Well Mardi Gras was kind of a little diminished this year with cold, rainy weather. The kind of Mardi Gras I would stay home and enjoy a good corn & crab bisque while reminiscing about past Mardi Gras Celebrations. While working on tomorrows post I came upon an article about what is apparently Lafayettes first ever Mardi Gras. Whoa. Now I know how Cronkite felt when Neil stepped on the moon. Heres the article --------------------- KING ATTAKAPAS Arrives in Lafayette and is Greeted By Hundreds of Loyal Subjects. His Rule Brings Mirth, Joy and Cheerfulness and Ends With an Elegant Ball--Dr. Martin is King and Miss Isaure McDaniel Queen. King Attakapas, the first monarch whom the headstrong people of Lafayette have bowed in humble submission and cheerfully obeyed, arrived with his beautiful queen at the gates of the city Tuesday morning and knocked for admission. He arrived from the west on one of Col. Huntingtons magnificently equipped cars and was welcomed at the Southern Pacific depot by a crowd of loyal subjects as ever owed allegiance to a ruler. The dazzling pomp and oriental splendor displayed in honor of the august personages somewhat bewildered our people who knew but little about kings and thrones. When the train stopped the king and queen appeared on the platform of the car. They were immediately escorted to the regal equipage where they took seats beneath the splendid canopy which covered the royal float. The attendants who were attired in gorgeous suits, occupied their accustomed places. Hon. Chas. D. Caffery, mayor of Lafayette, stepped in front of the chariot and delivered the following appropriate address. He spoke in a loud and distinctive voice and was heard by everyone in the immense throng. Mayor Caffery said: Most August and Most Gracious King and Queen: The very great pleasure and the exalted privilege of greeting your majesties, falls to me, and such is your magnificent fame, throughout the land, that at the outset I am driven to exclaim, Oh, King and Queen ! live forever. Happy indeed are we, to be thus favored, and for these, your loyal subjects, I will give you cordial welcome. With unfeigned joy and unbounded gratitude, they behold your majesties in person, and direct me to avow their unswerving loyalty and devotion. But, Oh King! I tender you more than welcome. I tender you more than welcome. I congratulate you especially upon the true patriotism of your subjects in this department of your Kingdom. I congratulate you and them upon this unmistakable manifestation of enterprise, energy and public spirit which we have here to-day. By this demonstration of your Kingdom. I congratulate you and them upon this unmistakable manifestation of enterprise, energy and public spirit which we have here to-day. By this demonstration they proclaim their determination that neither the subjects of the Roi de Cypre, nor those of any other potentate, shall surpass them in those attributes which characterize a great and glorious nation. It is my province, moreover, to acknowledge, on behalf of these, your subjects, your most benign and excellent rule over them. Indeed, there runs a saying throughout the land, that, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, but, that saying, applicable no doubt to the ruler of the Turkish empire or the Czar of all the Russians, has not and never will have any application to your majestys great and glorious reign. For this I welcome you again in the name of all your subjects; of those of Carencro, Royville, Broussard, Scott, Duson, all! And in conclusion I tender to you the keys of Lafayette. Take them, your majesty; ay, take not only the keys, but take the town. Do as you choose with it; paint it, paint any color you please, and we will still cry long live the King, the great and only King of the Attakapas. Before concluding his address Mayor Caffery tendered the King the keys of the city of Lafayette. At the conclusion of this ceremony Prof. Walter Moutons far-famed string band discoursed some suitable music, after which the King and the magnificent pageant proceeded through the streets of the city which were literally packed with people who had come from this and adjoining parishes to participate in the festivities. Never were the avenues, streets and alleys of the city so crowded with visitors. Throngs of men, women and children blockaded the passage and it is required the hardest kind of work by Marshals McFaddin and Himel to clear the streets to enable the royal pageant to proceed on its journey of mirth and pleasure. The parade was through the principal streets. It was in the following order FIRST FLOAT. The royal chariot, generally conceded to the finest float in the parade, was about twenty feet in height. It was beautifully mounted and was certainly the result of artistic design and splendid execution. SECOND FLOAT. This float was exceedingly pretty. It was a perfect bouquet of the of the rarest flowers in the midst of which were grouped four your ladies: Miss Cora and Augustine Desbrest, Eunice Pefferkorn and Anna Hollier. This tableau represented Lafayette, the Garden Spot of Louisiana. THIRD FLOAT. This float represented Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The biblical scene of the apple tree and the snake with the devil in the background was very well gotten up. The design and workmanship of this float showed more than ordinary taste and originality. FOURTH FLOAT. Columbus on his voyage to America. This float was very tastily arranged and was praised by many who saw it. FIFTH FLOAT. Li Hung Chang, the great diplomat, was the principal attraction. He was seated in a Chinese pagoda and was surrounded by several attendants of his race. The sixth float was surrounded by several attendants of the his race. The sixth float was contributed by the town of Scott. It was labeled Prosperity and carried several bales of cotton and quantity of cotton seed. It was quite neatly arranged. There was a number of other floats fitted up by some business firms of the town. Among them were: Mouton & Hopkins, Moss Bros. & Co., Paul Demanade, Gerac Bros., Jno. O. Mouton, G. Schmulen, L. Lacoste. At night a reception was tendered the King and Queen at Falks Opera House. The King, Queen, Dukes and Duchesses took seats on the stage and remained there until the until the royal lancers were danced. The following participated in the lancers: Dr. G. A Martin, the King, and Miss Isaure McDaniel, the Queen; Mr. Onezine Mouton and Miss Cora Desbrest, Mr. Samuel Brown and Miss Augustine Desbrest, Mr. J. P. Revillon and Miss Ida Pefferkorn, Mr. Lee Walker and Miss Eunice Pefferkorn, Mr. Andre Girouard and Miss Ida Lester, Mr. Albert Comus and Miss Nita Lacoste. The ball that followed was one of the finest ever given in Lafayette. The dancing continued until late in the night. Lafayette Gazette 3/5/1897.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 01:10:25 +0000
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