Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-11-18
SUCCESS IS NOW ASSURED
Birmingham Carnival Society to
the Front.
THREE GRAND PARADES.
And Rex Ball Will Be the Program Words
of Encouragement Spoken by Prom
inent Citizens.

the columns of the State Herald and the
News, the Birmingham Carnival society
held an open meeting last night in the
interest of the second grand celebration
of the arrival of Rex Vulcan, in the
Magic City of Alabama, said event to
take place March l, 1897.
While the attendance was not as large
as desired, it was a representative one
and full of business.
President Emil Lesser called the meet
ing to order and stated its object. At
the same time he made a statement in
reference to the society, it's previous work
and what it proposed doing in the near
future. The charter had already been
secured and the society is now on a per-
manent footing. After the parade of last
spring the society was in debt, but this
had been satisfied.
In making an effort at collecting dues,
the collector had experienced considera-
BILE trouble. This, he said, should not be,
as the society should. by all means, re-
celVe the hearty cooperation of every
member
Speaking further, President Lesser said
the committee on designs had met, re-
ce!Ved and examined designs from
dozen or more competitors, and after
careful examination had accepted the
designs of Mr.. de La Motto. There will
be two night parades, each comprising
eighteen floats. These floats will be built
on as brilliant style as have ever any
in the history of the south. The costumes
for Rex, the attendants, grand marshal
and aides have already been purchased
and are here. These are as fine as could
be desired and are in accord with the
other necessaries to the parades.
Mr. de La Motto, the builder and de-
signer of the floats, is now actively en-
gagged in erecting them, having a force of
work 6aV and Dipht in Or1aI- n
complete them so that he can devote some
time to floats for merchants and scott
ties.
In order to make the carnival a Sue
cess the president and board of the So
ciety have deemed 1t necessary to go be-
yond the confines of the district adjacent
ITO Birmingham, the speaker said, and
they have made extensive preparations
for advertising the carnival in every i'm
portant city and town in the north, east
and west The rate committee has Sc
cured guaranteed rates from all points
! on parity with those allowed Mobile,
and New Orleans, and these will be adj
| yertsed in connection with the carnival
and city.
When the people come here, President
Lesser said, 1t is essentially necessary
| to show them something of which they
will feel satisfied their time and money
has not been misplaced. Last year, in
six or eight weeks, the society made
great success of their carnival parade,
! and now the society proposes to go fur
1 ther and give to the people two night and
! one day parade, of which the city and
state may well feel proud and which will
insure forever the success of the Birming-
ham Carnival society.
The programme, in brief, will be as fol-
lows: On Monday night Rex Vulcan IL.
will be received in BETTING style by the
society, city officials and distinguished
citizens. Rex will lead the first nights
parade CMonday evening, March l, 1890.
This parade will consist of the kings
royal chariot and eighteen floats built
exclusively by the society.
On Tuesday morning the Trades dis
play, comprising Rex in his chariot of
state, citizen military, city officials Off
GERS of the society and members in car
riages and floats, will hold forth. Many
merchants have already signified their
Willingness to participate in this part of
the programme, and it promises to be
great success.
Tuesday night the second parade, COM
prising eighteen floats built exclusively
by the society, will hold forth. This pa
rade, it Is intended, will be the finest ever
offered to a public, and Is intended to
equal if not exceed anything ever under
taken by Mobile or New Orleans. After
the parade the grand Rex ball will take
place closing a brilliant epoch in the
history of the city of Birmingham
To do all this, President Lesser said,
the society will be compelled to have
some assistance from the business inter-
ests of the city. They will be materially
benefited by the unusual attendance, and
as their profits will be large they will be
expected to assist in making the under
taking such success that future years
will see the attendance greatly increased.
President Lesser then called upon MAJ.
F. Y Anderson, vice-president of the
society. Maj. Anderson said he did not
think more could be added to what Pres
ident Lesser had stated. In referring to
the carnival he said this is a world of re-
ciprocity. The carnival society pro-
pockets as well of the people of Birming-
ham. The society does not expect any
reward from the people, but does expect
their hearty cooperation The cos
tunes referred to by the president cost
the society in the neighborhood of $4,000
and are we'll worth the money. This Is
a forerunner of what the carnival will
be- 1t seemed, he said, to him that the
citizens should come forward and assist
financtlly in the undertaking. The carni-
yalwilIdraw to Birmingham between 3d.
900 and so 000people. If only 10000 people
come and they expend an average of $40
per capita it will mean 100000 left in
the city. He had been Informed that the
merchants had already prepared large
orders for buntings and other decora-
tons which they expected to dispose of
to the home people, to say nothing of the
goods they had ordered to sell the visit
ore. He had no doubt but that the A.
nance committee could go forth among
the business interests and meet with
great success.
Mai. Anderson paid President Lesser a
glowing tribute for his indefatigable in
terest in the success of the society and
said to him, in great measure, was due
the success of its efforts.
In reference to the membership of the
society Maj. Anderson said every man in
the city should join. The cost is 81 per
month and they would be greatly bene-
fitted by being members He wanted to
see ] 900 names on the roll.
Mr.. r. Steiner, chairman of the finance
committee. was the next speaker. Mr..
Steiner said that all that could possibly
be said in the interest of the society and
its undertaking had been spoken of by
his predecessors He had heard from
Rex Vulcan H., and he was informed that
he had already left South Africa with a
hotilla of six men of war and was due to
arrive here on March l, 1897. He was
satisfied there would be $4,000 people in
Birmingham to greet the great ruler and
he was sure the city would be taxed to