The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 23

DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL NEWS EDITORIAL1 NEW YORK CITY. SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 13. 90S. THREE CENTS.

CONEY ISLAND'S MARDI GRAS, BEGINNING TO-MORROW, TO ECLIPSE CARNIVALS OF OTHER YEARS In every detail the Leading Retail Establishment of Brooklya THE BROOKLYN EAGLE OFFICERS OF MARDI GRAS ASSOCIATION. September GONEY ISLAND, the playground of the masses, the place of frolic, Is dressed In her best to-day In preparation for the entertainment of half a million people 1 to-morrow, when the Fall Festival, Mardi Gras and Carnival fires the spark of public revelry and keeps It flaming for the rest of the week. was bro.ught by wise management to a pronounced success from every standpoint. Mardi Gras Conducted by Incorporated Association. Much credit is due to the promoters, but most of it must go to those business men who conduct permanent enterprises the backbone of the island's commerce.

To-day they are organized under the name of the Coney Island Kail Festival, Vlardi Gras and Carnival Association, an incorporated body. Its officers are: H. Granliorn. president; Alderman Lewis M. Potter, vice president; Ph.

Schweikert, secretary, and E. P. Clayton, treasurer. The executive committee consists of many men whose entire lives have been given up to the development of business at the Isle of Joy. They are: Sales Of Large mportance.

What experience, power to analyze the public mind and expenditure of money has been necessary to the success of the undertaking, can only be imagined by visiting the Isle of Joy and learning from observation what It means to manufacture the carnival spirit in the mind of half a million. Were this the first attempt to hold a Coney Island Mardi Gras, it would be watched with much Interest from the standpoint of amusement promotion, but the adtnowloilKed ability of Coney's showmen embodied itself In i ft rornier testlvals, which were wonuer- Reasoning On l( ruily successful, ami there is no rea Henry Grashorn, President. L. M. Potter, Vice President.

ed, will be driven. There will also be a number of equestriennes, as aides to Grand Marshal S. E. Jackman. The greatest enthusiasm is already being shown by the business Interests of the Island.

It Is predicted that the festival this year will eclipse anything of the kind ever held in this country. History of Coney Island's Carnivals. The conception of Coney's Mardi Gras was such that instant success was assured. Born of a calamity the destruction of the Coney Island Rescue Home by tire in 1902 the fete brought to its immediate support the financial and moral aid of nearly every person identified with the resort's business. It was an all-Coney enterprise.

Within forty-eight hours of the destruction of the home public spirit displaced commerce and the desire for personal gain, and FLOATS THAT WILL BE Ph. Schweickert, Secretary. E. P. Clayton, Treasurer.

sumed a new character, though the real purpose" sustained itself. Merchants, business men. amusement owners and every mother's son round the Mardi GraH to be a world-beater for trade purposes. The celebration of the summer of 190-1 was heM during a. chilly wave and It was anything but pleasant on Surf avenue, but there was a large crowd nevertheless.

It was also a success, though expensive. It attracted immense crowds of people who otherwise would not have visited the Island. Barkers did not have to bark to get the money, the music halls were filled, the carrousels whizzed for the public nickels and the familiar cry of "get 'em hot!" was not necessary to sell a frankfurter. It was a memorable event, but just so far as it eclipsed the first did the succeeding celebrations of 1906, 1906 and 1907 surpass, anything known In these parts as a Mardi Gras. The incentive of former festivals drew every business man into the spirit of the thing when the 1905 event was planned.

The result was a blaze of glory with half million people in unbounded revelry. Showers of confetti and the now objec- I "WW fi.Qfir son to anticipate that the exultant spirit then produced will not show Itself this year also. There will be no limit to the means of gayety. Good-nature, tantalizing and mirth-making capers will produce the fun, and there will be no restraint upon revelry so long as there are no improprieties or tendencies toward rowdyism. As in former years, the people are expected to throw aside dignity and join the carnival throng to do what the rest may do.

It will be a big plnytown nothing more, nothing less and any one who expects to be serious had better go out on the beach and watch the waves. Every suggestion that is apt to produce fun has been incorporated in the plans of the carnival and many sensations are promised. Thousands of dollars have been spent in extra illumination, decorative work and artistic effect. The business men have joined the movement heart and soul. Notwithstanding that Couey Island has not had as good a season as last year, owing to the financial depression, the Mardi Gras Association has received liberal contributions from the tradespeople of the island, and in consequence the committee has been able to spend money liberally to make the pageant as gorgeous and resplendent as any in the past.

It is a matter of tremendous Importance to tbes peophV principally because of the (act that without the Mardi Gras the lively season would close on Labor Day. The carnival keeps business booming a firil three weeks longer than at any other summer resort in the United States. For this reason the money supplied by the business men of the Island has been placed where it have the most inviting effect on the' public. 'Everything is in readiness for the festival. Excursion trains will run from nearby and distant cities, bring- ins thousands of visitors.

Extra serv- iice has been arranged by the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company and the Coney Island and Brooklyn Ilailroad. To handle the crowds there will be an extra detail of 400 policemen and scores of detectives. Firemen will safeguard property by special arrangements to have more than a hundred chemical extinguishers at different points in the crowded sections. To travel in comfort it will be necessary to start from Brooklyn as early as 6 o'clock and from other places at an hour correspondingly early. The parade will start at 7:30 and this will not leave much intervening time for the people to get their bearings when they reach the seaside resort.

In fact, the physical possibilities of- the transportation situation are such tlint the parade will have Kihv. Altheiiner. It. Arnhelter. A.

linstock, J. C. Ilradwell. H. A.

llnylnn. M. W. Haiim-r, J. I' fciK-lunil, I'.

V. It. jr. Clayton, E. P.

Clayton, V. F. Collins, 1'. DuLton, A. X.

I'Yltman, Cli.irles Keltman. Alfred. Fitzserald, C. J. UruHliorn, H.

Oallanller. F. P. (lanns, Tt. Goldberg.

M. OiiKjtenhelm. S. ItaKon, Claude. Henderson.

F. B. Johnson. William, Phllln. Ja'-kman.

S. E. Klster. F. W.

Ijtt, A. W. Knlm. Klnsila. E.

II. Lake. W. B. liiinily, K.

Lewis. Mclnch, William. Mol-pon. W. ,13.

Mcl'lcllun, F. B. Potter. Aid. M.

SeKall, I. Savarese, F. Stnneh, Stratton. Ed. Htulnmbord, C.

sr. Sutherland. K. F. Si hwelekert, 1'.

jr. Stildwell, J. A. R. Sehnlze, F.

Thompson, F. Thompson, A. Van Hllsklrk, R. Vnn Wlegen, F. W.

Vanderveer. Geo. W. Williamson, S. S.

Waeke, H. Zeller, F. This Year's Carnival to Be Greatest in the History of Coney. Inasmuch as the Mardi Gras means more business to every venture on the Island, the business men have contributed liberally to Its support and from present arrangements it is apparent that they have fully realized its advantages. PARADES.

The officers of the association feel confident that the carnival opening to-morrow will be tho most spectacular and dazzling pageant ever witnessed in this country, not excepting the big New Orleans Mardi Graa. Every suggestion which can by any means enliven tho spirit of the occasion onco It has been aroused received flue consideration from the committee and they will show tomorrow Just what it means to produce the blgnost carnival of the country an'd entertain the half a million people who are expected there. First of all there must be light and plenty of it. Electricity, therefore, was the first, difficulty confronting the committee. Tho problem of Illuminating the various floats representing progress nnd prosperity has been solver! by tho use of the trolley system, which will he the tlrat application of a trolley lighting scheme to a night street parade.

In past seasons, only a few of the floats were lighted by electricity, Storage batteries were used for the purpose. The effect was not as brilliant as planned and the floats that were not so equipped were dependent upon torches and tho street lights to Illuminate them. For this year's parade earn float will bo completely wired and tho floats will bo connected by wlro cables. Two trolleys connected with the first and last floats will run on an overhead wire which has been strung along Surf avenue over the entire route of the parade. This arrangement is made possible by the fact S.

E. Jackman, CJrniiU Marshall. businoss men recognized and strove lo preserve as the concluding gayety of each season. In this Mardi Gras, however, the rowdy element overstepped the limits of fun and innocent pranks. The lower East Side thugs found the Jubilee to be a pretty soft thing for criminal activity.

Pickpockets joined with loafers In the creation of violence. The harmless ticklers, which were the sensntion of former years, were placed -under the ban because the rowdies fastened pins and nails inside the feathers. The sale of dangerous confetti was unlimited and the net result of the Mardi Gras. from the standpoint of crowd handling, was a desperate attempt to do better last year. That an Improvement was made was apparent as soon as people reached the Island.

The police force was augmented by large squads of extra men. pickpockets were yanked in on sight, toughs suppressed and locked up, ticklers forbidden and rules against jostling were stNctly enforced. The effort of the police to permit public enjoyment of the carnival was duly recognized and a standard of orderly conduct was maintained throughout. The SEEN IN THE carnival for the balance of the period made a different Impression and brought out thousands of money spenders who would not otherwise mingle with disorderly mobs. Thus a new attitudo was takon toward the coming celebration.

People regard the Mardi Gras now as a boisterous but good-natured festival. The difficulties which resulted from immature development were overcome, and with a change of sentiment there was a growth of trade and a lark of illegitimate practices. What had formerly been an advertising Buccess and business loss Stubeubord. Chas, L. i'eltiuau.

William B. Lake, Chairman l-'inance Com. SK Some Sound The Question Vuy a IN LARGE MEASURE YOU MUST TAKE THE WORD of the Piano dealer as to the quality of the instrument he is trying to sell you. You can tell if you like the looks of the instrument. You can tell if you like its tone.

But unless you have more knowledge than most people, you cannot really tell whether the Piano is made of the best materials, made in the best way and likely to last a generation as a good Piano should. So it is very largely up to the confidence you have in your dealer. We believe that one of the big reasons for the fjreat growth of this Piano business is the fact that people know all about the Loeser Store in its daily service accorded to them, and that they believe that electric light wires will be strung across Surf avenue along the line of the parade to Illuminate the street and from them will be suspended, in the center, the feed wire for the trolleys. At first It was not thought feasible to employ the trolley system if poles were to be used, for tho reason that If the horseB drawing the first float swerved from the center of the street, the pole holding the trolley in place would become discomtftftPd and the entire parade would be plunged into comparaflve darkness. To obviate this possibility no poles will be employed and the trolleys will be weighted, so that they will run smoothly along the wire.

Equal attention has been paid to the Illumination of the principal streets. On Surf avenue Rosenberg Bailey have had a force of men stringing wires for electric lights diagonally from one side of tho to the other nnd each string crossed so that the effect will be like a series of letter Xs, one beside tho other, with the greatest amount of light in the center of the avenue. This firm has r. lso installed decorative systems at various points. Big Force of Police to Handle the Crowds.

Next In Importance tho committee considered the question of handling the crowds. They have been in constant touch with Police Captain Kelley and Inspectors Flood and O'Brien, and it may be said that the police authorities are willing to grant, as absolute requirements, any reasonable demand that may be mado for services. There has been tho utmost harmony between commltUe and police and all their agreements have teon given somi-offlclnl sanction by the commissioner. Tho department is anxious to permit the fullest enjoyment of tho situation nnd will distribute uniformed nnd plain clothes policemen nt frequent Intervals in the crowd- hundred men were tried out In Saenger-bund Hall on Wednesday, when Inspector Flood picked out the strong, active men for Coney Island work and sent the red faced corpulent bluecoats back to their districts. This process of elimination was continued during fne week until Inst night 4'lQ ablo men had boen selected to attend the seaside revelry and assist tho regular Coney Island platoons.

Commissioner Baker Is determined to have the most sensible men on tho force go down to Coney to-morrow. They will be the pick of tho forco and headquarters men are sure there will not be a repetition of former rowdyism. "It will bo one long. Joyous delirium," said an official yesterday. "Inspector Flood will send all the men necessary and with the proper regulations nnd rules everything snould run olf smoothly.

Police Edicts Against Rowdyism. Profiting by the experience of former years the police have decided upon a new Mardi Gras rodo tlint puts the penal book on the ancient shelf. Here's what cinnot he done: Pushing, squeezing, flirting, teasing, tickling. Jostling, wearing Louis Stauch. Frederick Luisdy.

I OPIQT OF THE: OfRN'VffL) of Where to Tiano whatever is sold here will Rive service and be fully up to every promise that is made for it. Also every instrument we have sold, whether Piano or Player-piano, has proved an advertisement for this branch of the business as friends of the owner have seen and heard it. As to the matter of price, it is with Pianos as with other thinjrs in the Store ONE PRICE to everybody and that the price plainly marked on the instrument. Naturally, we must make that price low, or we could not meet competition. And the.success of the business the fact that past months have shown a steady increase in sales instead of a decrease seems fair evidence that Loeser prices are the lowest.

Pianos from $275 to $1,200 Player-pianos from. to $900 Terms easy enough to suit your convenience and with no extra charpe beyond four per cent, simple interest on the deferred payments Fourth Floor. masks or using ticklers, throwing anything but round-cut. confetti from original packages or cutting up any one of a million pranks that must be passed upon by the uniformed men on the spot. And this applies to tho king of the Mardi Grai aB well ns to the humblest offender.

Another edict that. has been Issued is' against smashing hats. None at all must 1 be damaged on Monday, the, Borougn Hall bell tolls off September IB, on Tuesday morning, those who wear their straw bonnets may wish they hadn't. Nor Is this because the police have any particular Interest In the felt hat. Industry.

All tho rules are plainly posted fn conspicuous places. Huge red posters toll how to behave what you can do and what you can't. Look, listen, laugh and raise ructions, but don't Interfere with a stranger and you will be all right, was the advice of last year. And these conditions will be more vigorously imposed this year by the establishment of extra police telephones a short, distance npnrt. There will bo no need of argument.

Tho police will not. make a move until actlonr, Justify restraint. Then, In you go! And don't send for politicians. They may be submerged 1n the sea of confetti or flow of equally enticing waters. They won't do any good, either.

Experience last year shown) this to be true, for It's hard'r to get the Blbllial through the eye of the needle than an Innoieni man out of the clutches of the police on a Mardi Orns night. The Parade nnd the Floats. Everything is In readiness. The Mardi Gras will start with an outburst of enthusiasm almost before sunset. Tin horns, rattles, confetti nnd streamers will be a part of tho gayety.

The buildings along Surf avenue have boon decorated with colored elei-trle lights in subtle and Inviting contrast to the dazzling illumination of the streets. The festivities will commence with few deafening bombs from Pain at the formation of the parade. The signal there given will travel through the multitude by shotK and cheers until all Coney knows fin has commenced. Tho parade vill start promptly ea'h evening at 7:.10 o'clock, from Surf avenue and Ocean Parkway or Boulevnrd. The float thnt will lead the procnusiou will he that of the king nnd queen.

It Is an elaborate rococo garden, strewn with flowers and vines. Courtiers and ladles In waiting will he in attendance, upon their majesties. The king and queen wilt be seateii on a throne, rich In velvet an 1 gold lace, and covered by a golden canopy. The lighting of the throne will he brilliant. Hundreds of small eleetric.

bulhs will hang underneath the canopy nnd will festoon Its supports. Prisma will be Inserted In the woodwork and will be attached to ti-h inside of the canopy, resplendent in Its dazzling efToct. Thi1 one will be the most Imposing of all thj (loafs. Following the king and queen will enmi the Coney Jslnnd float, allegorical of tho Win. Johnson.

K. F. Sutherland. iut Lewis. Frank F.

Clayton, it started before the biggest part of the merchants and followers of the various avocations of summer thought only of the re-establishment nf Its valued institutions. Within fourteen days the Island offered moving evidence of its advocacy of the righteous and of Its civic pride, in a celebration which has since made the words Mardi Gras almost inseparable from the name Coney Island. The Cqney Island Business Men's Association, working hand and hand with a citizens committee and the directors of the city's leading amusement enterprises, promoted the celebration to a success which needs no emphasis. The work of the home was begun again and its originator, Mrs. William D.

Hughes, a probationary officer of the Coney Island police court, had the stamp of public appreciation placed upon her efforts. The first Mardi Gras was unique among civic celebrations. There was an exciting contest for the honors of carnival royalty and two of Coney's daughters Miss Ernestine Sutherland and Miss Liua Murphy were queens supreme. "Uncle Abe" Stllwell, the oldest settler of Coney, driving in an old-stvle farmer's wagon and rope harness-, floats representing amusement, civic and social development were features, not to mention the hundreds of incidental details contributing to the carnival idea. Regarded dispassionately, the celebration went down in old Coney's history as one of the first commendable events in Its career and the extent to which It was successful mav be Imagined from Its growth the following year.

Ita purpose having been accomplished, tho repetition in subsequent years as- rQK33iiC.tfNG.ffMQ QUEEN REPRESENTATIVE BUSINESS MEN OF CONEY ISLAND, crowd reaches the Island. There will be twelve floats in the principal section, of tire parade and they will pass In'the following order: Throne Float of the King and Queen. Coney Island Float. Spirit of the Carnival. Choice of Presidents.

Progress and Prosperity. From Candle to Electricity. From Telegraph to Wireless. From Horse-Car to Subway. From Cottage to Skyscraper.

From Clermont to Lusitania. From Oxcart to Automobile. Heroes of the Country. The second division of the parade will be confined to industrial floats, while the last section will be the one in which automobiles, gayly decorat- Boylan. I.

Segall. Jynes J. Byrne. F. W.

Kister. fCt ft ffF L.W fu J- xi tlonable tickler gave way to the former blowing of horns and swinging of rattlers. Women threw aside customary reserve, under the Impelling force of the revelry spirit. From a spectacular standpoint, It held the record. But, like former carnivals, it was entirely outdone In 190B.

This celebration became a combination of frivolity aud antics which kept everyone alert and most people guessing as to what would happen next. The spirit embodied in the festivities was the best portrayal of public effervescence, a quality which Coney's Lafayette L. Laog Joi. X. Veudig, Fred.

Thompson. Charles Helden. Vernon T. Bailey. F.

P. Gallagher. Joseph VIelkintl. Chas. Rosenberg.

George C. Tilyou. Philip Jolly. C. R.

Van Busklrk fTi John Kavackos. Fred Hendecsen. CeUlua. Alfred I'eltuiau..