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I lot. i hat Fkstivai.8.—From llie remotest antiquity every civilized nation lu» celtbrated (he advent lt;if each new yeur with such form* mid ceremonies as mi it'd t'leir halnls and temperaments varied in manner though similar in (heir object; but in our own varied laud, almost every citv has its peculiar mode. .Nor is Mobile less distinctive in its suit* of honoring the event than even the emporiums of (la world. Una of our most marked feaiurea is the o d ami much rcspecied Cawbellion Society, whose uiint-al masked parade gives a marked and peculiar character to our liuliday festivities. Let nut the distant reader judge of it by iis uiieuphonious title. Our gay hearted neighbors may celebrrte ilieir spirited carnival un mardt grag, but they lack oiganixatiui , we think, to compete with our Cowliellious. W hile each in ntipier follows the bent of his fancy, the legs of tlie gouty inny sport the party colured nether garments ol the imnlile hiirleqii'ii, while the anliquita-led jester, thinking only of times gone bye, makes hut u melHiichnly clown. Our Cumhelliori paiade on the contrary has even an individuality—a character, a purpose to which tbeir united energies are beat. Whether as a pack of cards, c« costume,—the mythology in marble—or the entire nations of the earth, all lend their oid to form one large idea—one large whole.The 14th annual parade on Tuesday last—the new year’s eve—represented the warriors of ull nations In six gioiipes—of some twelve to fifteen in each— fie society vividly illustrated the aimed men of the most prominent nations and dates from a half century before the Christian era, to this the nineteenth after it. To originate the idea and carry it out so thoroughly in all its must minute details, requires an amount of iniud and matter rarely to be met with in any society, much less in one that like the cactus flower, shows forth but one night in the whole year. Led by a lull bund, and at leaded by numerous loich bearers, lh« society made their usual paradu. visiting ilia theatre—die Waverly Hall (for a dance)— the Mansion House for a splendid lenst—the Armory where iheir masked bull was given—and ibe rosi-di-nce of Ins Honor the .Mayor, where, as usual, a hospitable supper awaited them. And like Cinderella’s finery, they vanished at midnight.The first group was “Greece, 347 H. C. and led hy Alexander of Maccdon, whose attendants, hi the full amis of Greeks, in their palmy days, Ibrm-d (in email) that veiitable phalanx so formidable while ilieir shields were home by freemen's arms.The second wm “The Ancient Britons, 65 I). C led by Carructacus, and costumed as when car-iied captives to Rome.Group tlnrd, “/tome 44 yean D. CV* “Imperial Caesar was no longer “dead Hal turned to clay,” but laurel crowned (in hide his baldness) and clod in regal toga, marched before a well armed cohort wuli donum blades and shields, that at a signal linked like a tortoise brck—so well costumed they needed not the “vedi, virti, vici, of their banner to date them from the seven hill'd city.The fourth was “Sy.i,, 1197 A. D. These mi-bin’d Saracens with “scic.lt;-iur on high,” settle armour, and gay scarfs, were -d by 8a lad in, the con-qucror of Jerusalem, and furrn-d a splendid object in this iiiilitary picture.Next came “America in 1494,* group of Indians in ihe time of Cortez, and lieadu| by ilie fated Montezuma—the last of the Inca* Lik* „|| about them, iheee too, were warriors—the biav»a of the aborigines, with Iheir bows and quivers, sw mgrly contrasting the weapons of allahout them.Last ol ull came “Napoleon,” heading his grew*, diers, the victors of Marengo Nothing could b» more perfect than ihis entire group—indeed we can-noMoo highly commend the taste and style that marked the whole of this most singular and unique parade.It is but to liear our testimony of upproval ofiInspirit that pervades the Cowbellion Society, that we thus repeat what nil observed, for scarcely a citizen can be found who did not witness what we can but feebly describe. Yet sharing the high intimation in which ihey are lipid bv nil, we heartily wish them many happy new years, ami each its niaiked and lieauiilul parade.
Newspaper Details
Mobile Register And Journal
Mobile, Alabama, US
Fri, Jan 03, 1845
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Tracy N.
USA 02 Jan 2025
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