Evening star., 1938-03-01

dressed alike in gowns Of the latest
fashion, similar to bridesmaids at a
wedding, their rank denoted by short
capes beautifully embroidered, and q
tiny jeweled band in the hair.
At midnight the king and queen
leave the ball for the French quarter,
! where the queen plays hostess to her
personal friends at a supper dance.
Following the departure of royalty, a
whistle is blown and the BLACK coats"
and all other guests may then dance.
| CARNIVAL DAY dawns and every
one is up bright and. early dom
| ming their costumes and masks for q
day Of revelry. Groups Of friends
gather at some ones house, usually at
the home Of either the king or queen
| OF their own group. A truck has been
hired and when it arrives the crowd
jumps aboard, and off they go to a
point Of vantage to see Rex on his
throne heading the procession of
handsome floats, each drawn by six
horses in gay trappings.
The colorfuI pageant passes through
the business section, on through the
main thoroughfare Of the residential
part OF the city. Most of the past
kings of carnival live on this wide
avenue. and at each of them the parade
stops, the past king rushes out with
high ladder, bottle of champagne
and a glass, so the two may drink a
toast together. AS the parade returns
to the socially elite Boston Club, in
the business section, all the hundreds
OF trucks. big and little, each carrying
band OF merrymakers, join on.
At the Boston Club the Queen of
Carnival sits with her court and the
older members of society reviewing the
parade, which halts there on its return.
and Rex climbs over the balcony to
join his Queen.
When the parade disperses, the
groups in trucks 60 to clubs or res
taurants for luncheon and the rest of
the afternoon. AS members of the
Bourbon Street Bounders," We went
to the famous Patio Royal in the old
quarter, where We had luncheon and
danced during the afternoon. But
literally thousands and thousands re-
main in the streets frolicking and
dancing.
AS the sun sets every one returns
home to dress in their most elaborate
evening gown for the balls There are
two. one for the city where Rex and
his Queen rule, and the other for the
cream Of society, known as the ball of
Comus
On the stroke of midnight Rex, his
Queen and their courts arrive at Co.
mus, where both kings and queens
with their encourages parade around on
the stage bowing to their loyal sub
jects. They spend a short time be-
fore going to the Queen of Comus
party, where the guests dance until
dawn, then stop at the market for cof-
fee before going home-Mardi Gras
IS over and Ash Wednesday has ar
rived.
THE year was there the Queen of
Carnival wore for the ball q gown
and robe that was an exact copy of the
coronation costume worn by Empress
Josephine. while the Queen of Comus
wore Observation-Disclosures white satin
gown of the mid-Victorian era.
On Ash Wednesday everything re-
turns to normal and the only thing
left are memories of marvellous time
had in city where, for a short time
each year, every one lives in world
of make believe. The Queen of Mardi
Gras and the Queen of each ball place
their mantel, crown and scepter In a
display cabinet as a daily reminder
through the years of a marvellous ex-
perience and the great honor bestowed
upon her. There is also one more
momento, the Kings gift to the Queen,
usually handsome gold vanity stud
ded with diamonds. while Rex presents
his consort with either a gorgeous dia-
mond pin or bracelet, a lasting SOU
venir that she was Queen for a day.