The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-21
KING OF THE MARO| GRAS
Rex's Welcome Tomorrow Will
Eclipse ALI Predecessors.
AN UNKNOWN
MONARCH
The Identity OF Chief Parsonage of
the New Orleans Festival Is Kept
a Secret The Crescent City Gives
Itself Up 10 Merrymaking During
the Celebration.

New Orleans, Feb. 2l.-Rex. king of the
Mardi Gras festival viii be given a
! hearty welcome tomorrow This is the
! only city In this grand republic that wei
! comes a crowned head once year. Rex
1 does not owe his honor to the fact that
/ he happens to be a member Of a reign
ing family. as is the case in countries
where there H. = monarchic government.
lie is chosen by a committee, and his
identity is withheld from the public until
after the great pageant, in which his
courtiers rival those OF any European
monarch.
Tuesday will be the great day of the
festival An that goes before is merely
preliminary, a carnival cUrtain-raiser to
whet the appetites of the jewellers for the
coming Of the king. Rex IS of more i'm
portance for a few leeting hours in the
estimation Of the inhabitants of New Or
leans than the entire official force of the
city. which. horse, foot and artillery,
is at the bidding of his majesty of the
carnival until the dawn of Ash Wednes-
day.
Rex takes possession of New Orleans
literally as well as festively, for
the KEYS are handed over to him when
he arrives at the city. Then, attended
by his courtiers. he sweeps triumphantiy
through the streets, to the music of
brass and string bands, playing eccen-
trio harfnonies, stirring march melodies
and gay qUicil-steps.
FIRST 81 the parade comes Rex, survey
ing the world OF lesser mortais from his
altiiudinous throne on the royal float.
The masked and gaily-drcssed courtiers
dance around the royal car. exchanging
volleys Of colored pellets and broadsides
Of rainbow-hued paper with the specta-
tors. ard with the iHnamerable imps i'll
fantastic DISCUSSES who fiji the windows
the tree branches and the stands along
the route Of procession until the whole
city echoes with stontorian shouts of
The King Comes Room for Rex"
"Hurrah for the Carnival Monarch"
Next to Rex the proudest parsonage in
the pageant is his queen. To be queen
Of the New Orleans Marji Gras is an hon
or that women viii imperil their souls
salvation to obtain. Only enc woman can
secure the prize. but the warnings and
the heartburnings that precede the Sc
lection happily come only once a year.
Rex chooses his queen at the Mardi Gras
ball His decision is final for no ruler
ever welded more despotic sway or was
treated with greater respect than this
monarch Of the Mardi Gras.
In the great procession. however. Rex
is queenless. for he has rot yet reached
the ballroom. No one divides the highest
honor with him as his throne passes
slowly through the main streets of the
city
Behind him comes a long procession of
floats representing various
subjects. and all as gorgeous as art and
money can make them.
No one thinks of working when the
Mardi Gras season is near. 1t is the
grand holiday of the year. a legal holi-
day. when laws don't count and the po-
licenan becomes a courtier of King earn
ival. The governor of the State Is glad
to get front seat to view the process
sion. and as for his honor the mayor of
New Orleans. he is the proudest mortal
in the South, because he is permitted TO
walk in front OF Rex's float.
The coming festival viii eclipse all of
its predecessors.