SECOND FESTIVAL, 1873
The King of the Carnival's rule having been established upon so firm a foundation, hardly had the echoes of the sunset salute of his fete day in 1872 died away before steps were taken to perfect the idea in the fullness of its original conception. The twin associations, consisting of the merchants and bankers intrusted with our city's welfare, were formed with a view of placing means at the disposal of the active members of the original organization, to these, splendidly designed patents of nobility were issued, emblazoned with the seals ot the State of Louisiana, city of New Orleans and the King of the Carnival. They were all prepared after accepted models in the j strict vernacular; were very beautiful and can now be found framed in the offices of our most prominent business houses.
A pamphlet history of the King's reign for the first year was also prepared for private circulation, and the Exposition Hall, containing the largest ball room in the United States, was leased for three years, at an annual rental of $2000 for Mardi Gras night.
Early in the summer an agent was dispatched to Paris for the purpose of preparing all the necessary court regalia (which were of the finest materials), banners, properties and costumes. Up to January 13, 1873, nothing further was heard by the public of the movements of his Majesty, save an occasional intimation that he was traveling in Assyria for his health.
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Taking Clay Statue as naturally a central point of gathering and examination, the observer had the wherewithal for at least an hour's steady occupation. The statue itself, its granite pedestal, the iron railing surrounding it, and the broad steps sweeping round it, served as standing and sitting room for a thoroughly Democratic crowd of men, women, boys and children, white and colored, and all in the best of temper. This was illuminated by an amiable Chinaman standing up beneath the shadow of Henry Clay's coat tail, and quietly allowing a fat old colored woman, with a gay madras handkerchief tied around her head, to sit sleeping, leaning against his (John Chinaman's) lower extremities for an hour at least.
From this elevated stand-point, far as the eye could reach, in any and every direction, it caught nothing but a mass of moving objects in the broad street — human beings and vehicles being mixed up in apparently inextricable confusion.
The appearance of independent groups of maskers, here and there, excited the gossip and laughter of the crowd; the mounted policemen dashing about, trying to keep order, were prominent features; and the arrival on the scene, now and then, of the mounted and foot maskers, or those in carriages, in long array, with bands of music, who were to take part in the grand procession, stirred the multitude with a mighty curiosity that seemed to devour each masker and his costume.
All was orderly and quiet, it should be noted, in this vast assemblage throughout the day good temper prevailed, and we did not see or hear of a single disturbance or ditticulty. The skies were overcast up to twelve o'clock; but then the sun shone out gloriously, and lit up the panorama with all the radiance of a Southern summer day.