New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-01

DAY-RECklESS ABANDCMENI.
The carnival season IS now ats height. and
the King OF Disorder holds uneputed sway in
the quaint city by the Gulf. D0ite the rush OF
modern life the increasing demais OF new CIVIL
cation and the new woman combed the pressure
OF social and business cares shellrches serenely
on in her same even pace, opld, stl clnGins
10 the old traditions and custof 50 dear 10 the
hearts Of her hot -blooded. laught-oving sons and
making life not only matter work but of
little play into the bargain.
There is something in the natu Of the place that
would mark New-Orleans as ~ OF feies In no
other place in this country archie various feasts
and holidays celebrated with uch whole-souled
,thoroughness such reckless ab.donment, as here.
But the supreme event of the Sr Is the season OF
the carnival. which begins aEeek or ten days
after Ash Wednesday, with soids of reveiTy, inu-
sic. balls. parades every formf gayety ana cuI-
inmates in the wild revels O Mardi Gras. Inc
f,"-e itself, the season, as vi as the nature Of
lns people seem adapted to st such ceremonies
as the early example Of thclFrench forefathers
set for them. and which the still observe with
unfailing fidelity
They seem TO have preserved little Of the spirit
which animated the carnivalsn France and Italy
away back In the Middle Agesnd which trace still
further back to the days of .cent Rome and the
pagan feasts of the Lupercal and Saturnalia.
This spirit is easily accound for by the remark
of clever French writer, w says Of the old car
nival that II was king of thWorld in its way. In
France II was careless ligI licentious; in Italy,
ardent, burning, enthusiast in Russia sim ana
cold; almost sad In Engar dull ana sensual IN
Germany. Instead Of losin in popularity as time
advances Mardi Gras is can year becoming more
attractive Thousands ofviators from all dis
tances throng the city, and IMMENSE sums of money
ere spent IN preparing forth parades and Dalls'
which are gorgeous beyond decrlPton.
This year tho carnival seso was ushered IN by
the Ball Of Comus give. a the French Opera
House on Friday night. Feruay y. II was the first
appearance In that city Of Cnus, merry god OF
ancient Rome about WHOM moody seems TO know
anything defnite-but so niue tho better for the
representative Of a mystic bo. for he is the I'm
personation Of carnival ideas.
The ball was brilliant air, attended by the
usual co,erie Of New-O rleansioveliest women, and
was successful beginning the season, which
will this year be longer and ger than ever before.
Through the seventeen days III Mardi Gras. balls
and entertainments Of all SIS follow close upon
each other, and the spirit Cthe carnival Is only
haf-suppressed that it may tak forth more wildly
In the madcap merrment oMard Gras night.
do-oay Rex, the great klneI me carnival, wiiiar-
rive, ana tonight comes thetTade or Proteus To-
morrow occurs the Reg para and Phunny Priority
PheloMs. followed by the CCus parade and ball at
night. These night paroles unmarked by degree OF
even appreciated un;iI seenlnder the glory of a
clear Southern Sky. With aenvironmehis perfect
me pans OF the carniv are among its most
This year six Of the most auiiful women in the
City are acting in this capity. They are Miss
Stella I)emornel.e, Miss lestine Briton, Miss
lydia Winshp, Miss AMcd.aroussini Miss TTist
and Mrs Edwards.
The carnival of Mardl as was introduced into
New-Orleans in 1877, aud renewed in 1881 with
increased splcndCrs. The eas are geDerallv ia ken
from some NEUROLOGICAL tvs, such as the occasion
would suggest. Each nosrepresents some scene,
and all combine TO carrout that idea No ex-
pense care Is spared make the ef,ect com
plete. TO a stranger, hover the most Interesting
feature OF the carnival undoubtedly the street
scene on Mardi Gras mining The very atmos-
phere seems TO rouse 4 fancy and lure 10 ac-
ton. with its soft breeZeand fresh breath of early
spring Then there is tlgTcat sleepy city spread
ing over so many mes5ut with half it, DoD,Ila-
ton squeezed up in a n narrow, crooked. dlngy
streets. walled up on DO sides with quaint houses
with tiny courts, sUTroided by high brick walls
whose locked gates, mCy age and forbidding air
whisper rOmanCc-Of bd knights ana imprisoned
damsels. From these Seets an unceasing process
sion pours into The wT thoroughiarcs-a crowd
OF dark-skinncd, sIi-e'd people III !ieh-colOred
garments reprcs cntngeYcrY hue Of the rainbow
and various iucOncoiab combinations OF the same
All move with carlcs, free step. an air OF lacka
daisical good hume. With the evident intention Of
making uie best watcvcr comes wirhin their
reach.
= Add 20 this the iudlaughter, the frequent Jest,
the babble Of foreia tOgueS the maskcrs, The gro
tesQue costumes u Towing OF horns. beating Of
drums ana thOus3ds Of discordant sounds that
would be enough ady other timo to drive one to
tho verge OF insatY the whirling of carriages.
living OF ribbons al later the blocking Of streets.
the long waiting hrs the scrambl'ng of the small
ure OF the day-ttperiloUs escapes. the persistent
good nature, and hay the buresque paradc-and
one VIII have a pity fair picture of the Crescent
City on Mardi CT; morning.