St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1903-02-28
MARDI--GRAS.
THE cRANDEsT AFFAIR
EVER HELD !S
OpELOUSAS.

Mardi gras day has passed, but
tho brilliant celebration witnessed
in Opelonsas on that day will ever
remain green in the memory OF the
fifteen thousand people who atten-
ded.
1t was a success from start to fin-
ish; a revelation to the throng who
came here expecting to see an ordi-
nary country" Marii- gras celeb
ration-a merry lot OF fellows dress
ed in yellow and red. It made
strangers wonder how it was possi-
ble for u town the size OF
Opalousas to get up such grand
affair.
The day dawned with shimmering
sunshine; everything was lovely
and propitious; the weather man
seemed to have been with the God
of Mirth and furnished him with
weather for tho occasion. The
streets, flooded by rains for several
weeks, were dry and firm.
The arrival Of His Majesty and
Court on Monday evening, on he
$50 o'clock train, was the begin
ming of the celebration, and fit
beginning it was. The streets and
sidewalk were crowded with people
from the depot to the Palace, and
all along the route tho loyal SUD-
iects showed taeir love for His
Majesty. All paid reverence to the
Monarch. The din made by the
whistles and bells and the salntes
of the militia drowned the cheers
OF the crowd.
When the Royal Party reached
the Courthouse square the Mayor
and other officials awaited 1t, and
MFR. Jno. w. Lewis, in behalf OF the
town, surrendered the keys OF the
city to His Majesty. in his usual
fplicitious styls. The Lord High
chamberlain accepted the keys In
behalf OF TIis Majesty, and the
Party proceeded to the Royal Pal-
ace. where it rested for the evening.
The pageant, in all Its magnific-
enee, appeared on the Main street
of the town at noon, Tuesday, and
the cheers and applause that greet.
ed the splendid array made the
hearts of those who had been work
ing so hard and faithfully feel that
there was reward In the exnltation
Of the human breast.
Slowly, majestically, the process
sion wended its way, the bright
sunshine throwing its rays on the
glittering tinsels OF the floats and
characters, until the route mapped
out by the committee was gone
over. a route of over two hours.
When the royal Pageant reaehed
the Palace it was few minutes
past two; but 1t did seem to those
on the floats half that time.
The parade was formed as fol-
lows:
i-Grand Marshal and aids.
2-Robinson's Brass Bands.
3--Flag.
Accompany B., First battalion
(Opelousas Guard.)
5-Boeuf Gras. A magnificent
steer, furnished by Mr.. NJ. Boagn
and carried on trimmed fioat
with the butcher ready to slaughter
the penn@d beast. The intrumani
of execution, an ak, was held alofl
by the hatcher, as II in the act o.
decendin on the neck of the fattee
beef.
6-The$ Kings float, with his
Majesty i Palmetto Ii, on the throne
fourteen feet from the ground, ane
his aids,s Ieralds, magicians. Ths
artistic effects of this float was
beautiful, and the King looked ev
cry bitofa s'sure enough" Monarch
six mounted scouts, in pretty
costumes OF gold and silver trim
mings.
s.-Float 3. .'Fairies OF the Spring,
a beautiful blending of water
green foliage, pretty fairies, etc
This was a beautiful float, and ex
cited the admiration of the vas
crowd.
9.--New Iberia Guards-a fin,
body of tnen, under a good looking
military captain.
lO.-Float 3, aCombat Betweel
Land and Water Serpents." Thl
float was made up OF two ferociou
beasts. representing the title sub
iect. They were fiercely realistic
The water spirits, urging them {.
combat, were beautifully attired
and the scene beggered description
il.-Four mounted scouts.
l2.-Float 1, with the Musica
Elves" represented sweet music
melody, and harmony. Dancin
spirits, and the traditional whit
goose. with its winged rider, th
snelodious harp filing the air wit
its music and causing the torche
angels to dance in merry gle'
we're striking features OF this yer
pretty float.
I3-St Landry Wonder Band.
l4-Float 5, .Home ofthe Wick
ed Fairles.n A fine float, with th
arch fairy in the center, two dragon
looking beasts on each side, a larg
snake coiled on an urn in the rea
darting It's tongue angrlly at tn
er0wd, and a lot OF wicked fairie
geskseulating with strange device
of fais9yiand.
I5-Faar mounted scouts.
l6--Float 6, "Returning From
Frolic on the lIoon.n This float,
the opinion Of Rany, was tt
preftiest OF the lot. The elemen