The age-herald., 1898-02-03

houses given any other information they desire.
 From the inquiries that are being re- ceiyed by the officers of the society and by the hotels, the crowds that intend coming will be tremendous. But experi- ence in handling the two previous Ma,di Gras crowds, and the thousands of vet- erans who hocked to this city in 1894 to the Confederate reunion, has taught Bir- mingham how to handle crowds. and it can be relied upon that every visitor to the Carnival will be hospitably received and fully provided for.
 Grand Marshall D. J. McCrossin yester- day issued the following letters, which are self-explanatory:
 To the Merchants
 You are hereby invited to participate in the Mardi Gras carnival parade both day and night. The merchants will be granted the privilege of putting on their floats any kind of advertisement they desire, to give away or distribute any samples, etc. Those who desire to put floats in the parade will please notify the grand marshal either in person or by letter Cat his office, 2019 Third ayenue) how many floats, with description of same at the earliest possible moment, so that position in the parade may be as- signed to them Don't put it off until the last day. The grand marshal will notify the merchants exactly the position for floats, and at what point to have them, time, etc.
 His Royal Majesty will arrive in the Union Station at 2:SO p. m. sharp, Feb. 2l, at which time the day parade will start, whilst all the steam whistles in the city will blow and continue to blow for five minutes and the squad of the Royal Ar tillery will fire salute of twenty-one guns in the railroad yards. The grand official tf,,I start at 7:S0 p. m. sharp. It will be the most gorgeous sight ever beheld in any southern city. If some of the merchants have not yet decided on the designs for their floats, call on the grand marshal for and he will help you out and give any oth- CT information desired pertaining to the carnival.
 To the Honorable Mayor and Board of AL
 dermen.
 Gentlemen:-You are hereby invited to participate in the Mardi Gras Carnival, February 21 at 23O D. m., sharp. The royal train bearing his royal majecty, Rex Vul- can IT., will arrive in the union station. Your honorable body Is expected to be seated in your carriages (which will be decorated suitable for the occasion) The carriage to take position on Twentieth street, facing south in procession, and ex- tending from railroad toward Morris ave- nue, and when the parade starts, to fall in'' behind the carriages of the carnival committee, which follows Rex. You will then proceed with the parade throughout the route until the city hall is reached. where you will leave your carriage and take position the grand stand in front of city hall, where you will deliver to his royal majesty, Rex Vulcan TIL, the key of the city of Birmingham with appropri- ate speech by the mayor. After the key has been received, you will again board your carriage, and accompany the process sion until 1t disbands.
 To the Honorable Police Commissioners.
 Gentlemen:-You are hereby invited to participate in the Mardi Gras Carnival, to take place February 21, at 2:30 p. m., sharp. His royal majesty, Rex Vulcan H., will arrive on the royal train in the union sta- tion. Your honorable body is expected to be seated in your carriage (which will have decorations suitable for the occasion) and take position on Twentieth street, follow ing in rear of the mayor and board of al- dermen, and proceed throughout the route of the procession.
 To the Chief of Police.
 Dear Sir:-You are hereby invited to have a squad of mounted police, together with yourself mounted to lead the line of pro- cesson in the day and night parade during the Mardi Gras Carnival. The day pa- rade will start from union station, Febru- ary 21, at 2:30 D. m., sharp, and the night parade will start from the corner of Eighteenth street and Fifth avenue at 7:30 D. r, sharp, February 22 You will call out all the men you can spare and have tber, to decorate as the occasion requires.