The age-herald., 1898-02-22

Rex Vulcan III. king of the carnival ana his royal hosts rule the city
 In all the splendor of his royal house he arrived yesterday and his loyal sub jects for miles and miles around were here to bid him welcome
 In response he bade them make merry and they did not fail to do his bidding From early dawn to late at night the people filled with mirth.
 Every train that entered the city was loaded with people who came to see and participate in the carnival.
 The royal colors in all the splendor of their brilliant hues were displayed on all buildings along the line of parade. Bunt- ing and flags fioated to the breeze in grace full jestures as if inspired with the spirit of the occasion.
 The Street Maskers
 At an early hour the small boy was abroad disguised in the costumes of vari- ous characters. They were on foot; on made merry with the world and mingled with the motley crowd. As the day wore on the weary Willies rousfng from their dreams came out of their hiding places, unmolested by the sturdy policeman who swung his club in
 
 Chinamen; Japs; "Niggers.' bears. wolves, lions, tigers, clowns courteiers, old women, young women, and many other masks mingled into one mass of surging merriment.
 Senor DeLome. leading a white bull pup, walked arm in arm with Uncle Sam.
 Weyler clung to a Spanish grandee while Johnnie Bull chased a Chinaman.
 Little Cuba clung to Uncle Sam's coat tail, while a hula-hula girl from Hawaii chuckled him under the chin.
 Many handsome costumes were also seen upon the street, but the caricatures pre- dominated. They formed in companies, in battalions and brigades, and took every thing by storm
 Large Crowds
 The crowd was estimated at from 20 900 to 25 900, and entered into the fun with free license
 Of course there were some vulgar and revolting scenes Women dressed in mems costumes walked the streets smoking cigarettes, while others stalked boldly into the barrooms and called for drinks.
 The weather was somewhat unfavorable Once or twice during the day the sun tried to peep through the threatening clouds, but failed to disperse them. The air was cold, but refreshing, and while sunshine would have added to the pleas ure of the occasion, it's absence did not dampen the ardor of the maskers. The OmcerS ana memDefS or the Cdrni- val society left the city at noon to meet the royal train before it entered the city, as follows: E. Lesser, president; Louis Braun, secretary; B. Steiner, treasurer Messrs, Rufus N. Rhodes, M. V. Joseph, B. Guckenberger, William Reckling, T. W. O'Byrne, A. Schillinger, J. B. Cobbs, s. Klotz, P. G. Shook. W. B. Leedy, J. W. Johnson, P. Houppert Henry Peterson, J. M. Davidson, J. Beitman, F. P. O'Brien, B. M. Jacobs and Major Wheelock.
 The following party of prominent railroad men were with them:
 Assistant Superintendent Spencer, of the Alabama Great Southern Travelling Pas senger Agent C. M. Billheimer, of the Ala bama Great Southern; R. F. Beasley. of the Louisville and Nashville; Travelling Passenger Agent C.. H. Morgan. of the Texas Pacific; Travelling Passenger Agent J. P. Billups, of the Southern.
 The First Welcome
 When the royal train, In charge of En- gineer Jesse Havis, Fireman James Mar lowe, Fiagman E. T. Wakefield and Train master Cox, stopped at Woodlawn, his majesty was given hearty welcome. B. Steiner acted spokesman and, stepping forward, said:
 Your Majesty:-I wish to state to you that our foreign bankers have notified us of a credit for you of 5000 900. In behalf of the Carnival Society we wish to ex- tend you hearty welcome While you aid not bring your vessels down with you, we hope to soon have the VanHoose canal finished, and then you can come up with all the ships. We give you welcome. The party then boarded the train and proceeded toward the city.
 At the Depot
 At 2:30 D. m. the shrieking voices Of thousand whistles announced that the royal train bearing his majesty and attendants had been sighted, and grand rush was
 infn Tlfr under command of Maj. T. O. Smith, was formed in line under the car she'd AA,o,pt t1,is time Rex Vulcan I and II came into the depot to welcome their wor- shy successor to the throne of Vulcan Their costumes were rich and eiaporabe, and in keeping with the royal blood uhat courset1l through their veins. Tn a. few moments the train pulled slowly jnto the depot with its royal passengers President Lesser, of the Carnival society, who. with tine executive committee hao e,one to meet the train, was the nrst to Sten off. He was followed by the members of the committee who took their positions near the gate. Rex Vulcan III stepped from the car, followed by his attendants bear'ng nne polden crown. His jester, a ninble feilow and worthy scion of the house of Touch stone. was anxious to please his majesty and made merry with his antics. The royal trumpeter. in court costume, gave voice to his golden trumpet III diiirouin0S ment of his majesty;s ar1dval.
 Crowned King
 The attendant stepped toward Rex Vul- can II and placed in his hand the crown of his noble king. Rex Vulcan H., in happy and eloquent speech. bade his suc- cessor welcome to his rich dominions. Kneeling before his royal father, the youthful king bowed his head in reverence as the jewel bedecked- crown was placed upon his head Rex Vulcan II expressed the hope that in the case of his son, the adage s'Uneasy rests the head that wears a crown" would prove an exception, and that his reign would be one of glory and honor.
 Grand Marshal E. J. McCrossin assisted the king in fixing his crown and the royal party moved to the last gate. where the royal state float was in waiting The new crowned king took his seat on the royal throne and as the procession moved through the streets he greeted his subjects with waive of his royal scepter.
 The streets around the depot were one surging mass of humanity, and when Rex