The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-25
vox PoPULI.
WHY is MARpI cRAs2

Editor Pensacola Journal.
All the world loves a lover, the
booster generates an optimism that in :
sures a cordial welcome while the
knocker is permitted to flock all by his
little lonesome and list to the rever-
berating echo OF his own little ham
mer. TIL wager a photo of my twins
against a slice OF StiIlman's brand of
democracy that some folks Of this
village have, or will, designate me by
the latter appellation.N Can't help 1t.
Want to know why ID Mardi Gras?
Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, a re-
ligious festival ushering in Lent. etc.
certainly, any kid old enough to fight
the multiplication table knows that.
To Judge by the manner of its observ-
ance in Pensacola, 1t is a season when
license is unbridled, RIGHTEOUSNESS I'M
fettered, disciples Of Bachus given free
rein, criminality permitted to exceed
the speed limit and the brakes placed
in full release on immortality Of every
form.
Marti Gras, like Christmas and
many other institutions which had
their genesis in the effort of humanity
to aspire to the noble and beautiful,
has been subiugated to. delegated to,
and dedicated to the hydra headed god
Of commercialism and this is the
paramount excuse for Pensa cola's an
down dunn.
Perpetuated in the hope that the
thousands coming here will become
separated from their cash.
They become separated, all right.
Who gets It? Who profits from this
free and fast fiim-f1am farcical fool
ishness furnished farmer folk ?-the
''57 varieties" of agencies in Pensacola
Of the most reprehensible business on
the face of the earth--saloon. The
railroads, boarding houses, the flock OF
skin games operated under the elias
tic name Of Shows" and the houses
in the restricted district. The first
and last named carrying off the blue
ribbon.
The Pensacola species of Mardi
Gras means q demoralization before,
during and after the date. A two-day
loss from school by several thousand
city children. A loss of trade by prac-
tically every legitimate business man.
"A loss of trade by practically every
one through the devil invented con-
fetti. The beginning Of many young
boy and girls trip by immoral paths
to a disgraced goal. A dissemination
OF contagious diseases through crowds
(measies in the present instance1. A
demarcation of-but, space is limited.
Think it out for yourself. Think real
hard.
been somewhat akin to having tooth
pulled for many of the merchants to
contribute to the expense funds an
nually for they know that they stand
to lose the SUM contributed and the
normal sales onScarnfval days. Crowds
come to see. not to buy. It does look
like fragrant waste OF good United
States coin, too, when II is considered
how much good could be accomplished
with the sum annually If iuvezzend in
a hospital for the cty's i'll and MANNED
or respectable home for the county 5
INDECENT and dependents in place of
the disreputable shack in the fertilizer
factory nsfgh6orhood. Think of the
dividends that would result If the sum
was spent IN the interest of the or
phans' home. old wo9nan'S home or
Salvation Army enterprises.
Who win be the first merchant to
brave the odium Of the soliciting com
mtttee this year and whisper out loud,