The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-06
MOBILE AND
 MARDI GRAS Gulf City Fully Alive to
 the Occasion. DECORATION EVERYWHERE River Front Crowded With
 Sight SeerS. Motor Boat Parade Drew Great Crowds At Night Business Portion of
 the Municipality is Light
Advertiser Bureau,

Mobile, March 5.
 Mobile is in the midst of one of the grandest holidays in the history of mystics. When a half century and more ago the Queen City of the Gulf was given the name Mother of Mys- tics" the Mardi Gras carnivals were an unknown Aquantity, so to speak, in the South. Year by year the organiza- tion in Mobile grew and thrived, each year the several mystic societies striv- ing, one with the other, to outrival It's compeers in the magnifcence of the displays. Only recently, however, has the mat ter of lavish decoration of public and private buildings become contagious and today the old city Is a picture well worth the seeing. From f1agpoles and house tops fly the national and Mardi Gras colors and house fronts are re- splendent in all the brilliant colors of Felix III. Thousands upon thousands of electric lights. vari-colored, fantas- tically arranged. and in every conceiv- able design, are to be seen on all sides. One of the handsomest of the designs is to be seen in Duncan Place. Here an arch has been erected. bearing the name of the new ruler, and the sev- eral mystic societies which have join ed in extensively preparing for the welcome to the Emperor of Joy. A magnificent dome. topped by ball of fire, is the finishing triumph, Far aloft on the majestic steel flag pole, in fiery outline, is to be seen the reproduction of old Glory" a masterpiece of the workman's skill.
 Far out Government Street, the place of magnificent homes and buildings. strings of electric lights cross the | h rl,fo int aNf Conception and Government Streets, on either side, stands splendidly pro- portioned column with an electric eff feet which must bel seen for apprecia- ton. Famed Bienyille Square. where sturdy oaks are and have been standing for more than century, has been transformed into Fair Japan" Thou sands of Japanese lanterns shed thelr soft light upon the thousands who wander there, the lanterns being inter spersed In quaint groups among the branches of the trees This effect Is the prettiest conceived in the city ia many years and is superior, so artis- tic people declare, to electrical effects This feature is an innovation, con- ceived by the Illuminating Committee.
 All the club buildings and hotels are brilliantly decorated and illuminated and Dauphin and Royal Streets are blazes of light The carnival associa- tion, with Colonel A. s. Lyons as the efficient chairman of the Executive Committee, with his large number of CO., workers. are to be congratulated and Mobilians. as well as strangers ap- preciate their work. What Is promised for the morrow and the day following is on a lavish scale and the several events. including parades, are being awaited anXiously and impatiently. On the River Front.
 Early this morning the river front was crowded with sightseers Their early visit was well repaid. In the harbor the shipping was in full dress and the bunting waved from mastheads far up and down the river. Steamboat after steamboat arrived In the city, the first reaching here ahead of the crowd. Each of the steamers bore immense Mafdi Gras crowds, hundreds having remained on decks over night because of inability to secure sleeping accom- mediation en route. But each of the officers on the boat stated that the crowds were good-natured. all imbued with the one thought-To reach old Mobile"
 The motor boat parade for s:aO | o'clock this afternoon drew a second vast throng to the liver front. Each of the hundred and moro of the little craft prettily decorated, fell into line | at the given signal and the scene was one of merit to the promoters and those | who carried out the parade.
 The motor boats, after considerable delay, were gotten off and the display was q most exceptionally interesting and novel one.