The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-22
ALL READY
 IN MOBILE Gorgeous DecorationsFor the Carnival uLUMINAIlONS MORE
 BRILLIANT THAN BEFORE Myriads of Electric Bulbs Are
 Used. Kiag Felix, Emperor of Joy, Will Reach His Capital City Today to Make Glad Hearts of
 the People.

Mobile. Feb. 2I.-(Special. )-With the arrival of the Mardi Gras crowds in the city this afternoon by steam boat and rail, the carnival festivities were opened.
 The display of illuminations which were turned on just as the shades or evening fell were beautiful and enjoyed by the thousands of people who have already reached the city.
 At the intersection of Government and Royal Streets the illuminations be- gan, and here on a mounted platform stands the royal steed of his majesty. King Felix, the steed decorated in beautiful jewels of electric lights and gold, the harness corresponding.
 On Government Street between St. Emanuel and Royal Streets Is displayed q necklace of emeralds while at the corner of St. Emanuel and Government , streets is a golden harp from the im- periai orchestra studded with electric jewels.
 Passing on up Government Street to Conception a mammoth basket of royal flowers Is displayed. a rich conception which is highly decorated In gold and electrical effects.
 At Joachim Street on Government are three dragons drawing an immense me- chanical chariot and driven by mes senger from Mars, bearing congratu- iations to King Felix.
 On out Government Street the prin- cipal thoroughfare over which the parades will pass, as far as Dearborn Street, are strings of emeralds and like effects with streamers, the most beau- tiful of which is at Dearborn Street. where one of the royal peafowls 10 displayed, shown upon a golden perch and highly illuminated.
 Leaving this thoroughfare and reach- ing Royal Street the first decoration Is shown at Cont and Royal Streets. where a beautiful shell chariot. drawn by a group of butterflies is displayed highly colored with vari-colored and numerous electric lights.
 On Royal Street between Contf and Dauphin is shown the royal crown. this being beautiful effect and finished in gold. silver and electrical jewels.
 At the corner of Royal and Dauphin Streets. the principal point in the city Is displayed "Wompus." Felix's impe- rial dragon, which flies high in the air with eyes and breath of fire.
 On Royal between St. Francis and Dauphin Is shown cluster of golden grapes from the royal vineyard. brought over for the occasion by his majesty.
 At the intersection of St. Francis and Royal Streets Is shown the royal birds of paradise, resting on a golden perch while in the center Is the golden harp, the effect being that the birds are charmed by the mystic music. The tail feathers and plumage of the royal birds are highly decorated and made beautiful with multi-coiored lights.
 Tn honor of Washington. upon whose birthday the carnival falls this year. a large American shield. being carried through the air by golden wings is shown on Royal hetween St. Francis and St. Michael Streets.
 Different like effects are displayed at every principal downtown streets intersection. all highly decorated and colored and making a most beautiful effect in It's entirety.
 By far the most beautiful decorations have been placed on display at Bien- vile Square, the imperial square of his majesty At night the fountain in the square shows a glimpse of the i'm perial gardens across the seas, while surrounding the main basin are four mythical sea horses. From the mouths of these horses pour il.umined streams of water. while from the top of the fountain electrical jewel strings fall and terminate at large giided harps set at intervals around the main basin From the top of the fountain and to each of the main avenues of the square Is also strung gar1ands of electric lamps.
 At each of the four entrances to the square is an arch of silver and green the effect in the square being beauti- full and more original and tasteful than ever shown before at a carnival.
 Concluding the beautiful decorations are the decorations of the bandstand in the square and the huge triumphaI arch on St. Joseph between St. Francis and Dauphin Streets, this arch being an exact reproduction of one erected to the King of Siam during festivities of that country. This arch is a mammoth , piece of work. and Is decorated with myriads of many colored electric lights and presents a beautiful effect. The number of lights used In it's decora- ton is 1000. All the parades will en- ter through this imperial arch.
 The decorations this year took three months for construction and were un- der the supervision of John A. Mahon, chairman; Charles Hess. Jennings and J. NJ. Friedman. the illumination com mittee appointed by the Carnival As sociation.
 The electrical and scenic work was constructed by F. B. Pine. while George Fordney was chief electrician, All material was purchased fin the city and all the work done by Mobile men,