The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-20

VolIeys of colOred pellets and broad
sides of rainbow-hued paper with the
spectators, and with the fnnumera BILE
tmps in fantastic DISCUSSES who fill the
windows, the tree branches and the
stands along the line of the parade.
The roar of the welcome to Rex browns
the bands. 1t is taken up all along the
route of procession, Until the whole
city echoes with stentorian 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 Mardi
ciraS IS an honor that women will i'm
peril their souls salvation to obtain.
only one woman can secure the prize,
put the yearnings and the heart burn
lngs that precede the selection. hap
ply come only once a year. Rex
chooses his queen at the Mardi Gras
ball His decision is final. for 10 ruler
ever welded more despotic sway or
was treated with greatef' respect than
this monarch of the Mardi Gras.
In the great procession. however. Rex
is queenless, for he has not yet reach
ed the ball room No one divides ths
highest honor with him as his throne
passes slowly through the main streets
Of the city.
Behind him comes q long procession
or categorical floats represent vari-
Gus subjects, and all as gorgeous as art
and money can make them
Everything is done in a good natur-
ed spirit Of reVelry that is free and
bctsterous, but does not partake Of any
Of the unpleasant characteristics that
belong to some Of the European festi-
walls. The aim is to make the pageant
gorgeous, and each year sees an i'm
provement in this respect over the pre-
VtOuS year. This year il Indications
is Z, h..
nificent spectacle. The committee hav-
ing the decorations in charge have
planned to dress the city in unique
holiday attire. Money has en- LIBERAL
ly furnished by the citizens.
y whole year has been spent in pre-
pairing for the Mardi Gras. for the re-
vellers of last year met secretly at the
close of the festival and appointed COM
mittees to take charge of the arrange
ments for SO. Everything has been
settled for weeks, some points for
months.
There will be a number Of mysterious
disappearance from the city shortly,
which no one Will say anything about.
The disappearing ones will meet in
secret and get ready to take their pO-
sitions when Rex leads his gorseOusly-
clad host through the city.
Spectators will be numerous. Already
they are pouring into New Orleans The
one thinks Of working when the Mardi
Gras season is near II is the grand
holiday of the year. a legal holiday,
when laws don't count. and the police
man becomes a cOurtier of King Carni-
val. The governor Of the state is glad
to get a front seat to view the proces5
sion. and as for his honor the mayor Of
New Orleans. ne is the proudest morS
tai in the South, because he is permits
ted to walk in front Of Rex's float. It
is Rex, Rex, Rex, and when it isn't Rex
| it is the queen.
Who IS Rex? He Is no little man,
| even in private life. The royal attitude
on the float is not altogether assumed
| 1t is no part of the programme to dis.
| close the identity Of the Carnival King
| Rex is masked. and any one can guess
| at his identity. He seldom discloses
| it himself, so that guessing is usually
| all the satisfaction the curious have.
| It might lower the dignity Of the carnii
| val king to have his identity KNOWN
! and this festival is one Of the most
! dignified as well as the most magnih4
I cent Mardi Gras IN the world.