West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-04-26
MARDI- -GRAS.
The Great French Festival and New
Orleans Carnival.
As Witnessed by Member Of The Argus
Stan In The Crescent City, the Last
Week in February.

MAY rArRrAx MORGAN.


City 10y lis Majesty. Las, week we gave a
list of the subjects which Protcus. Comus
and Rex have illustrated in annual pagean,s
up-to-dote As before stated Rex made his
appearance OF was born in IS7a lie came
then attended 10y band of Arabs. This
organization was started To combine all the
maskers in the city into one reatprocess,on.
II was not until 1877 that Rex. emula,cd
Comus and presented parade representing
scenes and mbleauN.
Tuesday night we witnessed the last pa.
rade of Mardi-Gras. the annual pageant of
the Mystic krewc of Comus. Magnificent
as all the previous displays were, aud with
all their gorgeous beauty and spcndor. you
could no, see how they could be eNcellcd or
improved on, but they were totally eelipsed
by the triumph Of Comus. aud we realized
that they had saved the best ill the last.
The theme selected was "Stories of The
Golden Age" and each Float presented
NEUROLOGICAL picture, with all the dazzling
splendor that ilamhcau flame and calcium
lights could give. Gorgeous designs, costly
and bea itiful costumes, made a pageantry
by which the krewc of Comus crowned its
forty'second celebration with halo never
before equaled and II seemed impossible to
excel We will not attempt to describe any
of tue designs, rs it would he folly to even
attempt it, You would not believe MS n we
aid if you have never seen the show for
yourself. We will give few of the sub.
jects illustrated There were twenty in the
procession "Comus," an opened mouth
dragoon; "riule Car" horned Sayr's
head, resting upon golden shield; "Del.
phic and Dodona Oraclcs," "IIelcn of
Troy" Golden Apples Of the Ilesperides, -
Jason and the Golden Fleece" ,Island of
the Blesi," "Apollo and the Muses." .'Tu.
piter Finds the Centre Of the Earth" "At-
Atlanta Loses the Race" and "Oceanus
Leoyes Pfomctheus." After the street pa.
rade is over, Comus aud Suit make their
way TO the French Opera House, where
their grand ball is given. It very select
and no one is admitted, but the leading
society people. II is a very elaborate dress
affair and everyone must bc in costume.
Rex is not so much of a swell as Comus and
he is the popular King with the people.
Everyone attending the festival is his sub
jeet aud he is very genial Monarch. Ills
ball is always given in the Washington
Artillery Hall, a grand building for such
gathering. All the members Of the National
Editorial Association were given comlimen.
tary tickets TO Rex's ball and reception.
For the editors the Costume de rginer"
had been supended, as few country editors
can afford elegant dress suits for themselves
and costumes for their ladies that cost from
500 to $1,000 each. like many of the ball
costumes seen there. Even if they could.
il is very bad taste to go on an excursion Of
this kind with Saratoga trunk and Gnery
enough in them To- spend year abroad and
bc entertained at all the courts Of Europe.
The ball and throne rooms are ND stairs.
Nou are compelled to leave all doaks. hats.
canes, etc, below and get a check for same.
Such crowd and Jam we we're never in bc.
fore. There were thousands and thousands
OF people, all eager to sec the King and
Queen The place was beautifully dec.
Grated with Carnival colors, green. yellow
and purple. We passed from the great ball
room into n kind Of mystic maze, the walk
winding around through garden filed with
blooming rose bushes and tropical plants Of
every description. They we're growing in
beds Of soil, and The only lights in this gar
den or fairy land were hundreds Of tiny
electric stars and large yellow moon, cast
ing its mellow light over all. You suddenly
emerge from this delightful place aud you
arc surrounded by the royal splcpdor Of the
throne room The dfapcrics and haugings
were pink and silver The King. Queen and
maids of honor are seated on the throne
atiircd in all ihe jewels, costumes aud trap
pings Of royalty. The procession asses Dee
fore The royal pcsonagcs and make a courlly
bow and receive q bow and smile from the
King and Queen in return. We passed
around a circle from the brilliant, dazzling
presence of Ills Royal lligbncss, and s,rollcd
through the garden again into the bali room.
There was scarcely standing room, much less
dancing room. We promcnadcd and chat
ted 10 our crowd, which was coming and go.
ing 30 The time, and in due season our party
started to 80. When We got down s,ai.s ,hc
gentlemen had 90 trouble in getting the
articles they bad checked, bat my lady
friends and self found tbe women in charge
Of thc ladies department so busy giving out
and taking in feminine rigs of all kinds that
Wc could no., get waited OH at an. There
was our bats right before us boz % place much
like the large posioaicc boxes, set wc dare
NOS take hem until o1r check was taken up.
A high counter in front of us. wiih drapcry
all around it well, patience ceased 20 bca
virtue, and while thc woman was at The
Other side Of ihe place, we cawlcd undcr
chat counter. g'abbcd those hats and made
mn for thc front entrance. our friends close
on our Trail This was thc only time we
wcrc ever compelled 90 steel and or own
apparel ~ fhat
Ihc programme ecc vary dainty and
cmbiemaiio of rbc occasion. making beaa,i.
iai souvenirs Of lls MajeNy reception and
BAH. Do conclusion We will say that
wc atc not an American heiress or worhipper
Of royalty, but wc have been received al
Cont and presented 20 Hs Royal lIichuoss.
MOTIFS AND couurNrs.
The New Orleans Carnival IS mostly
business anaii gotten up and supported by
Che leading business men Of thc city and Il
brings hundreds Of thousands Of dollars TO