their lamps TO the sunflowers. mimic
emblems Of the sun, whose worshippers
they are.
No. H. July" on the top OF a dome
sits Caesar, in whose honor the month
was named. Four golden lions faces
look protectingly outward. one for each
Of the supposed corners Of the earth.
BACCHANALIAN.
No. 10. August" represented by bac-
chanallan reyel: From an overturned
fagon a ruby stream issues, while an i'm
mense gold pitcher serves as a leaning
place for a jolly Bacchus.
No. IS. Autumn" Cornucopias. laden
with the choicest and most luscious re-
suits Of all the long hot days gone before
No. IL. September" the month OF
storms and gales equinoctial: A water
spout bursting in midocean. while sea-
nymphs play and throw ragged iavelins
of lightning back ana forth, according
TO the Roman calendar.
No. IS. October" hearty, brown Octo-
Der. rs typiiied BY a great tree ROBBED IN
auturnnal foliage. A cunning spider spins
his glttering web from branch TO branch
AZ the root of the tree wary fox and
n timid fawn step from their hiding
places among the leaves and chestnut.
burrs.
No. 10. November" a monster turkey
so significant o. the festival that dis
tinguishes the month. In front stands a
puritan man ana maiden, representative
OF Thanksgiving-D AT the back two
cooks ia spotless garb. This tableau was
one of the most striking in tie series.
No. %. December" This was beautl-
fully eymbollzed b. Christmas tree, and
Santa Claus. with his sleigh and reindeer
The universal verdict is that Comus
has never shown a more striklngly origl-
nal pageant.
After the parade the Comus ball wound
up the festivities, and tomorrow begins
Tho aanL.=cIntL a,l a.haa rlarlaa