USA > Louisiana > Orleans Parish > New Orleans > Standard history of New Orleans, Louisiana, giving a description of the natural advantages, natural history settlement, Indians, Creoles, municipal and military history, mercantile and commercial interests, banking, transportation, etc. > Part 66
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The Bee of Mardi Gras, 1839 (Feb. 13), published a call requesting all those who were to take part in the masquerade, to assemble at the Théatre d'Orleans (on Orleans street, between Royal and Bourbon) not later than half past three o'clock of the afternoon. The order of march of this parade was as follows: From the Théatre d'Orleans, Royal street, St. Charles, Julia, Camp, Chartres, Condé, Espla- nade, Royal. The parade was of the most indiscriminate and democratic nature, wagons crowded with merry negrocs following in the wake of coaches and fiacres in which sat slim, silk-garbed patricians, while hundreds of maskers, in the most diverse and grotesque make-ups, ran along on foot, shouting, chcering, imitating animals and throwing kisses and confetti at the sidewalks and galleries, or perhaps belaboring some unlucky onlooker who had pressed too near the ranks, with the re- sounding, but harmless, inflated goat-bladder. Having marched its appointed ronte, the parade broke up towards nightfall, and later such of the maskers as had subscribed to the affair, repaired to the fancy dress and masquerade ball given at the old Orleans Theatre. Another ball of the same character was given on the same night in the ballroom of the old St. Louis Hotel (now the Hotel Royal).
From 1840 to 1845 a number of parades similar to that described above were given ycar by year ; then a period of comparative inactivity in respect of the celebra- tion of the Carnival in the form of parades appears to have intervened and continued until 1852, when, as Norman Walker tells us, "A number of New Orleans' first young men determined to get up a procession that would equal in numbers, in order, variety, elegance and piquancy of costumes, any that the chronicles of Mardi Gras in this country could record. The announcement of this intention, through the press, excited universal curiosity, and when the memorable day came New Orleans boasted
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of an aecession to her population, in the shape of visitors from the North, West and South, that has not been surpassed since. The procession traversed the leading streets of the city, which were positively jammed with admiring throngs, and at night the old Orleans Theatre was the center of attraction for all that the Crescent City held of beauty and fashion. The maskers of the day there received their friends ; and that bewildering ball was long remembered as the gem of many such jewels clustering in the diadem of the Queen of the South."
A custom which prevailed in the earlier days of the Carnival, but which police discretion has since seen fit to abolish, was that of the masker carrying, swung to his side, a bag of flour, handfuls of which it was considered right and entertaining to throw in the faces of luckless pedestrians whom the maskers might encounter as they went sweeping up the street. The abolition of this prank of flour- throwing was hastened by the fact that, whether through malignity or inability to get flour, some of the maskers were prompted to fill their bags with quick-lime, which naturally produeed mnost disastrous results when thrown into the faces of. citizens. By starts and spurts the Italian habit of throwing about the streets bits of paper or plaster, simulating sweetmeats (confetti) has prevailed in New Orleans, but the maskers have, as a rule, been more genuine in their favors, and whenever they saw fit to throw anything into the erowds, have used real candies. In the year 1900 a Westerner imported from Italy a number of barrels of confetti in the shape of little disks of various colored paper the diameter of a lead peneil. These were distributed among peddlers, who hawked them about the streets with such good effect that presently the air was all red and blue with the fluttering bits. The poliee at first put a stop to the sale and throwing of these confetti, but after an indignant article from the Times-Demoerat newspaper, the Mayor removed the .
restriction.
The earliest formal Carnival organization of any consequenee in the South belongs not to New Orleans, but to the neighboring city of Mobile. This was the Cowbellions, which originated the idea of presenting tableaux on vehicles moving through the streets. The Cowbellions gave its first parade in Mobile, New Year's Eve of the year 1831. The originator of Carnival pageantries in New Orleans was the Mistick Krewe of Comus, which first appeared upon the streets at 9 o'eloek of the night of February 24, 1857. The subject of representation was Milton's Paradise Lost, and a newspaper of the day described the procession and ensuing ball in the following words :
"This Krewe, eoneerning whose identity and purposes there had been sueh
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tortures of curiosity and speculation, made their début before the publie in a very unique and attractive manner. They went through the streets at 9 o'clock, with toreh- lights, in a guise as much resembling a deputation from the lower regions as the mind eould possibly conceive. The masks displayed every fantastic idea of the fear- ful and horrible, their effeet being, however, softened down by the richness and beauty of the costumes, and the evident deeorum of the devils inside. After going through the principal streets, and ealling upon Mayor Waterman, for the purpose, we suppose, of obtaining a lieense to 'raise the supernatural' in the Gaiety Theatre, they proceeded to that elegant establishment in order to entertain the hosts of guests they had summoncd.
"The interior of the theatre was decorated with a profusion of hanging wreaths and festoons of flowers. In a short time after the doors were thrown open, all the spaee inside, apart from the floor and stage, was jammed with an audience composed of the élite of Louisiana and the adjacent States-none being in mask but the Krewe. In due time the Mistiek Krewe appeared on the stage in the full glare of the lights. If we may so speak, they were beautiful in their ugliness-eharming in their repulsiveness. There were upwards of a hundred of them, and no two alike, whilst all were grotesque to the last degree. They represented the different characters with which religion, mythology and poesy have peopled the Infernal Regions, and which Milton has aggregated in his "Paradise Lost." Four tableaux were given. The first represented Tartarus, the second the Expulsion, the third the Conference of Satan and Beelzebub, and the fourth and last the Pandemonium. At the eon- elusion of the tableaux the barriers were removed and the brilliant audience erowded upon the daneing floor. The Mistiek Krewe having disbanded, dispersed among the erowd and joined in the danee in a manner which showed them to be very gentlemanly and agreeable devils."
On February 1, 1872, under Colonel Walter Merriam and Edward C. Han- coek, arrangements were made for the reign of Rex, our gracious, benignant king, who favors us yearly with his jovial presence, to the delight of pleasure-lovers and partieularly of ehildren.
Rex, aeeording to a quaint "Handbook of the Carnival," published in 1874, iz the offspring of Old King Cole and the goddess Terpsiehore, whom the former wooed in the shape of an Irish bull. The king was born some time in the eighth century on the shores of the Mediterranean. He ruled at one time over the whole of Southern Europe, which he had conquered, but gradually losing his power, became disgusted and adopted the Land of Freedom as his home. He now lives
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in seclusion among our swamps and appears once a year to his loyal subjects. He has never married, being too young and gay to settle down, but is still sowing his wild oats, and chooses every year one of the fairest girls of the Crescent City to reign as queen with him.
Following is the "first autograph letter" of Rex (1872) :
"His Royalovitch Highness of the King of the Carnival, Officiallywels, comest one worle aush isroy alcons with e mosts wiss ant Duke, Alexis Alexandro- vitch, Romanoff, audri eth a ldaspe cuala uche wsef orh Isrece ption atsue use ton Mardi Gras. REX."
Among the guests at his first grand banquet were General H. S. McComb, Gen- eral Beauregard, Colonel Sam Boyd, Norbert Trepagnier, P. O. Hébert, Samuel Smith, J. W. Burbridge, I. N. Marks, C. A. Whitness, C. H. Slocomb. About forty young men composed the association which was to achieve such grand results.
Rex published eight edicts, one of which forbade the punishment of children during his reign. All quarrels and disagreements were likewise to be suspended. Mardi Gras is a legal holiday in New Orleans.
The first "turn out" of Rex consisted of the "Boeuf Gras," a beautiful white bull, representing the "meat" to which the city was saying farewell, and an immense crowd of maskers. Three silver keys (of the city) were turned over to Rex by the Mayor, and for a day pleasure reigned supreme. The Carnival was this year witnessed by the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia. Until 1877, however, no formal parade of floats was given.
The society of New Orleans is, in a sense, built around the Carnival balls. They are the events of the year and are awaited as eagerly by the debutantes lapped in luxury as are the parades by the little street Arabs. The season is opened, as a rule, by the Twelfth Night Revellers' ball. Very handsome invitations are issued by all the Carnival organizations. In Leap Year the ball of Les Mystérieuses, an organization composed of ladies exclusively, follows the Twelfth Night Revellers, and then in succession Mithras, Consus, Elves of Oberon, Atlanteans, Nereus, mark the flying weeks till the great events that crowd about Mardi Gras. The Momus ball is usually given the Thursday before Mardi Gras. Friday the Carnival German is danced. Monday afternoon the king comes in-Rex arrives-and parades with the city militia. It is a gay day on the river, and all the boats join in welcoming to the city. the King of Joy. Monday night the Proteus parade and ball take place ; Tuesday about noon the Rex procession. and Tuesday night the Comus parade, and the Rex and Comus balls. The king and his court always attend, later at night, the ball of Comus. Wednesday morning finds an exhausted city.
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Improvised seats are put up everywhere for reviewing the Carnival. Rex's colors (green, yellow and purple) are seen everywhere. At night the illuminations are magnificent, particularly at the various clubs, where large receptions are held. The air teems with light and color and resounds with the king's own anthemn, "If Ever I Cease to Love." Immense crowds throng Canal street and St. Charles avenue up to Louisiana avenue, to which point the parades of latter years proceed. But few accidents occur, good nature prevails and the iminense concourse of people is admirably managed by the authorities. The electric cars also play their part with- out a mistake, usually.
The processions are always headed by a title car and a chariot containing the special monarch of the occasion. The Rex parade is always headed by the Boeuf Gras, or fatted ox. Mules and negroes form a necessary part of the procession, and at night picturesque flambeaux are carried. Most of the work connected with the Carnival is now done in the city, and labor and materials do not have to be imported.
Nothing disagreeable occurs during the Carnival time. Maskers often toss presents of candy to friends whom they perceive in the crowd. In the year 1900 pretty spirals of colored papers were thrown in profusion.
To be queen at one of the balls is the greatest honor that can befall a New Orleans girl. But there are four or five maids of honor to each queen, so by the time the Carnival is over almost every popular debutante has had a Carnival honor. The queens and maids of various Carnivals are conspicuous for grace and beauty, and good taste in dress. Notes are sent by the maskers every year, "call- ing out" ladies for the maskers' dances,-the first five or six or seven on the programme. Ladies "called out" are given particular seats and enjoy the ball to the utmost. Handsome pins and souvenirs are given by the maskers to their partners in the dances, and besides many little trinkets that form part of the Carnival costumes.
In 1857 Comus presented "Paradise Lost," as has already been described. In 1858 Comus' subject of illustration was "Mythology."
March 8th, 1859, witnessed a particularly magnificent pageant of Comus, representing "Twelfth Night, or Lord of Misrule." It was followed, as in the pre- ceding year, by four tableaux, and a ball at the Varieties Theatre. At twelve o'clock the maskers disappeared.
February 21st, 1860, fifteen cars, presenting American history from Columbus to Webster, formed the Comus pageant. The cars represented blocks of granite,
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upon which groups of white statuary rested. The horses, also, were draped in white. The procession, as usual, stopped en route to pay its respects to the mayor of the city. At the ball that night ten tableaux were given.
"Scenes from Life" was presented by Comus February 13th, 1861. Infancy, with its cradle, boyhood with tops and kites, youth, manhood and old age with at- tendant vices, virtues and follies were followed by a car representing Death, and containing a skeleton.
For the next few years the Civil War was raging and all Mardi Gras festivities were suspended. But on the 13th of February, 1866, four cars passed through the streets representing "The Past," "The Present," "The Future," and "The Court of Comus." This was Comus' meager first parade after the war. The ball invitations represented those sad intervening years of trouble, 1862, '63, '64, '65.
March 5th, 1867, "Triumphs of Epicurus" was given by Comus.
February 25th, 1868, "The Senses"-"Smell, Touch, Taste," etc.
February 9th, 1869, "Lalla Rookh."
March 1st, 1870, Comus gave "History of Louisiana" (statuary). In this year the New Orleans Carnival was pronounced by a Boston journal to be "worth crossing a continent to see." In this year (1870), also, the second in age of the Carnival organizations, "The Twelfth Night Revellers," gave a procession in which Europe, Asia, Africa and America were represented. A ball ensued at the French Opera House. This, of course, was given January Sth, the night the Three Wise Men came to Bethlehem.
In 1871, Comus represented Spenser's "Faerie Queen" and the Revellers repre- sented "Mother Goose."
The year 1872 formed a momentous epoch in Carnival history, for it was in this year that Rex first came upon the streets. In this year Comus gave "Dreams of Homer," and the Twelfth Night Revellers represented "Humor, Its Gods and Its Fathers." In this year Momus first came into being and presented "The Talis- man," with a fine tableau and a crowd of maskers.
In 1873, in which year the city illuminations were very fine, Comus gave the "Darwinian Theory"; the Revellers, "Audubon and His Birds"; Momus, "Coming Races." The Darwinian theory was much discussed at this time. (The Momus parades from 1872 to 1876 were given on the 31st of December. In 1876 the time was changed to the Thursday preceding Mardi Gras. In 1873, Rex paraded with a number of maskers, and several new organizations helped to swell his numbers, -- the "King's Own," "Oxonians," the "Pack" and "Lights of St. George." The pro-
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cessions stopped at various places on its way, where toasts were drunk and speeches made.
In 1874 the Revellers presented "Dolliana," the parade being headed by an im- mense cake, borne in state. The Rex procession (February 17th) illustrated "Tlie Glories of Persia"; Comus received "The Nations of the Earth," and led them through his favorite city.
There was no street carnival in 1875, but several balls took place (Febru- ary 29th).
In 1876 Comus gave "Four Thousand Years of Sacred History." Momus gave "Louisiana and Her Products."
On February 13th, 1877, Rex gave, "War in Every Age," in his first series of mounted tableaux. Comus illustrated "Aryan Race," and Momus a "Dream of Hades."
In 1878 (March 5th) Rex gave a caricature of mythical personages ; Comus, "Metamorphosis of Ovid"; Momus, "Scenes From the Realm of Fancy."
On February 25th, 1879, Rex as "Richard Coeur de Lion," presided over various scenes from the world's history.
In 1880 (February 10th), Rex illustrated the "Elements," and the "Phunny Phorty Phellows," an organization famous for mirth and burlesque, turned out for the third time with its body of merry maskers. Comus in this year gave the "Conquest of Mexico," and Momus "Dream of Fair Women."
In 1881 (March 1st), Rex presented "Arabian Nights," and a new organization, "The Independent Order of the Moon," followed with "Pictures from the Town." The Phunny Phorty Phellows gave the "Boss' Dream About Women"; Comus, "North-land Myths"; Momus, "Scenes from Popular Story Books."
The year 1882 (February 21st) saw in Rex's procession the pageant of "The King of Pleasure"; Independent Order of the Moon, "Mirth, Melody and Moon- light"-scenes from popular songs; Phunny Phorty Phellows, "Comical Illustra- tions of Days We Celebrate"; Comus, "World Worship." In this year first appeared (1882) "Proteus," an organization which now takes rank with Momus and Comus. The initial pageant of this order presented "Egyptian Myths." Momus in 1882 gave "Ramayana," the epic poem of the Hebrews.
In 1883 (February 6th), Rex gave "Atlantis," the Phunny Phorties a burlesque of the stage-comedy, tragedy, opera ; the Independent Order of the Moon, "Familiar Rhymes," literally interpreted ; Proteus, "History of France," and Momus, "Moors in Spain." Comus did not appear that year.
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In 1844 (February 26th), Rex illustrated "Semitie Raees"; the Mystic Merry Bellions, an organization of the same kind as Independent Order of the Moon, "Vanity Fair"; the Phunny Phorty Phellows, "Medley"; Momus, "The Passions"; Proteus, "The Aeneid"; and Comus "Ancient Ireland."
In 1885 (February 17), the Rex parade represented "Ivanhoe"; Momus, "Le- gendary Lore"; Proteus, "Chinese Myths"; there were this year only three parades in all.
In 1886 (March 9th), Rex gave "Aurelian's Triumph" and other historic scenes ; Proteus, "Visions of Other Worlds," and the Independent Order of the Moon, "Twelve Months' Rations," each month in turn, with its holidays and peculiarities, being burlesqued.
In 1887 (February 22nd), Rex presented "Music and Popular Airs"; the Iu- dependent Order of the Moon, "The Yankee Nation"; and Proteus, "Anderson's Fairy Tales."
In 1888 (February 14th), Rex gave "The Realm of Flowers"; the Independent Order of the Moon, "Flights of Fancy"; Proteus, "Legends of the Middle Ages."
In 1889 (March 5th), Rex presented "Treasures of Earth." While Protcus, Momus and other mystic rulers of Carnival times coneeal their identity, that of Rex is now publiely announced. The mimie kingship is an honor awarded some citizen for popularity and always reflects eredit on the man ehosen. In the year 1889 the name of the King appears to have been given out for the first time. In 188 Rex was Mr. John G. Schriever, and he chose as queen, Miss Cora Richardson. Proteus gave, in 1889, "Hindoo Heavens," and at his ball chose Miss Edith Jen- nings for queen. Momus, in a series of beautiful tableaux at the Opera House, pre- sented the "Culprit Fay."
On the 18th of February, 1890, Rex, in the person of Sylvester P. Walmsley, headed a number of handsome floats presenting "Rulers of Ancient Times." His queen was Miss Anita Shakespeare. This year saw a great revival in Carnival spirit. Proteus gave "Elfland," his queen being Miss Emma Joubert. Comus displayed the "Palingenesis of Comus," his queen being Miss Katie Buckner. Momus gave a large ball, of which Miss Nora Glenny was queen, and his tableaux had for subject "Paradise and the Peri." Mention might here be made of the Carnival German, a very exclusive society affair, given usually the Friday before Mardi Gras, as was the ease in the year just referred to. The dancers do not mask at this ball.
In 1891, the Atlanteans first appeared. Their ball was given February 3d, thus opening the Mardi Gras season. Their tableaux represented the "Temple of
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Poseidon and Coleito" and "Destruction of Atlantis." The ball was said to be mag- nifieent, and its queen was Miss Adele Blane.
On the 10th of February, 1891, Rex (Mr. James P. Richardson ) gave "Visione of Rex." His queen was Miss Bessie Behan. The Momus ball was presided over by Palmer Cox's "Brownies." The queen was Miss Amelie Aldige. The Proteus parade represented "Tales of the Genii," and the queen was Miss Susan Miles. Conus gave "Demonology," and chose as his queen Miss Cora Jennings.
In 1892 the tableaux of the Atlanteans represented "The Tempest," and the queen of the ball was Miss Lueia Miltenberger. Rex (Mareh 1st), in a beautiful pageant, gave "The Colors." Mr. Robert S. Day was king of the Carnival, and Mise Carrie Spellman queen. The Comus parade chose for its subjeet "Nippon, the Land of Flowers," and the Comus queen was Miss Winnie Davis, "Daughter of tlie Confederacy." Proteus gave "The Vegetable Kingdom," and for queen ehose Miss Valentine Cassard.
In 1893, the Atlanteans in their tableaux gave "Northern Allegories"; their queen was Miss Annie Payne. Mr. John Poitevant, as Rex, on the 14th of February, ehose Miss Ella Sinnot for his queen. The subject of the Rex parade was "Fall- tasies." Comus gave "Salammbo," Flaubert's novel, in a series of handsome floats. His queen was the beautiful Miss Josephine Maginnis. Proteus' subjeet, in 1893, was "Kalevala, Mytlis of Finland," and his queen was Miss Virginia Nicholls. Momus in his tableaux prettily illustrated the "Four-Leaf Clover," and liis queen was Miss Ella Barkley.
In 1894, the Twelfth Night Revellers gave a beautiful ball, of which Miss Fannie Eshelman was queen. According to old eustoms, a eake is eut at each Twelfthi Night ball. Its sliees are distributed to the débutantes present, and the pieee eon- taining a golden bean singles out as queen its fortunate possessor. In like manner, silver beans mark the maids of honor. The Atlanteans (1894) ehose for the sub- jeet of their tableaux "Ballet of the Seasons at Fontainebleau," and as queen, Miss Evelyn Gasquet. Rex (B. A. Oxnard) presented "Illustrations from Literature." His queen was Miss Minnie Stewart. Mardi Gras this year fell on the fifth of February. The subject of Momus in his ball was "The Fairies and the Fiddler"; his queen, Miss Louise Dunbar. Proteus on this occasion presented "Persian Myths." His queen was Miss Alice Denis. Comnus gave "Once Upon a Time," luis queen being Miss Mathilde Levert.
In 1895 the Twelfth Night Revellers, with Miss Nora Glenny as queen, gave a tableaux representing old time merry-makers around a chateau. The Elves of
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Oberon made their first appearance this year (1895) in a handsome ball, of which Miss Josie Craig was queen; the tableaux represented "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The Atlanteans presented "The Bride of the Ice King." Their queen was Miss Nellie Dwyer. Rex (February 27th) was impersonated by Mr. Frank T. Howard, whose queen was Miss Lydia Fairchild. The subject of his parade Was "Fairyland Chronicles." Momus, in his annual ball, presented "The Wooing and Wedding of Nala and Darmayante." His queen was Miss Charlee Elliott. The Proteus parade gave "Norse Myths," and Miss Louise Wiltz was queen. Comus' subject was "Songs of Long Ago"; his queen, Miss Emily Poitevant.
The year 1896 saw the Carnival growing and prospering. The Twelfth Night Revellers, at their ball, gave an exquisite tableau of "Cloudland," and the golden bean fell to Miss Bertie Hayward, who reigned over the festivities. This year being leap year, a number of leading society women planned and gave a very handsome ball, of which Mrs. A. A. Brittin was president. They called themselves "Les Mystérieuses." Mr. Willie Stauffer was made king. In all respects the usual positions of men and women were reversed, the former being "called out" by the latter. On February 3rd (1896), a new organization made a very successful ap- pearance. This was the Krewe of Nereus. His first ball presented in tableaux "Sea Views," and his queen was Miss May Van Benthuysen. The Atlanteans, at their ball, presented "Loves of the Angels," Moore's poem, and their queen was Miss Penelope Chaffe. The Elves of Oberon gave "Visions in Marble," and their queen was Miss Virginia Logan. On the 18th of February (1896), Rex illustrated "Plan- ets." Mr. Charles Janvier was king of the Carnival, Miss Arthemise Baldwin, queen. Momus, in his ball this year (1896), burlesqued the Carnival, a miniature parade being given on the stage, and his queen was Miss Alice Buckner. Proteus chose for the subject of his parade the "Animal Kingdom," and for queen, Miss Vira Boarman. Comus this year presented on his floats "The Seasons," and his queen was Miss Alma Kruttschnitt. The Phunny Phorties this year gave a ball, with a medley of grotesque and mirth-provoking maskers, and Miss Myrtle Gehl for queen. This organization, in 1878, gave "The Fire Department"; in 1879, "The Militia"; in 1880, "Brother Jonathan," and kindred societies, in 1881, "Woman's Rights."
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