New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-23
THE GREAT MARDI GRAS
NEw-ORLEANs ANNUAL CARNIVAL END
ED IN SPLENDOR-
REX. KING OF DISORDER" REIGNED SUPREME
AND RICH AND POOR BOWED AT HIS
Throne AND ALL, WERE LOYAL.


AND RICH AND POOR BOWED AT HIS
THRONE. AND ALL WERE LOYAL.
Purple. green and yellow encrcling the pillars.
Illuminating the shop windows. fesiooning the
tacades surmounting even the humble brow OF the
honest cart mule-everywhere big banners and
little banners festive draperies and grotesque!y
fashioned garments all in the royal colors-pro-
claim 10 New-Orleans that the reign OF Rex. King
of Disorder is at hand.
The carnival season began for society some weeks
ago with the first Of the ten balls given each sea-
son by the ten carnival organizations: but as these
are purely social affairs they are OF comparatively
little interest 10 any save 20 society Saturday ana
Sunday temporary lull followed, when the old
city gathered forces FOR the supreme effort OF to-
day.
Monday pent-up hilarity burst forth unre-
strained and Mardi Gras began In earnest,
when Rex. king OF the carnival began his reign
"A party Of men, presumably courtiers. went up
the rvs~ or down the river, or somewhere. 10
meet the royal yacht. just who they were or
whore they went was extremely vague; nobody
seemed TO care: but not so at their return. with
banners flying and bands playing. clothed in purple
and gold, Rex. with his royal regatta. made ms
triumphal entry into the city. and the procession
proceeded 10 the hall where. with elaborate cere-
monials he was crowned king OF the carnival
AS the procession passed the City Hall IT was met
by the Mayor. who handed over the keys OF the
city 70 the temporary king. and from thar time
was king. indeed; blessed with the most loyal
subjects.
Monday evening the Mystic Krewe OF Proteus gave
a parade which vision Of beauty The suc-
cession Of floats each perfect In itself but more
perfect as a part Of the whole. which seemed TO
rise from somewhere In the soft Southern night
and disappear back into the darkness as mysteri-
ou.Iy as II came very impressive.
Mardi Gras which began yesterday morning. is
the greatest holiday Of the year In New-Orle'tns'
Christmas and New Year not excepted. and the
foreign element which make. the atmosphere
~ thu city lacguid and pleasure-loving. is never
so evident as OF this day. Those who can never
h. reused 10 work burn with life and zeal for the
work OF play The idea OF turning the celebra-
ton 10 any account an advertising medium mas
been carefully barrsd out. and this has helped to
preserve the mystery of the affair and to keep 1t
UNIQUE in It's nature. Among the people are gray
bearded men, the heads Of the Oldest and best
families in tho State The mystery is the charm
Yesterday afternoon the Rex parade took place 1,
IL a gorgeous affair. but suffers somewhat from
being in the daylight. Rex always carries large
bououet Of flowers and the procession passes
down Canal-st. 1t pauses at the right moment ana
he presents the boUCue; to the young woman WHO
viii be queen Of the carnival and who always
happens" TO be on the balcony OF the NoS'0--
Club The receiver OF the flowers yesterday was
Miss Nou Forsyth. who has already appcareu q
several of the balls IS maid OF honor
Miss Forsyth Is popular Louisiana beauty am
has twice been maid Of honor to the queen OF 'he
carnival King Rex Charles Far"el' d
prominent and wealthy merchant though nei( ts.
Of these facts known 10 the people. ls,sS nIsi'
vas Inc parade OF the Mystic kre"e OF Soihua,
,yhicn EQUALS II il does not surpass the IIV'.ttS
parade OF the might before. Conus y one IL t ~,
6pGesf snd wealthest and Is the most exclusive
Of tai all R RE ba was held at the WASHINGTON
Artillery Hall and II .s the paIi OF me bsope
the Attendance Is always large. Inc lho"G-
room Is the great feature or interest,"; ~ 10
,orgeo,,sly decorated and here. or real tnroiei
70 King and queen. surrounded by couruers anu
maids Of honor receive their subjects -, ,,,
Promptly AT u o'clock the ball DioH1 i,c ul,
ard 10 court repaired TO the Fren:h OpSIa
House where the COmus BAH was az I've ta7-f
rTSis IL me opinion Of many Is the most u,aust-
mi mart of the carnival. when the KINGS. queenSs
a%d rnaids Of honor Of the balls OF last year aIG
th,s aDuear In their shinmering robes !eWes a,u
Gowns and the stage is so hlled %i'h , aoya,g
that there IS scarcely room Tor the oshel jnd ono
The sash OF steel and glitter OF gems reihno ORG
OF tale from the arabian Nights, ana II - u1 ~,
his pageant OF splendor that ASH wednesday
Greens tn stealthily and unarnounccc -. loo,
The queens Of this year Wpo appss,Iic" ,t~,a.,a
evenfngs ball are queen Of Comus. Miss Marcia t
Iaroussini; Elves Of Oberon, MISS LSuiss We
Sereus Miss Annie Soria: Twelfth Night ME-. MIS-
Uigh Priests OF Mithras. Miss MaTIe,,a ~ ~.
Rex Miss Noll Forsyth. and Momus' MISS hi'''
Among the maids OF honor were Irene iyie yer,
Miss Bouuty Laura Lanaux, Mary van bchInuE y,
sen Kettle Buckner. Jeanne Marquee Iua TAU
Pranetta Spencer. Corlnne Richardson, louise
Rouquet Marie Jouher,. Eva Parker Marle Lno
Katherine Eustis Ethel Labuissc. Minnie Buckner
and West.