Year: 1877

Well.'


Ihe eeminent,PriDce Of Mirth needs no


apology for the delay which occurred
| thursday night In his appearance on
| the streets, for the pageant, when ii
/ was presented to the public. was SO
splendid rs to dispel the faintest effects


OF temporary disappointment-an be-
sides, we are not authorized by him to


offer any apology to the public. Asa
matter of interest to that same public.


it should be said. however. that Momus


had his troubles and trials on this, for
everybody else, festive occasion. First.
large portion OF the appliances of the


procession reached here by rail only at
~ O'Clock Thursday evening and had to


be transported to distant cotton press


In the Third District. Here everything


had to be assorted and fitted, u process


which necessarily consumed O great
deal OF time. When, by dint of en-
ergy. and determination to "do or
die, everything was in readiness
earl enough, for the pageant to sally
forth into the streets without pro-
voking speci al notice Of delay, unfor-
tuuntely, and as though the old saying,


IL never rains but it pours," needed
an application, when the procession was
about leaving the cotton press it was
discovered that the frame work OF
some OF the designs were too wide
To go through even the very broad
gates OF the press. Hence 1T became
imperative to procure the necessary
tools In order that q portion of the walls
or tho gateway should be battered
down ana give egress to the,grand char
lots. The operation lasted nearly an
hour and a half, but finally the Knights.
with their Prince at their head, were
happy, to appear before longing pub
lie, who unreservedly applauded their
greatest effort.


This appreciation must have glad
dened the depressed hearts Of the
gallant Knights. It was Just, and IL the
people outside Of these organizations
could have an approximate idea OF the
amount OF brains. taste, activity and
money which 1T takes to carry out these
vast projects intended solely to please.
without the least egotism or ostenta-
ton OF the participants since they are
bound to maintain their rincognito-well,
people would, IL possible. even more
exuDerantly manifest their pleasure at
their efforts


It might be asked, why is not every-
thing foreseen The answer is, that
everything within reasonable bounds is
forescen. The articles which serve to
make these pageants are ordered In the
fullest detail six months and sometimes
nearly fl whole year before hand: but
there arise sometimes contingencies
which, but for the spirit with which
the gentlemen connected with these
organizations are endowed, would
lead to utter failures. About
three years ago one Of these organza-
lions came very near disappointing an
expectant public through miscalcuIa-
In hS fpfpf irhn H., Da,
who had shipped the goods to New O.,
leans via Hnavana, by d steamer, the only
one available, and which was not very
certain OF going further than the latter
place. However, the time having been
deemed ample, it was thought
that q reshipment from Havana
would be On easy matter. And so it
would have been. had not tho Custom
House authorities interfered in the mat
ter. This interference necessitated a
correspondence and legal forms which
gave it the complexion Of an interna-
tional affair, and the consequent red
rive here just two days before Mardi-
Gras. This year, another organization
finds Itself in possession Of It's parapher-
MALTA about eight days before the day
liked for the pageant. It Is now night
and day work with them to be ready
for Mardi. Gras.


TO return to Momus. It WAS not nm
til one o'clock yesterday morning that
the curtain rose on the tableau, and the
dancing Of course began very late also.
The ball, however, was one OF the most
brilliant affairs OF Its kind ever gotten
up in New Orleans. The new Opera
House was arrayed in all its spIen-
dor-that splendor which in times
gone by was won't to excite the
admiration Of all visitors to the city.
The elite Of our society was there In its
and beauty, and cheerful
The dancing was kept up later than
usual, partly owing to the time lost in
waiting for the arrival OF Momus and
partly owing to the enjoyment that
the glorious fete afforded.