The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-30
BEAUTIES Of
MARDl-CRAS
MR.. RICHMOND DESCRIBES THE
NEW ORLEANS CARNIVAL.
The Phantom Government Ruled by
the Mystical King Rex Whose
Reign Is Absolute for Twenty-four
Hours-The Queen of the Carnival.
Trade of New Orleans.


Written Tor The Tribune.
~ EW ORLEANS, the carnival city
IN of America, should be seen by the
AN northern visitor in It's festive
spring attire at the carnival of Mardi-
,;ras, the most picturesque and hilari-
GUS of the festivals seen in America.
lt was an education and delight These
midday and midnight nocturnal and
river pageants surpass anything in the
way Of nasu,icrades and tableaus we
have seen, and the pen fails to describe
their splendor. This carnival has
grown into international fame and at
tracts by It's novel and enjoyable fea-
lures, thousands of visitors from all
parts of the globe. The festival COM
mencing the last Tuesday before Lent
lasts for three days.
1t is celebrated after the style or
Venice. Rome Florence. Cologne ana
Paris The chief attractions are the
many rrocessons.b by day and by night.
OF comic characters and splendidl% dec
Grated floats with living pictures em-
hodying history. tradition fairy tales
and burcsuuo. a dozen different soci-
cites get up these various professions.
while the general arrangements are IN
charge of "A committee composed of the
nest ana nlDSt bubIlt-SpHittu 'ilihSii''.
The parade of the military, the music
and decorations are uneXcelled. In iact
this carnival is New DrieanS most dis
tinctive social feature 1t embraces
phantom government ruled over by the
mythical King Rex. Whose reign is abb
suluta for twenty-four hours. during
which his flag is alone permitted to
ny. and whose edicts are implicitly
obeyed. His power is supported by
several secret societies. each independ-
on, within itself but all cooperating
to single end. Outside of ReX's
court. there are Older secret associa-
tious. such as the Mistick Reeve. the
Twelfth Night Jewellers. the knights of
Momus etc. Each has its own distinct
gala night devoted to its street pro-
cession and it's tabeau balls. Through
the influence Of King Rex, Mardi-Gras
was made a legal holiday in New Or
leans. His first appearance was in
1872. when the Grand Duke Alexis. of
Russia. was the guest of the city.
THE COURT OF REN
Rex is called the King of the Car
nval" and his court is composed of
dukes and peers of the realm. APP
pointed from the best circles of the
city. Like all the other orgHniZa tions.
Rex chooses n queen at his bali and
his lady, invested with royal symbols.
is known as ''rhr Queen of the Car
niVal'
All the forms of royalty are stud
iously observed. The Rex ball is the
popular one, the attendance often
numbering thirty thousand. TO be
honored with tickets is supposed to
confer IA certain rank not otherwise
obtainable.
1t is customary for the mayor of the
city the day previous to Marde- -Gras.
to receive II visit from King Rex, and
to present him the keys of the city on
ii velvet cushion. and thus inaugur-
ate the Mardi-tiras festivities. 1t is
truly Il wonderful sight to see the
airy perches. the ilaring torches. the
glittering tableauX. the staring crowd,
the hoarse voices shouting orders and
above all the marvellous richness and
beauty of the costumes which COM
bined. render the scene one to remem-
her. The expense of Il single display
ranges from 100000 to $50, 900: the cost
of Rex display was more than this
amount. Each association has n
membership of $50, generally club
men," who own twenty floats with lad
dcrs, lights. disguises for the torch
bearers, housing for the draft horses,
but none Of them are known to an
other organization. owing to an i'm
penetrable secrecy
Enjoying the acquaintance of Will
liam q. Coylc, the coal baron of the
city, who was also Master of the
Mardi-Gras ceremonies" we were as
signed desirable quarters in the pilot
office of King RcX's steamer during the
river parade. and as the honorcd
guests of Mr.. Coye attended King
ReNs bali and reception and paid our
respects to the veritablc king and his
beautiful Creole Queen and brilliant
suite. after which we We're royalty en-
tcrtained by our host at the Pickwck
club rooms. These We're red-lettcr
days in our history, never to he for
gotten.
TRADE OF NEW ORLEANS.
New Orleans is the great cotton port