The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-16
THE FETE OF MARDI GRAS,
Stephen Crane Describes The Celebration
Of This Remarkable Festival.
VERY HIGH JISES In KEW ORLEANS.
The Exirsordiuary Pageant With ITS Dis
play Of Color and caycty-The
Main Show ard the
Side shows.
Copyright, 1896. FOR The Times)

II rained toward the latter part OF the
week and tho visitors who had already
arrived began 90 shake their heads as
they proceeded carefully over the thin
coating OF black mud that lay upon the
uneven stones OF The streets. The citi-
zens. however. remained in serene and
mistaken faith. 80. it would not rain
on Marli Gras 10 never raiucd then.
There would he lne wcather-just wait
And. I'm truth. when Sunday appeared
10 was of the quality oi spfing-iair sort
and halmy win the singulariy lucid at
m1sphcre OF tho southland. ou Canal
street svarmcl an cNpectant crowd
lodging iu ANA about the upright joints
that had been placed 90 support the bale
comics The windows of the hotels ami
clubs were filled with visitors from other
cities takin- 3D. preliminary view OF ihs
vide street with its masses oi people
upon the sidewalks and upon the str'n
OBJ yellow grass boo tho middle OBJ the awe
nuo where. too. At short intervals ran
mule cars and electric ears ana ihe '"i
of steam tramway proceeding Slowly
through the thr0ng and films Tine air.
with Tho clamor Of gongs. ln tine breeze
that came over the housotops, decofa-
tons OF purple and green and gold gem
Us nuttcrcd.
At noon on Monday the throng occn-
pying the avenue had been largely aug
mcnted. People turned their eyes to-
ward the levco where because iho waters
or the river could iu TO wise Doe seen, ,He
avenue seemed 10 he projected into ine
air. ln the stoel-cOiored sky some black
smoke drfted upward. Then az last tne
masts and TWO tam stacks of % steamer
moved slowly into view. atar or. over
the multitude OF heads in the street. Later
..f fa. I'D
approaching hayonets and the steady beat
of martial music. The crowds on the
sidewalk underwent am anucipatory cone
vuisiOn. Rex. his majesty of Che carnival
Time bad come. There was sudden I'M
terpolation of crimson color into the
black masses of people down tho avenue
All Tuesday morning. the usual some
bre clothes of citizens i'm the street were
frightened hy the gypsy hues of the
maskers. Small boys arrayed in wond-
rous garments 10 represent monkey.
pnomcs imps. parrots. anything hut
small boys. paraded in bands anl rtau-
on deep delight when they found
victim for their skill in hadinage And
mucn older boys temporary represented
as all manner of nOndescript per-onas0-.
ramhlel over the city n the fun joy OF
being an their own devices with sort
OF mild license t0 caper and crack jokes
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