The age-herald., 1902-02-09
New Orleans and Mardi Gras

The announcement that the United States cruiser Buffalo will be orderd by Secretary Long to New Orleans for the festivities attendant upon the Mardi Gras season has been received with great sat- isfaction by the citizens in general. This cruiser was formerly known as the Nich- eroy, and belonged to the Brazilian gov ernment, from whom she was acquired by the United States during the early days of the war with Spain. In the city the air is pregnant with a feeling of sup pressed energy and expectancy, and ev- anywhere is displayed the interest and en- thusiasm which always greets the ap- proach of the Mardi Gras on the part of these volatile, pleasure loving people. The French Creole element, so susceptible to variety, movement and life, predominates in New Orleans, and each year the Car nival season is eagerly anticipated and gladly welcomed.
 Down Canal street, the Broadway of New Orleans, all is action and energy. The race horse men are numerous and can generally be easily distinguished. Constantly moving throngs of busy shop
 
 mands of the time beforehand crowd the shops and stop before the handsomely fit ted show windows. On this broad street | are seen men and women of every nation | ality, a moving symphony of picturesque variety. The crew of the Austrian cruis- | CT Szigetvar stood apart, alone in the
 throng of moving humanity. This crowd
 of sailors were peculiarly dierent from | everyone around them, a distinct type, | swarthy and strong, as though many | years of battling with the winds and | waves had placed them on a superior | physical plane to the landsmen around
 them. The levees have been thronged with visitors to this cruiser, which lays | at anchor in the harbor, and, in spite of | the rain and mud, which Is beyond de- | scription on the levees during the rainy | season, the officers have had their hands full explaining details and entertaining aboard the cruiser. MT. Frantz Hinder mann, the Consul, has been very active in preparing for the entertainment of the officers and they declare themselves delighted with the reception accorded saying that it has been more cordial than they have received at any port which they have visited Sunday the offi- | cers dined with Mayor Capdivelle, his | honor enacting the role of host, and Archbishop Chapelle has also extended an invitation which has been accepted. | for dinner party in their honor. A trip | to one of the largest sugar plantations has been planned. as they have ex- pressed desire to see cotton, rice, and | sugar in the fields and at the refineries | The Carnival balls, dances, etc., will be | graced by their presence, which will add | materially to the picturesqueness of the l costuming In trip through the cruiser | I received the most courteous attention
 the officers and crew alike displaying the most fiattering interest in explaining de- tails of construction and the various uses | of puzzling appliances. Many new and novel inventions can be found aboard the Szigetvar, numbering among the smaller are the electrical heaters for coffee and | tea making in the galley. Many conven- | fences designed for comfort, help make | one of the most modern cruisers which | ever lay at anchor in the harbor.
 | Numbering among the most enjoyable sensations of my visit to the Crescent 1 City was the delightful trip over the