The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-03-27
A N0RTHERNER IN
THE SOUTHLAND
judge Conner Tells Of His ecent Visit
at New Orleans and Great
Battle Fields.
MARDl GRAs WAS DISAPPOINTING
An Advertising Scheme Somewhat
Overdrawn-Many Thousands Of
Visitors Present, However.
Editor of Review

ton given by Dr.. Coon, in recent is
around The world, am wondering il
anything which l may be able to say
concerning my trip to the Southland
would be of interest to the readers OF
the paper.
The trip from Denison to New Or
leans was without incident except that
very marked change in the climate
was observed as we passed out of Hi
nois and through Kentucky, Tennessee
and Mississippi. The last snow was
seen at some point short distance
north of Memphis, but from there on
the weather constantly grew milder
until our arrival at New Orleans,
where an overcoat was burden rather
than a necessity. During the several
days we were there the weather was
as mild as June weather in this To-
cality.
For the first time it was our pleas
ure to witness the Mardi Gras, which,
by the way, was something OF dis
appointment, probably caused in part
by our expecting too much. The
much advertised entry OF Rex, the
merry monarch of the carnival, into
the city, coming first up the Mississippi
river and landing at the foot of Canal
street, was scarcely up to expectations.
The procession consisted of few
United States soldiers, stationed near
the city, the fire company, a squad of
policemen and several brass bands,
making up the kings escort, on his
way from the boat to the city hall,
where the keys OF the city were de-
livered over to him. This part of the
program was carried out on the after
noon of the Goth Of February. The
evening program was OF much greater
interest. The procession was an in
spring affair, consisting of magnit.
cent display representing biblical
scenes. Proteus, the changeable god
OF the sea, presented one of his most
beautiful pageants, being the story OF
Zoroaster, the prophet of Iran, told in
twenty handsome tableaux.
On the twenty-first the city was
crowded with visitors from every sec.
ton of the country, perhaps the larg
est crowd that was ever seen in New
Orleans was in evidence during the
day. Circulating among the visitors
were thousands of masqueradors in all
sorts of costumes. From II o'clock
in the forenoon until late at night
various professions were passing up
and down Canal street and other prin-
cipal thoroughfares of the city, each
procession representing some distinct
business carried on in the city. The
truth is, the Mardi Gras, as whole,
is simply an advertising scheme fur
nished by the people of New Orleans,
the same as other cities Of the country
have their methods of advertising,
such as the ice palace Of ST. Paul, the
corn palace of Sioux City and the Ak
sar-ben of Omaha, and many others of
like character throughout the country.
A great many northern people were
found in New Orleans for the purpose
not alone of visiting the Mardi Gras.
but OF investing in timber lands or
land for agricultural purposes. Some
are buying small tracts for truck farms
and others more extensive tracts for
farming on larger scale. Occasion
ally large bodies of timber land are
purchased for the purpose of specula-
ton.
More interesting to the writer than
the Mardi Gras was visit to the
battle field, which is situated in the
neighborhood of six or eight miles
east of the business portions OF the|
city. Cnalmette monument stands on
almost the exact spot where the Amer
lean standard was displayed during
the battle. From the summit OF tEe|
monument an excellent idea may still
be obtained of the topography OF theI
battle field. The shaft is reared upon
part of the plantation which in 1915
belonged to NJ Chalmette de Ligny
and which bore his name. Looking
to the east of the monument the Mis-
sissippi river is upon the right and a
swamp extending east for some dis
lance upon the left, the Intervening
space, about mile in width, is higher
ground.
The battle was fought on the 9Th
of June, 1915. The commander of the