Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-30

tiers names are Edna, Ethel and Etha
Elnor Parsons, age 8,
Douds, Ia, r. No. l.
MAJORIE'S TRIP TO NEW
! ORLEANS.
AS I have just returned from New
Orleans and many points throughout
the gulf coast country of Louisiana and
Texas I thought it might be of inter.
est to many Juniors to hear about the
trip.
We, my father, mother and sister
Dorothy, left Ottumwa on the evening
Of February 16, going by way of the
Rock Island railroad to Kansas City,
Mo-, where we stopped over to do
some shopping. We were met at the
Union station by my cousin, who went
with us up town, and after doing some
shopping we were joined by my aunt
and another cousin and all went to
dinner together.
This was my first experience In
travelling and both my sister and l be-
came sick from the motion Of the
train before we reached Kansas City,
but walking about for a while and get
ting some good, fresh air and seeing
many sights new to me and getting
good, wholesome meal we felt much
improved and ready to try it again.
We left Kansas City on the Kansas
City and Southern railroad for the
south at L. As, in the afternoon, and
as we had drawing room all to our.
sells and were to occupy it for two
nights and day we unpacked our
grips and settled for good time.
had taken my school books, crayolas,
and scissors along, so you see we were
fixed for good time. We read our
books, colored pictures and cut them
out until we were tired, then we took
nap, and when we awoke it was sup
per time. We certainly enjoyed eat
ing on the moving train. At joplin
the train stopped long enough that we
were able to buy postcards and mail
them. I had never ridden on train
before where we slept in a berth This
was a new and very pleasant expert
ence. The first thing of unusual in
terest occurred early Monday morn
ing when we reached the Mississippi
river. Here the entire train was fer
ried across the river on a ferry boat.
The train was divided into three sec
tions and placed on the boat. The
coaches being side by side and the
ferry was started by steam boat at
tached at either end at opposite cor
ners. The ferry boat is allowed to
drift with the current and instead. OF
going directly across the river it was
allowed to make loop and land on
the opposite side of the river against
some large piling that connects the
tracks on the ferry with the trac'-s
on the land. The engine goes off
of the ferry boat first and the train
is coupled up and away we went again.
We arrived in new Orleans about I
o'clock in the morning. Monday and,
Tuesday Of that week were the big
days of the carnival, called Mardi
Gras. We secured our rooms, had
breakfast and began our sight seeing.
We first took an automobile trip
over the principal streets and boule-
wards Of the city. We visited the
French markets, st. Lous Cathedral.
Jackson Square, the old museum, the
old French cemeteries, and number
Of other intensely interesting places.
The Mardi Gras has four separate
and distinct parades. The first one
was the arrival of King Rex on Mon
day morning at 1890. This we
thought was very beautiful The next
parade that of Proteus, was on Mon
day evening. and with the lights
from eight flambeaux shining on each
float we thought 1t much more beauti-
full than the first. Tuesday mornings
parade was still more elaborate This
was Menus, and besides the twenty
new floats there we're many cities rep
resented with burlesque comiQue.
Comus, Tuesday evenings parade ont
shown them all in splendor and brill
liancy. Here the money had been
spent lavishly. One float was said to
have cost $4,000 There was twenty
such floats, all aflame with the lights
from the many flambeaux around
them. .#"
The crowds Of people on the streets
can hardly be described. Clooa,. -
solid humanity hardly safe 10 move
except by following the general move
| ment of the mass. On Tuesday, be-
ginning early in the morning, every
one from children to older people was
masked and costumed: some very
elaborate. some unique. To describe
one: A small boy, perhaps IL or II
years of age, came down the street
driving a team Of two billy goats
hitched to four wheeled wagon OF
goat proportion highly decorated with
many colored silks. On the wagon sat
the boy driving, with the costume rep
resenting Uncle Sam. On a perch be-
hind the boy sat monkey with full
drum majors paraphernalia. In the
opening parade the arrival of Rex,
there were eleven bands, mflitiamen.
marines, boy scouts in kahh uni
forms marching and mounted police
men, officers of the city and carnival
officers in carriages followed by the
king with mounted staff and his
queen, rode on the finest float. This
Icarnival is continuation Of an old
celebration and is held the two days
preceding lent in each year.
Marjorie Creath, aged 10.
Ottumwa. Iowa.
fConcI,1ded Next Week