The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-03-01
Penciled From Pensacola.
PENSACOLA, FLA, Feb. %, 1898.

Inc superb MAUI 0Aoo Po6ONS
Monday and Tuesday were witnessed by
more than a hundred thousand visitors,
who were delighted with the carnival.
The parades cost about $50 1000, and the
floats, costumes, arrangements, etc, wel e
the fruit of many weeks study and
labor Of artists, designers, costumers.
and several hundred prominent men OF
New Orleans. The carnival is given by
the Mystic Krewe of Comus, a society
composed of leading citizens, and he
preparations are carried on with the ut
most secrecy for months before Mardl
Gras day. Until last year all OF the
costumes were made IL France. The
Mardi Gras carnival, which is farewell
frolic given on the day before the Lent
en- season begins, is an ancient custom
which was practiced in Rome and Paris
and was first observed in New Orleans
in 1897. Similar carniVals were Later
held In California, in Omaha, Kansas
City and other Western cities, and now
similar festivities are held each year OIL
a less extensive scale in Memphis,
Birmingham, Mobile and Pensacola.
The carnival really begins on Monday
with the arrival of King Rex. After
his triumphal entry and being rendered
the keys of the city, the procession dis
bands, to be reformed in grander style
at night. The passing of the sailors
from the U. S. man-of-war Marble
head-in the afternoon parade called
forth patriotic applause all along the
line. The floats in the Monday night
parade illustrated views of enchanted
scenes from Wonderland. This parade
disbanded at the French opera house,
where the Knights of Protens held their
grand carnival ball, which neither gen.
tleman or lady can enter unless in full
evening dress. A queen and maids of
honor are selected, and the first half dOz-
en- dances are reserved for these honored
ladies and their masqued partners.
Each lady is presented with handsome
jeweled souvenir by her partner. l
have never seen such an assembly of
beautiful women as that which graced
the Protens ball on Monday night, and
their costumes were probably only
equaled by use whict Eobse-~"d At the
New York horse show. The Xxx ball
Tuesday night was equally as mag
niicent. The floats of the Tuesday
parade represented the products of
nature-stIawberries, pears, pineapples,
coffee, tea, cotton, etc., and the floats of
the final parade depicted elaborate scene
from Shakespeare's plays. The Mardi
Gras is a thing of beauty and bids fair
to be JOY forever to New Orleans and
a vast throng of visitors
New Orleans is an exceedingly quaint
city, being settled about $50 years ago
by the French and Spanish. The wind
ing streets, the ancient buildings, the
magnolia and orange trees, the palms
and blooming flowers, the beautiful
homes, the generous hospitality, the
Southern ways and superstitions, the
busy marts, the cotton bales, the fine
hotels and famous old cafes, combine to
make it very attractive city. Almost
everywhere one sees things Bohem-
ian, and notes the impress of the
Latin-American taste in architecture or
decoration in the quaint buildings. The
paved streets are extremely narrow and
winding in the French part of the Cres-
cent City, the presence of an old fash
Toned balcony in front of almost every
house leaves the impression that New
Orleans is city of balconies. Indeed
one can walk for miles on a rainy day
and never get sprinkled except at street.
crossings. A ride through St. Charles
avenue gives a visitor charming view
of the American part of the city. This
fashionable street is lined with splendid
homes and beautiful lawns.
Among the objects of INTEREST," l
noticed in New Orleans are the Robert