As of today, there are five broad categories of IPAD Cases: shells, play-through cases, sleeves, flip-style cases, and bags—the latter including purses and murses. And there are four different types of film designed to protect the iPad’s screen from scratches, smudges, and other issues. Trust us when we say that we’re literally surrounded by them, as we’ve spent the last month evaluating dozens of different options from developers all over the world, and went through literally all of them in the process of finalizing this article. Our Complete Guide to iPad Cases and Protection is a fast-paced discussion of over 70 different options, quickly providing you with photographs, links to additional information, and the key differentiators that make individual cases and film protectors stand out.
Though we’re not issuing ratings for the time being, what you’ll find in the following six pages are clear opinions on which cases and screen protectors are the best and the worst in the bunch, as we’ve sorted each category individually to spotlight the factors that matter to us and you. Read on for all the details, and check our ever-growing IPad Accessories gallery as we continue to add new releases to the collection. We’re not huge fans of shell-style cases—add-on rear plates for iPads—because they tend to be just as expensive as full play-through cases while offering less protection. But there are some designs that are better than others. Here’s how the current some options rank on Online Marketplace.
1. Switch Easy Nude Arriving later than its rivals, Nude has the advantage of extra development time, which SwitchEasy obviously used to polish its shell to near-perfection. The speaker holes are precisely cut out, as is the microphone hole, and all of the other side controls and ports have U-shaped grooves that are tightly contoured to their exact measurements. If you’re planning to use only Apple headphones and Dock Connector cables, this’ll be no issue, but the accessory holes are going to be tight for larger options—Apple’s Camera Connection Kit just barely connects, without securing entirely. That’s the only major knock on this otherwise side, top, and bottom-protective design, which comes with a ton of pack-ins, including two separate video stands and screen film, and is available in a number of colors. A minor issue: the glossy finish shows scratches.
2. Incipio Feather As the first shell out of the gate, Feather has two advantages over some rivals: included screen protection and a variety of different color options. While the soft touch rubber finish is only so-so—it tends to show finger smudges easily, like the screen protector—and neither the top nor the bottom of the case have the sort of added protection found on SwitchEasy’s Nude, the sides of Feather are very protective by current shell standards, and the case’s wide open ports are more accessory-friendly than Nude. Go with this one if colors matter to you.
3. Macally Metropad, Metrocpad, Metrompad covers. These three Macally shells are almost as simple as can be except for differences in color and texture. They offer less side protection than Feather and Nude, merely gripping the iPad by its corners, and therefore are essentially just anti-scratch guards for the iPad’s back. None includes screen protection, making them a markedly weaker value for the dollar than the others, but the clear and black versions have stabilizing dimples to keep the iPad from rocking on a flat surface, and the chrome version is the only such shell of that color we’ve seen. Though it’s scratchable and quite possibly the most dangerous thing a person could attach to an iPad that’s going to be used in a car, it’s the only shell you’d want to have on a desert island, because the mirrored surface is huge enough to flag down passing planes. The black soft touch version shows fewer marks than Incipio’s same-colored Feather.
From fashionable to functional, with a few hopefully meeting in the middle, we’re sure you’ll find a ipad case that caters to your taste from our hand-picked selection on Online Marketplace. Have a browse Topons.
Source by http://blog.topons.com/index.php/2010/08/fashion-guide-to-ipad-cases/

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The storage, transport and, in particular, the display of door mats in retail outlets causes problems because of the bulk of the product and the fact that a typically sized doormat, for example, is far too large for standard size shelving, which creates problems in storage in warehouses and stores, and in retail outlets inevitably means that the mats have to be stacked on the floor and cannot be displayed adequately. It is known to roll up such mats but this is extremely inefficient and wasteful of shelf space particularly, since the product cannot be satisfactorily stacked on top of each other when they are rolled up, since inherently any such stable pile will be unstable. Again, the product cannot be satisfactorily displayed to the potential purchaser when rolled tip. These problems increase costs for storage and transportation and potentially reduce sales because of the difficulties in adequately displaying the product.

The present invention comprises a foldable planar doormat having at least two sections and a foldable hinge connecting the sections. In a preferred embodiment the door mats are made of a backing layer bonded to a matting layer. The foldable hinge is formed integrally in the backing layer. The sections can be folded along the hinge so that they lie on top of each other in an orderly stack. Other embodiments include three or more sections.

According to the present invention there is provided a foldable planar door mats having at least two sections, and a backing layer having formed integrally therewith a hinge extending across one dimension of the mat to enable at least a section of the mat to be folded over to lie flush with the surface of an adjacent section of the mat, wherein the hinge comprises a thin film hinge formed in said backing layer of the mat.

In another preferred embodiment, a further hinge is provided extending across a dimension of the covering normal to said one dimension, to enable the covering to be folded into a quarter of its open size.c

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A car mats manufacturer module includes a floor carpet with at least one depression, and at least one car mat configured and dimensioned to be seated into the depression. The thickness of the depression may be substantially equal to the thickness of the car mat. The depression may include at least one slot and the car mat may include at least one protrusion configured and dimensioned to be inserted into the slot. At least one hook may be provided on the car mat or the floor carpet, configured to secure the floor mat and the carpet together. The at least one slot may be two slots disposed along opposite edges of the depression. Each protrusion may be a plurality of co-linear protrusions disposed along a single edge of the car mat, and each slot may be a plurality of co-linear slots disposed along a single edge of the depression.

Generally, floor carpets are laid on the floors in the cars, and door mats are placed on the floor carpets. Various floor carpets and door mats with structures such that the car mats are prevented from being undesirably moved relative to the floor carpets have been proposed. For example, hooks are sometimes used to fasten the car mat to the floor carpet. However, the car mat protrudes from the upper surface of the floor carpet, which is not aesthetically pleasing. In addition, if the number of hooks for holding the car mat is insufficient, the car mat may undesirably move with respect to the floor carpet.

A car mat module includes a floor carpet with at least one depression, and at least one car mat configured and dimensioned to be seated into the depression. The thickness of the depression may be substantially equal to the thickness of the car mat. The depression may include at least one slot and the car mat may include at least one protrusion configured and dimensioned to be inserted into the slot. At least one hook may be provided on the car mat or the floor carpet, configured to secure the floor mat and the carpet together. The at least one slot may be two slots disposed along opposite edges of the depression. Each protrusion may be a plurality of co-linear protrusions disposed along a single edge of the car mats manufacturer, and each slot may be a plurality of co-linear slots disposed along a single edge of the depression.

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China Feather & Down Industrial Association to the Ministry of Agriculture, State Forestry Administration Advisory animal protection laws and regulations after being told that our country has set on the wildlife protection laws and regulations, but the protection of poultry have not yet been introduced.

2008 Swedish export companies in China down 22 million U.S. dollars of value, including all the feathers and feather products. China Feather & Down Industrial Association official said: “do good and not to, we only have respect for the European countries or regions of animal protection laws and consumer demand, against animal abuse, they are not to lose the market.”

According to customs statistics, in 2008 China’s 1322 exports to Europe down Down and Feather Company and its products, totaling 720 million U.S. dollars, accounting for the amount of Chinese exports down 37% of the industry. China Feather & Down Industrial Association, said the Secretary-General, Swedish television station TV-4 reported last year, “live pull cashmere” program, which has led the European market sales fell 30% cashmere.

CFNA feather and down products, Anhui Branch of the Secretary-General Yu-Xiang Li is currently down business research. Swedish television reported last year, this “living pull cashmere,” reported this year, “live pull down” has a different theme each year. Can not say that there are animal protection organization behind, but the emergency of international trade must give enterprises. China accounted for 70% market share in the international down, the other 30% in France, Hungary, Poland and other countries.

Addition to oil as raw material, can be mass-produced polyester cotton alternative to natural down. If a down jacket is a standard charge amount of 600 grams down, but high prices and some manufacturers down with down and polyester cotton on each half of the strategy of reducing costs.

This surface is an animal protectionist measures, but there is a trend in the limelight. According to the Chinese Embassy in Sweden Agency to provide business news, Sweden, February 8 broadcast television stations down enterprises in China “living pulling down” the report, the European Veterinary Association asked the European Commission decided that the import of animal products from outside the EU, must follow the same rules as the European Union, such as basic animal protection rules. One, a veterinarian in Sweden, said the proposal was approved by the European Union will decline if it means some do not meet the requirements of animal products.

It is reported that the European Commission at the meeting in a few weeks ago had also discussed how the rules of animal protection into trade issues.

Head of China Feather & Down Industrial Association, said: “This event becomes a reality, the EU market on the right to refuse business from China down and feather products, not alarmist.” Japan is also concerned about the “living pulling down” the progress of the event, as it’ll raise a similar “flag” can not now determine.

This can be seen as an international trend of trade protectionism. Hebei Group Co., Ltd. Xuewan Tao Chi Snow suggested the domestic industry associations and enterprises should tell the real European consumers, to restore the truth and help Chinese enterprises to export markets.

Jiangsu Kaiyuan Garment Co., Ltd., general manager of Animal Friends of Ni Jia-Ying deep feeling. Last year, the company’s apparel exports to the U.S. is a dog hair collar. Prior to departure of each shipment must have quarantine, commodity inspection department issued from non-infected areas, the report is not inhumane slaughter, a Road links down the company to endure exhaustion. A group of apparel to the two reports, etc., as long at the port, “lie down” for a week at sea. This is tantamount to increasing the enterprise explicit and implicit costs.

“International animal can rise to become a protectionist trade protectionism.” Nijing Li said the company was replaced with a synthetic simulation of hair dog hair collar. But the other side asked to provide a small logo to inform consumers. Do not look at the cost of a small sign a few cents, for export enterprises, their profit margins narrow, do not want to add any cost. “Now some of the orders are the least bit will fight.”

In China Feather & Down Industrial Association and the Down and Feather Section CFNA industry conference held jointly initiated a self-regulatory activities and implementation of non-credit guarantee system for live poultry products. March 13 afternoon, down to 61 enterprises in Hangzhou, Zhejiang signed a non-credit guarantee of live poultry products, raw material traceability system established to ensure the company’s products non-down products of live poultry. Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau

down side testing center director, said Taulli, from the testing point of view, can not be washed down after the identification process is a living pulling out or slaughtered by-products. China is the world’s largest producing and exporting country down, while quality is down the most unstable. “Living pull down” reports on China’s down industry is a profound lesson is how to adapt to international markets, respect for other countries (regions) law. Zhejiang down

chapter president of the Association for the military industry of China, said, “living pulling down” reports on companies to bring down the pain is temporary, but highly internationalized Chinese feather industry, its effect is long-term, warned companies, who violate “rules of the game” will be eliminated.

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Early life

Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich with three of his brothers(from left to right) : Alexander, Alexei, Vladimir and Tsarevich Nicholas

The Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich Romanov of Russia was born in Saint Petersburg on 14 January 1850 (4 January O.S.). He was the son of emperor Alexander II and empress Maria Alexandrovna. He was a younger brother of Grand Duchess Alexandra Alexandrovna, Tsarevich Nikolay Alexandrovich, Alexander III of Russia, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia and He was an older brother of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia and Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich.

Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich was destined for a naval career since his childhood. At the age of 7 he received the rank of midshipman. The next year Konstantin Nikolayevich Posyet was appointed as his tutor. While the winters were dedicated to theoretical studies, during the summers he trained on Russian warships of the Baltic fleet stationed in Saint Petersburg harbour. The training was rough, but gave him the possibility of getting used to various sailing ships:

in 1860 the yacht Shtandart on a cruise from Petergof to Livada [disambiguation needed]

in 18611863 the yacht Zabava under the flag of counter-admiral Posyet in the Gulf of Finland and Gulf of Bothnia,

in 1864 the frigate Svetlana in the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea

in 1866 the frigate Oslyabya during an extensive training cruise to the Azore Islands.

Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich in his youth

On 18 September 1866 Grand Duke Alexei was promoted lieutenant. He continued his navy career serving as officer aboard the frigate Alexander Nevski on a cruise in across the Mediterranean Sea to Pireaus, where he attended the wedding of his cousin Olga Konstantinovna.

In 1868 he went on a trip to southern Russia traveling by train from Saint Petersburg to Nikolaevsk [disambiguation needed], continuing by ship down the Volga to Astrakhan. He then boarded a military ship for a cruise on the Caspian Sea to Baku, [Petrovsk (now Makhachkala) and then to Iran. He then crossed the Caucasus and reached Poti where the Alexander Nevsky was moored. From there he sailed to Constantinople, Athens and the Azore Islands On the return voyage, on the frigate was involved in a shipwreck off the coast of Jutland during a storm on the North Sea. Though the ship was lost, the crew including Alexei Alexandrovitch was unhurt and could safely reach the shore.

In January 1870 Alexei Alexandrovich reached the age of majority according to Russian legislation. The event was marked by taking two oaths : the military one and the oath of allegiance of the Grand Dukes of the Russian Imperial House. In June 1870 Alexei Alexandrovich started the last part of his training. This included inland navigation on a cutter with a steam engine, on the route from Saint Petersburg to Arkhangelsk through the Mariinsk Canal system and the Northern Dvina River. After visiting the schools and industrial facilities of Arkhangelsk, he started his navigation training in arctic conditions, aboard the corvette Variag. His cruise took him to the Solovetsky Islands, continuing through the White Sea and Barents Sea to Novaya Zemlya. The route continued to Kola Bay and the city of Murmansk, the ports of northern Norway and Iceland. He returned to Cronstadt at the end of September.

Love affair with Alexandra Zhukovskaya

Alexandra Zhukovskaya

In 1869/1870, Alexei had an affair with Alexandra Zhukovskaya, daughter of poet Vasily Andreyevich Zhukovsky, who was eight years older than him. They were parents to a son, Alexei, born on 26 November 1871. Tsar Alexander II was strongly opposed to this relationship.

Some historians claim that they were morganatically married and that the marriage was annulled by the Russian Orthodox Church , because, according to the "Fundamental Laws of the Imperial House", this marriage was illegal. However, articles 183 and 188, which prohibited marriages without the consentment of the emperor, were included in the Fundamental Laws only by the 1887 revision under Tsar Alexander III. The rules valid in 1870 did not prohibit mornaganatic marriages, but simply excluded their offspring from the succession to the throne. There is no evidence either to the marriage or to the divorce. There is also no evidence that the Grand Duke even requested the permission to marry. As Alexandra Zhukovskaya, was not an aristocrat and, besides, the daughter of an illegitimate son of a Russian landowner and a Turkish slave, such a marriage would have been unthinkable.

Upset by his son's affair, Alexander II even refused to grant Alexandra Zhukovskaya a title, which would have officially recognized the Grand Duke's paternity, even if illegitimate. Other European courts also refused to grant her a title. As a solution of last resort, on 25 March 1875 Alexandra was able to secure the title of baroness Seggiano from the Republic of San Marino, with the right to transmit the title to her son Alexei and his firstborn male descendants. It was only in 1883, that Alexander III, the Grand Duke's elder brother, granted the baron Seggiano the title of count Belevsky, and in 1893 approved his coat of arms.

Tour of the United States

On board the frigate Svetlana

Voyage to the United States

After the official visit to Saint Petersburg of an American squadron under the command of Admiral David Farragut in 1867, a high level visit of the Russian Navy was envisaged by the Russian Government. After lengthy negotiations, it was decided that the Russian delegation would be headed by Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich. The official announcement of the visit was made on 29 June 1871 by Nikolay Karlovich Krabbe, Minister of the Imperial Russian Navy.

The Russian squadron, under the command of admiral Konstantin Nikolayevich Posyet on board the frigate Bogalye included the frigates Svetlana and The Admiral General, the corvette Ignatiev and the gunboat Abrek. The Grand Duke was serving as lieutenant aboard the Svetlana. Before reaching the United States, the Russian squadron was to be met by the frigate Vsadnik of the Russian Pacific Fleet. Though all ships were equipped with steam-engines, the squadron made the passage to America mainly under sail, so as to avoid making port on the route for coal supplies. Except for the Grand Duke personal staff, the crew included 200 officers and over 3000 sailors. The squadron set sail out of Kronstadt on 20 August 1871.

The squadron first stopped in Copenhagen, where the Grand Duke paid a visit to King Christian IX of Denmark. In the English Channel the Russians were met by a squadron of the Royal Navy and escorted to Plymouth, where the Grand Duke was met by the Duke of Edinburgh Alfred of Saxe-Coburg. A visit to Balmoral Castle had been scheduled, but had to be canceled because the Prince of Wales was very sick and Queen Victoria extremely concerned. The Russian squadron set sail from Plymouth on 26 September. and, on route to New York, stopped for a few days in Funchal, (Madeira Islands), leaving on 9 October.

The Russian squadron was met by an American squadron under the command of vice-admiral Stephen Clegg Rowan Port Admiral of New York hoisting his flag on the frigate Congress. Admiral Samuel Phillips Lee, commander of the North Atlantic Squadron attended on his own flagship, the Severn. The other ships of the squadron were the Iroquois and the Kansas, attended by several tugs.

A welcoming committee had been formed in New York, chaired by William Henry Aspinwall. Among the members of the committee were Moses H. Grinnell, general Irwin McDowell, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. rear-admiral S. W. Godon, John Taylor Johnston, Albert Bierstadt, Lloyd Aspinwall and others. After a short delay due to the weather, the Russian squadron anchored in New York harbor on 21 November 1871, where the Grand Duke was greeted by general John Adams Dix. A military parade took place in the city. The Grand Duke then attended a thanksgiving service at the Russian chapel.
Reception by President Grant

On 22 November, the Grand Duke left for Washington by special train, placed at his disposal by the New Jersey Railroad and Transportation Company. The train had three cars: the "Commissariat" having all the modern improvements of a hotel, comprising store-rooms and pantry, the "Ruby", dining room car to accommodate 28 persons, with kitchen, ice boxes, and a sort of wine cellar, and "The Kearsarge" used as sitting, sleeping and reading room.

On 23 November, the Grand Duke was received by president Ulysses S. Grant The president wife Julia Grant and his daughter Nellie Grant also attended. Most of the members of the cabinet were present at the meeting: Hamilton Fish United States Secretary of State, Columbus Delano United States Secretary of the Interior with his wife, Amos Tappan Akerman United States Attorney General with his wife, George S. Boutwell United States Secretary of the Treasury, George Maxwell Robeson United States Secretary of the Navy, general Frederick Tracy Dent (the president brother-in-law and military secretary), John Creswell Postmaster General of the United States as well as generals Horace Porter and Orville E. Babcock .

The Grand Duke arrived at 1 p.m. in company of minister Katakazi, admiral Posyet and other members of his suite. The president and the members of the cabinet received them in the Blue Room where the presentations were made. The president then escorted the Grand Duke to the Red Room where he was introduced to the ladies. The interview lasted only fifteen minutes, after which the Grand Duke left.

The visit to Washington was overshadowed by President Grant discontent caused by the Russian government refusal to recall Konstantin Katacazi, minister plenipotentiary of Russia to the United States. The entire visit in Washington lasted only one day. No formal entertainment was given in Washington to the Grand Duke, though for all other visits of members of royal families to the White House, formal dinners had been organized. Such dinners had taken place when President John Tyler received Franois d'Orlans, prince de Joinville, when Abraham Lincoln received Prince Napoleon Joseph Bonaparte and even when Ulysses Grant received Kamehameha V, king of the Sandwich Islands. The evening of the visit to the White House, the Grand Duke and his suite dined at the minister Katakazi residence, the only American official attending being general Porter. At his departure the Grand Duke was asked if he intended to return to Washington. Though he expressed his interest to return during a session of Congress, the uneasy diplomatic relations due to Minister Katakazi prevented this from happening. There had also been expectations that a military alliance treaty between the United States and Russia would be signed during the meeting; however this was not the case.

The next day, the Grand Duke left by train for Annapolis where he visited the Naval Academy, thereafter returning to New York.
Farragut in the shrouds of the Hartfort at the battle of Mobile Bayr>Print after the painting by William Page, presented to Grand Duke Alexei as a gift for Tsar Alexander II

The East Coast

In New York, the Grand Duke visited the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Fort Wadsworth and the fortifications on Governors Island. He also reviewed the Fire Department at Tompkins Square. A highlight was the trip by steamer on the Hudson for the visit of the United States Military Academy, West Point.

Several balls were organized in his honor, the most important being the grand balls at the Navy Yard and at the Academy of Music. Alexei also attended opera performances of Faust and Mignon at the Academy of Music. He also went on a shopping spree, stopping at the A.T. Stewart and Tiffany stores where he bought some jewellery and bronze statues.

On 2 December 1871, a ceremony took place at the National Academy of Design, where the Grand Duke was received by Samuel F. B. Morse, William Stoddard, William Page, Albert Bierstadt and several other artists. The painting Farragut in the shrouds of the Hartfort at the battle of Mobile Bay by William Page was handed over to Grand Duke Alexei as a gift of the citizens of New York for Tsar Alexander II. General John Adams Dix presented the picture and the accompanying scroll, with a brief address in which he expressed the hope that it would further cement the union that existed between the United States and Russia. The painting was placed on-board the Russian flag-ship for transportation to Russia.

On 3 December 1871, the Grand Duke Alexei left for Philadelphia where he was received by general George Meade and Admiral Turner. He visited Girard College, Baird Locomotive Works and the Navy Yard. He was particularly interested by the Methodist Fair at the Horticultural Hall, where the ladies presented him an Afghan Hound. .

From 7 December to 14 December, Grand Duke Alexei stopped in Boston, Massachusetts where he stayed at the Paul Revere House. The landau which president Lincoln rode during his visit to Boston, was prepared for the Grand Duke. He was officially welcomed at the City Hall and the State House. During his stay, the Grand Duke visited Harvard University and the suburb of Cambridge, Massachusetts as well as different public schools in the Boston area, being extensively briefed on the American education system. Other highlights of were the battlefield of Bunker Hill and the visit to the shipyards of Charlestown, Massachusetts.

The Grand Duke also attended a Music Festival where 1,200 school children composed the great choir. At the festival, a grand march of welcome, specially composed by Julius Eichberg and dedicated to is Imperial Highness, was presented

A ball in honor of the Grand Duke took place at the Boston Theatre. The audit of the expenses shows that the cost of ball was .678,58 (equivalent of 0.000 today), only .916,29 being covered by the sale of the tickets and other receipts
Detour to Canada

On 17 December, The Grand Duke left by train to Canada. He first stopped in Montreal, where he had breakfast with the mayor of the city, and then visited Lachine, Quebec He then passed through Ottawa and Toronto, finally reaching Clifton Hill (Niagara Falls) on 22 December 1871 by the Great Western Railway. On his way, the train stopped in Hamilton, Ontario where he received a telegram from Queen Victoria, notifying him that the Prince of Wales had recovered from his illness. From Clifton Hill the party left by sleighs for a visit to the Niagara Falls. After having dressed in oil-skinned suits for fishermen at sea, the party also went under the falls. The Grand Duke then crossed the Niagara River over new suspension bridge and then visited the United States part of the falls.

Newspaper caricature of the Grand Duke's buffalo hunt

Visit to the Midwest

On 23 December, Grand Duke Alexei left by train for Buffalo, New York, where he spent Christmas. On Christmas Day, he went to the opera to see the British Parepa-Rosa Opera Company. After the performance he sent soprano Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa a bracelet studded with turquoise and diamonds. On 26 December, the Grand Duke arrived in Cleveland where he visited the iron mills and other factories in Newburgh Heights, Ohio. He then reviewed the Cleveland Fire Department and visited the National Inventors Exhibition. He then stopped in Detroit on his way to Chicago, where he arrived on 30 December. The city was recovering from the great fire. Joseph Medwill, mayor of Chicago, had written to the Grand Duke:

"We have but little to exihibit but the ruins and dbris of a great and beautiful city and an undaunted people struggling with adversity to relieve their overwhelming misfortunes."

The Grand Duke visited the destroyed part of the city and was impressed by the rhythm of the reconstruction. He gave ,000 USD (equivalent to 0,000 today) in gold to the homeless people of Chicago, Illinois. As an irony, the same day Grand Duke Alexei arrived in Chicago, a special Grand Jury indicted thirteen members of the city Common Council [disambiguation needed] on charges of bribery. Grand Duke Alexei also visited the stockyards and a pork processing plant.

As the Tremont House Hotel had been burnt to the ground, the Grand Duke was accommodated in the New Tremont House which had opened on Michigan Avenue, where he was awarded the “Freedom of the City”. On New Year Day General Philip Sheridan initiated him into the American custom of making “New Year calls upon the ladies”. From 2 January to 4 January Grand Duke Alexei visited Milwaukee, Wisconsin and on 5 January he arrived in St. Louis, Missouri, where he stayed for over a week.

In St. Louis, Grand Duke Alexis attended a burlesque show Buebeard in which Lydia Thompson, a 36-year-old actress was singing a tune “If Ever I Cease to Love”. It is claimed that the Grand Duke was fascinated both by the actress and the song. Supposedly, she had also sung the number privately for the duke during a rendezvous. Lydia Thompson wasn’t the only woman to catch the duke’s eye; while in St. Louis, Alexei became particularly enamored of one of his dance partners, a lady called Sallie Shannon of Lawrence, Kansas.

Finally on 12 January he arrived in Omaha, Nebraska
The Great Royal Buffalo Hunt

Color print by Louis Maurer (1895)

Trip to the hunting grounds

Preparations for the hunt were extensive and had been carried out under the command of General Joel Palmer. Two companies of infantry in wagons, two companies of cavalry, the cavalry’s regimental band, outriders, night herders, couriers, cooks had been mobilized for the event.

The Grand Duke in the company of General Philip Sheridan, General Edward Ord, and General George Armstrong Custer, the latter having been selected to be Grand Marshall of the hunt, arrived at Fort McPherson on 13 January 1872, by a special train provided by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. They were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd, headed by William Frederick Cody (know as Buffalo Bill). After speeches, the Duke’s party set out for the hunting grounds.

The Duke and General Sheridan rode in an open carriage, drawn by four horses. William Frederick Cody escorted the party with five ambulances, a light wagon for luggage, three wagons of “champagne and royal spirits” and fifteen to twenty extra saddle horses. A relay of horses was set up at Medicine Creek, about half way to the camp, where the party stopped for lunch. The journey then continued to they called “Camp Alexis” on the Red Willow Creek. The 2d Cavalry band was in place and in tune; “Hail to the Chief” was played when the Grand Duke arrived. The entire trip covered about 50 miles and took approximately eight hours.

The camp consisted of two hospital tents (used as dining tent), ten wall tents and tents for servants and soldiers. Three wall tents were floored and the Grand Duke was carpeted with oriental rugs. Box stoves and Sibley stoves were provided for the tents.

Cody had discussed the hunt with Spotted Tail, chief of the Brul Lakota, who had agreed to meet the “great chief from across the water who was coming there to visit him.” About 600 warriors of different Sioux tribes, led by Spotted Tail, War Bonnet, Black Hat, Red Leaf, Whistler and Pawnee Killer, assembled to greet the grand duke at the hunting camp. They had been provided with ten thousand rations of flour, sugar, coffee, and 1,000 pounds of tobacco for their trouble – twenty-five wagon loads in all.

At the start of the party, Spotted Tail, dressed in a suit, which didn fit him, with an army belt upside down and an extremely awkward look was introduced to the Grand Duke. Then the Indian chief extended his hand, and greeted the Grand Duke with the customary “How.”

For the amusement of Alexei the Indians staged exercises of horsemanship, lance-throwing and bow-shooting. Then there was a sham fight, showing the Indian mode of warfare, closing up with a grand war dance. It was noticed that Grand Duke Alexei paid considerable attention to a good-looking Indian maiden. Concerned that his mother, Empress Maria Alexandrovna, might receive reports of his flirtations, he wrote her from St. Louis: “Regarding my success with American ladies about which so much is written in the newspapers, I can openly say, that this is complete nonsense. They looked on me from the beginning as they would look on a wild animal, as on a crocodile or other unusual beast.” .

However, a dispute broke out when general Custer, probably having drunk too much champagne, made crude overtures to Spotted Tail’s pretty 16-year-old daughter. Alexei was able to calm down the fight with gifts of red and green blankets, ivory-handled hunting knives and a large bag of silver dollars. A formal council took place in Sheridan tens and a peace pipe was passed around. Spotted Tail seized the chance to press his demand for the right to hunt freely south of the Platte River and for more than one store in which to trade.
Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich killing a buffalo with a pistol shot on 15 January 1872

The buffalo hunt

The big hunt took place on the Grand Duke 22nd birthday, 14 January 1872. For the hunt the Duke wore a jacket and trousers of heavy gray cloth, trimmed with green, the buttons bearing the Imperial Russian coat-of-arms. He wore his boots outside his trousers in the European way, which was unusual for his American hosts. Alexei carried a Russian hunting knife, and an American revolver, bearing the coats-of-arms of the United States and Russia on the handle, which he had recently received as a present. The hunting party approached buffalo herd several miles up the Red Willow Creek. The Grand Duke rode William Cody celebrated buffalo horse “Buckskin Joe”, which had been trained to ride at full gallop with a target so that the best shot could be made. As soon as a herd of buffalo was seen, some two miles away, Alexei wanted to make a charge but was restrained by William Cody. The party moved to the windward and gradually approached the herd. Within a hundred yards of the fleeing buffalo, the Grand Duke, not accustomed to shooting from a running horse, fired, but missed. Cody rode up close beside Alexei, handed him his own famed .48-caliber rifle, “Lucretia,” the one with which he claimed to have killed 4,200 buffalo and advised him not to fire until he was on the flank of the buffalo. When Alexei tried again, he brought down his game. The hide of the dead buffalo was carefully removed and dressed; the Grand Duke took it home as a souvenir of his hunt on the western plains. Twenty to thirty animals were killed on the first day of the hunt. The party returned early to camp, where there was a liberal supply of champagne and other beverages provided, and the evening was spent in frontier style.

The next morning Spotted Tail requested him to hunt by the side of Two Lance, chief of the Nakota Sioux tribe, so that he could see a demonstration of the Indian way of hunting. Coming up to a heard of buffalo, Two Lance demonstrated his skill by killing a large animal with one arrow which passed entirely through the body of the running buffalo. The arrow was preserved and given to Alexei. The Grand Duke killed two buffalo, one of them at 100 paces distance, with a pistol shot.

On the conclusion of the hunt, when returning to Fort McPherson, General Sheridan proposed that William Cody take the reins and show Alexei the old style of stage driving over the plains with the horses at full gallop. The heavy ambulance bounded over the rough prairie, while the occupants could hardly keep their seats. Grand Duke Alexei was pleased with his hunting trip. When he and Cody parted in Fort McPherson, he presented Cody with a fur coat and expensive cuff links.

Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich and General George Armstrong Custer in Topeka, at the end of the buffalo hunt

From there the train continued to Denver where the Grand Duke arrived on 17 January. While in Denver, he attended an honorary ball sponsored by the Pioneer Club and visited some mines. Alexei apparently loved the new sport he had just learned and hunted buffalo again near Colorado Springs, on his return trip from Denver through Kansas to St. Louis. However, the horses used to hunt in eastern Colorado were cavalry mounts and unaccustomed to buffalo; several hunters were injured during the resulting confusion. Alexei was unhurt and succeeded in killing as many as 25 buffalo. He even shot a few more from the train on its way across western Kansas toward Topeka, which was reached on 22 January. It is claimed that, by the time they reached St. Louis, the party’s supply of caviar and champagne had been exhausted.

General Custer became one of the Duke’s best friends. He accompanied the Duke and his entourage through Kansas, to St. Louis, New Orleans, and finally to Florida. They continued to correspond with one another up until Custer death.

In the United States, the hunt is remembered as “The Great Royal Buffalo Hunt”. Starting from the year 2000, the Hayes Center, Nebraska organizes each year the “Grand Duke Alexis Rendezvous” featuring a reenactment of the buffalo hunt.

Grand Duke Alexei received as a gift from chief Spotted Tail an Indian wigman and a bow and arrows. The Grand Duke took them back to St. Petersburg. At present they are kept at the museum in Tver. In memory of his adventures in the America, the Grand Duke organized every year a special entertainment. The actors arrived to a village of tents in old carriages drawn by heavy horses. On the palaces lake there were “Indian” pirogues. Men with sword and tomahawks danced with women dressed in long old skirts. The performance was supposed to give the attendance an image of the American Old West.

The southern states

While in St. Louis, the Grand Duke made a short visit to Cincinnati, Ohio on 26 January On 28 January he left by train for Louisville, Kentucky, where he visited the Mammoth Cave He continued his trip by steamer, arriving on 2 February 1872 in Memphis Tennessee aboard the Great Republic. After visiting the city he left on 8 February aboard the James Howard and after a stop in Vicksburg he finally arrived in New Orleans

Poster of the Rex parade of 1872

Visit to New Orleans

In New Orleans Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich attended the 1872 Mardi Gras celebrations, where he was guest of honor reviewing the inaugural Rex parade.

There are many legends related to the Grand Duke visit to New Orleans. Though it has been claimed that local business leaders had planned the first daytime parade to honor the Grand Duke, but this was not true. New Orleans was struggling to recover from the lingering effects of the civil war. At the same time, many city leaders saw the need to bring some order to the chaotic street parades of Mardi Gras day. They had planned the parade all along and took the opportunity to capitalize on the Grand Duke visit. A new krewe of prominent citizens was formed, calling itself the School of Design and its ruler was to be Rex (the organization is now known as the “Rex Organization”). The group of young men who founded the Rex Organization hoped not only to entertain the Grand Duke, but also to create a daytime parade that would be attractive and fun for the citizens of the city and their guests. They selected one of their members, Lewis J. Salomon, the organization fund-raiser to be the first Rex, King of Carnival. Before he could begin his reign, he had to borrow a crown, scepter, and costume from Lawrence Barrett, a distinguished Shakespearean actor who was performing Richard III at the Varieties Theater.

At the same time, Lydia Thompson tour had reached New Orleans and the Bluebeard burlesque was staged at the Academy of Music on St. Charles Avenue. Rumours of the courtship between the Grand Duke and the actress had reached New Orleans and were amplified mainly to ensure a full house. The Duke had already seen the performance and was a no-show, hanging out at the Jockey Club. Besides, the Grand Duke preferences had shifted and he was captivated by the diminutive actress Lotta Crabtree who had one of the main roles in the play The Little Detective. Though the encounter was brief, Alexis sent her a bracelet of diamonds, opals and pearls in Memphis, her next stop after New Orleans.

The Duke however attended the Rex parade. According to legend, the song “If Ever I Cease to Love”, was chosen as anthem of the Rex parade, because it was claimed to be the Duke favorite tune. Actually, the silly song had been written by George Leybourne and published in London in 1871. The song was popular in New Orleans long before the first Rex parade in 1872. the local adaptation of the lyrics was likely done local journalist E.C. Hancock whose newspaper had already published a spoof of the song in 1871. The lyrics of the song were adapted to the occasion and changed to:

“May the Grand Duke Alexis

Ride a buffalo in Texas

If Ever I Cease to Love”

The Grand Duke never rode a buffalo in Texas, but Nebraska doesn rhyme with Alexis.

It is also claimed that the Grand Duke was also given the honour of selecting the official colours for Mardi Gras, and using the heraldic traditions, selected purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power. The claim that these were the colors of the Romanov family is however incorrect.

The parade which the Grand Duke attended, bears little resemblance to present day parades. Rex rode a horse, not a float and the parade that followed was made up largely of the informal maskers and marchers. There were however bands who stopped and played the Russian national anthem in honor of the Grand Duke. But many traditions such as the selection of Rex, the King of the Parade, the Rex anthem, the parade colors date back to the Grand Duke visit.
The Russian fleet set sail from Pensacola, Florida of 22 February 1872. It is claimed that hundreds of pounds of iced buffalo meat were carefully stowed aboard.

While Libbie Custer, general Custer’s wife, believed the grand duke was more interested in “pretty girls and music” than the country he was passing through, Alexei did spend most of his time trying to get an understanding of the country.

Good Will Mission to Japan

The voyage to the Far East

On its way home the Russian squadron first stopped in Havana, Cuba, which it reached on 29 February. At that time, Cuba was still a Spanish colony and in the middle of the Ten Years’ War against the insurgents, who had attempted to declare the island independence. Though fighting was still going on the western part of the island against the rebels under the command of Carlos Manuel de Cspedes , the hostilities did not prevent governor Blas Villate, count of Valmaceda to receive the Grand Duke with full honors. During his stay in Havana, balls were organized every evening. Alexei also attended the operas Crispino e la Comare and Martha at the Great Theatre of Havana where, at the beginning of the play, the opera choir sang the Russian national anthem. The Grand Duke also visited the works of the Canal de Vento (now called Acueducto de Albear) for the water supply of the city, saw a cock fight in the city of Marianao and a corrida in the “Plaza de Torros” of Havana. In the following days he also went to the Yumur River valley and to the city of Matanzas

The Russian squadron then stopped in Rio de Janeiro where it arrived on 3 June 1872. The Grand Duke entertained emperor Pedro II of Brazil and the imperial court aboard the Svetlana. The Braziliam emperor awarded him the Imperial Order of Dom Pedro I. The Grand Duke looked slightly disappointed and said that he had hoped for the Imperial Order of the Rose, a lower order, because he had never seen a more beautiful order. Pedro II graciously awarded him both orders. Thereafter, he spent several days in Brazil, leaving on 9 June.

Sailing to the Far East, the squadron stopped in Cape Town, Batavia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canton and Shanghai
Telegram sent by Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich to Tsar Alexander II confirming the visit of the Japanese Emperor

Tour of Japan

On 15 October 1872 the Russian squadron cast anchor in Nagasaki harbour, where he was greeted by the governor. The program of the Grand Duke included a ceremonial dinner in his honour, visits to the surrounding countryside and a tournament of 60 best wrestlers of Japan. On 22 October Alexei and his staff visited a little village Inasa where a Russian colony lived. The Russians delegation visited two hotels named “Kronstadt” and “Moscow” as well as the Russian cemetery.

The Russian squadron left Nagasaki on 24 October, the next port of call being Kobe, where the Grand Duke was again greeted by the provincial governor. The Russians were surprised by the jinrikshas which they saw for the first time. They used rickshaws for their trip to the Nunobeki water falls in the proximity of the city. Grand Duke Alexei also attended a performance at the local theatre in Kobe.

On 1 November the Russian squadron set sail for Yokohama. The Grand Duke was met by Prince Arisugawa Taruhito, the Daij daijin (Chancellor of the Realm) who escorted him to Edo Castle. At the castle Alexei met Soejima Taneomi Head of the Gaimush (Department of foreign affairs). who made the arrangements for the accommodation and the entertainment of the Russian delegation. On 5 November, the Grand Duke was officially received by Japanese Emperor Meiji.

Emperor Meiji, presented his portrait a gift for the Tsar, the first time ever a Japanese emperor portrait was given to a foreigner, and asked for a portrait of Alexander II in return. The Great Prince Alexeis promised to send the portrait as soon as he got back to St.-Petersburg, and, as soon as he came on-board the Svetlana, sent his own portrait to thank the Mikado. The exchange continued and, the next day, the Emperor sent over the portraits of his spouse and mother.

On 9 November, Alexei and the Mikado viewed the parade of the Japanese armed forces, and upon his return to the palace, he was introduced to the Empress Masako. After a few days, the Mikado at the invitation of the Grand Duke, the Mikado went to Yokohama to see the Russian squadron. Following the Grand Duke intervention, 34 Japanese Christians were pardoned by the Mikado and released.

On 26 November the Russian squadron set sail for Vladivostok reaching the base of the Russian Pacific Fleet on 5 December nearly a year and a half after it had left from Kronstadt. He then returned to St. Petersburg across Siberia
Palace of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich on the Moika Embankment of Saint Petersburg

Palace of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich

After his return from America, Grand Duke Alexei was concerned about an appropriate residence. He purchased an older building located at 122 Moika River Embankment in Saint Petersburg. The building was completely redesigned and rebuilt by architect Maximilian Messmacher having a total surface of 9,200 sq.m. It is considered one of the most interesting examples of Saint Petersburg eclectic architecture. The architect used a different style for each faade. The wrought iron and stone fence surrounding the palace and its gardens is also an interesting feature. The central gates are still ornamented with the Grand Duke monogram, the meaning of which was overlooked by the Soviet authorities. In 1910 part of the gardens were sold for the construction of a candy factory. Though the palace was declared a national landmark in 1968, it remained in disrepair for many years. At present, the palace is undergoing major restoration. It will be open in December 2008 as the House of Music.

Military career

Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich in the uniform of admiral general of Russia

In 1873, Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich was appointed head of the Imperial Naval Guards. He was also appointed member of the section for shipbuilding and naval artillery of the Russian Naval Technical Committee.

During the Russo-Turkish War (18771878) he was promoted commander of the Russian Naval Forces on the Danube. On 9 January 1878 he was distinguished with the Order of St. George Fourth Degree for “tireless and successful management of the naval forces and equipment on 14 June 1877 for the construction and maintenance of the pontoon bridges and crossings at Zimnicea, Pietroani and Nikopol and for the successful measures for protecting these crossing from destruction by enemy forces.”

In 1880 he was promoted general adjutant. In 1882 after the accession of Tsar Alexander III to the throne, Alexander III, Alexei was appointed head of the Naval Department, replacing Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaievich. In 1883 he was also appointed General Admiral of the Russian Imperial Fleet. Though his control over the day-to-day affairs of the military is limited, Alexei is involved in naval and military planning. His influence over the Tsar gives him a powerful say in strategic decision-making.

Besides being the head of Russia fleets, Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich was also in command of the naval cadet corps, the Moskow guard regiment, the 37-th Ekaterinburg infantry regiment, the 77-th Tenginsk infantry regiment, and the 17-th Eastern Siberian infantry regiment.

As commander in chief of the navy, the Grand Duke’s main concern was the constant modernization of the fleet, taking into account the rapid technological progress. During his tenure he ensured a five-fold increase of the navy’s budget. He was able to launch a series of pre-dreadnought battleships which were replacing the old ironclad ships. Thus he was instrumental in the equipment of the Russian navy with several battleships of various classes:

The Peresviet class, inspired by the British battleship HMS Centurion.

The Borodino class, based on a French design by the shipyards in La Seyne-sur-Mer

The Petropavlovsk class designed at Galerniy Yard, St. Petersburg,

The Navarin class, on the British Trafalgar class battleship

He also had older ironclads of the Imperator Aleksandr II class reconstructed by the Fench La Seyne yard. He also put new cruisers in service (among which the cruiser Aurora).

The Grand Duke was instrumental in the modernization of the Russian navy. reconstructed and developed of the military harbours of Sevastopol, Alexander III in Livada (now Liepja, Latvia) and Port Arthur, increased of the number of navy yards and extended the dry-docks in Kronstadt, Vladivostok and Sevastopol. He also reorganized the navy, defining the conditions for different naval qualifications, drafting of rules for rewarding long-time service of first and second rank ship captains, restructuring of the corps of mechanical engineers and naval engineers, increasing the number of officers and crew.

When tensions mounted in the Far East, Grand Duke Alexei ordered the transfer of additional ships to Port Arthur, including the battleship Petropavlovsk.

Russian academician and naval engineer Alexei Nikolaevich Krylov shows that, despite these achievements, there were severe drawbacks in the Grand Duke activity. There was no strategic planning and ships were not built based on their intended role within the fleet. There were too many ships of different types. Ships were designed mainly by copying the ones of foreign navies, and were therefore technologically 67 year old when they were launched. Their armour and equipment was often inadequate.

The Grand Duke seems to have become aware of some the these deficiencies. He decided to have more battleships of a single type and to have them designed abroad to meet the needs of the Russian navy. However, though the Grand Duke was an admirer of the British navy, the new battleships were conceived in France and had a poor design. The new Borodino class battleships had tumblehome hulls and were unstable, having a high center of gravity. The drawbacks proved to be fatal for the Russian navy.

At the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, in 1904 the Russian First Pacific Squadron was able to resist the Japanese attack during the Battle of the Yellow Sea. However, the squadron was destroyed during the battle for Port Arthur, and the Baltic Fleet, sent for reinforcement was completely defeated in the Battle of Tsushima. On 2 June 1905 O.S., Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovitch was relieved of his command and retired.

Life at the Russian court

Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich and the Duchess of Leuchtenberg

His critics talked of Alexei’ life as consisting of “fast women and slow ships,” referring to his womanizing and the defeat of the Russian navy by the Japanese. This statement is not justified, because, despite any drawbacks, his contribution to the modernization of the Russian Navy was outstanding. Away from his desk Alexei devoted his time to the good things of life. He entertained generously and collected fine silver and other works of art to adorn his palace. Sometimes he designed his own clothes. A womanizer, he spent his vacations in Paris or in Biarritz, each time in the company of a different lady.

Around the late 1880s he started a celebrated affair with the Duchess of Leuchtenberg, the morganatic wife of one of his cousins. Born Zinaida Skobelyeva, “Zina” was a strikingly beautiful woman who had married Eugeni of Leuchtenberg as his second wife in 1870. Alexander II made her Countess de Beauharnais and Alexander III raised her to Serene Highness and Duchess of Leuchtenberg. Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich was so besotted with her that he conducted an affair openly, under her husband’s roof and in his full knowledge. Eugeni Leuchtenberg drank away most of his fortune, and for years he and Zenaida lived off his cousin’s generosity. Even after his wife’s death in 1899 the Duke continued to live under Alexei’s roof.

Besides his military duties, Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich also was chairman of the Imperial Commission for the Promotion of Ballet.

In 1904, Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich was one of the godparents of Tsarevich Alexei, the other godparents being the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, King Christian IX of Denmark, Grand Duke Ernest Ludwig of Hesse, Crown Princess Victoria of Prussia, Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna, Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaievna. Besides, all soldiers serving in the military during the Russo-Japanese War were declared godfathers to Alexei.

Death

After the assassination of his brother Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich of Russia in February 1905 and his retirement in disgrace from the navy in June that same year, Alexei Alexandrovich spent most of his time in a Paris house which he had bought in 1897. At his house in Avenue Gabriel he kept open door for writers, painters, actors and especially actresses. He had always been less interested in the armed services than in art and fashion, and he had long since been recognized as a connoisseur of the social, artistic and literary life of Paris. His massive frame was a familiar sight at restaurants and theaters, particularly on first nights. His last public appearance, a week before his death, was at the dress rehearsal of a new play at the vaudeville. Decades of comfort and good living eventually took their toll on the Grand Duke’s health. He died of pneumonia in Paris on 27 November (14 November O.S.) 1908. His death was said to have devastated Tsar Nicholas II, his nephew, who reportedly claimed Alexei as his favourite uncle. In 2006 the diary of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich was found in the Russian National Library along with Yussupov funds. The journal, written in English, begins in 1862 and ends in 1907. It has not been published yet.

Popular culture

The Grand Duke’s western hunt is alluded to in the film version of Maverick, starring Mel Gibson. In the film, the Duke is hustled, after he has grown bored with hunting animals, into thinking he has killed a Native American.

He is also described by Boris Akunin in his novel “The coronation of the last Romanov” (, ) where he is presented as the character Georgi Aleksandrovich.

The 1973 Lucky Luke comic book Le Grand Duc features a Russian Grand Duke who visits the Wild West.

Notes

^ a b c d .. – - ( ) –
^ Jacques Ferrand – Descendances naturelles des souverains et Grand-Ducs de Russie de 1762 1910, Paris, 1995

^ Jacques Ferrand – Les familles comtales de lncien Empire de Russie, Paris, 1999

^ 1797 Fundamental laws of Emperor Paul I of Russia.
^ a b Stanislaw Dumin – Les Romanov et la rpublique de Saint-Marin

^ The Question settled. Confirmation of the Grand Duke visit to America New York Times, 30 June 1871
^ Grand Duke Alexis. His Departure For America In August The Fleet Fitting Out At Cronstadt The Probable Programme. The New York Times, 16 May 1871
^ Preparations for the American Tour of the Grand Duke. The New York Times, 19 June 1871
^ Grand Duke Alexis. Departure of His Imperial Highness from Cronstadt. He is in Command of a Royal Squadron. The New York Times, 21 August 1871
^ Imposing Reception of the Grand Duke Alexis at Plymouth. The English Fleet Tender Him an Imperial Salute. Festivities at the Royal Navy Club-House. The Duke of Edinburgh Receives His Royal Cousin. Preparations at London for the Duke’s Reception. The New York Times 18 September 1871
^ Departure of the Russian squadron for New York The New York Times, 27 September 1871
^ The Russian Reception. Alexis Not Yet Arrived. Dates from Madeira The New York Times, 29 October 1871
^ Official Reception of Prince Alexis Personals. The New York Times, 4 October 1871
^ The Coming Reception of the Grand Duke Alexis. – The New York Times, 27 April 1871
^ Honors To Alexis. A Cordial Welcome To The Russian Grand Duke. The New York Times 22 November 1971
^ On Board the Mary Powell. The Grand Duke’s Reception by the Committee The New York Times 21 November 1871

^ On the Mary Powell. The Grand Duke Reception The New York Times 22 November 1871
^ The Grand Duke. Departure from New-York for the National Capital. A Special Train at His Service Throughout the Visit. Enthusiastic Reception by the People of Baltimore. Safe Arrival of the Visitors in Washington. The New York Times 23 November 1871
^ a b White House – Royal And Titled Guests, 1908

^ The Grand Duke Pays His Respects to the President. – The New York Times, 24 November 1871
^ The City of Brooklyn.; The Grand Naval Ball. Honors to Grand Duke Alexis at the Brooklyn Navy-Yard The New York Times, 24 November 1871
^ Arrival In This City. The Grand Duke Reaches This City at the Appointed Hour Programme for the Coming Week. The New York Times, 25 November 1871
^ The Grand Duke Visits the Federal Military Fortifications. . The New York Times, 25 November 1871
^ A Quiet Sunday for the Grand Duke and His Party. The New York Times, 27 November 1871
^ The Grand Duke. His Movements Yesterday- The New York Times 28 November 1871
^ Prince Alexis. Yesterday’s Festivities in Honor of the Grand Duke. The New York Times, 29 November 1871
^ How Alexis Passed the Day A Shopping Excursion The New York Times, 30 November 1871
^ The Grand Duke’s Visit. A Trip to West Point The New York Times 2 December 1871

^ The Season of Opera The New York Times, 2 December 1871

^ Grand Duke Alexis. How He Passed His Time Yesterday And Last Evening. Presentation Of Admiral Farragut’s Picture The New York Times 3 December 1871
^ The Grand Duke: Reception at Philadelphia The New York Times, 5 December 1871
^ Return of the Grand Duke The New York Times, 6 December 1871

^ Duke Alexis in Boston The New York Times, December 9, 1871

^ Alexis Visits the Boston Public Schools He Asks for Statistics, Reports, and Rules and Regulations The New York Times 13 December 1871
^ The Russian Prince -How He Passed His Second Day in Boston. Particulars Concerning the Ball The New York Times, 10 December 1871
^ Expense of Boston Ball in Honor of the Grand Duke The New York Times, 20 December 1871
^ Telegraphic Brevities The New York Times, 15 December 1871

^ The Grand Duke. Breakfast with the Mayor of Montreal The New York Times, 16 December 1871
^ The Grand Duke. Breakfast with the Mayor of Montreal The New York Times, 16 decembrie 1871
^ Royal Party at the Falls of Niagara. Telegram from Queen Victoria The New York Times 25 December 1871
^ Reappearance of the Grand Duke Alexis from the Canadian Snows His Future Movements The New York Times, 23 December 1871
^ Westward Progress of the Grand Duke of Russia The New York Times, 27 December 1871
^ Chicago The Grand Duke and New Year Day The New York Times, 4 January 1872
^ About Carnival

^ a b c d Norman E. Saul – Concord and Conflict: The United States and Russia, 1867-1914. University of Kansas Press, 1996, ISBN 978-0700607549

^ The Grand Duke Alexis arrived at Omaha The New York Times, 13 January 1872
^ The Hunt of the Grand Duke Alexis

^ Buffalo Hunting by the Grand Duke The New York Times 14 January 1872

^ a b Jean Day – Buffalo Hunting – The Red Devils Chapter 29

^ Grand duke enjoyed Topeka visit – Topeka Capital-Journal, The, 21 May 2001
^ The Grand Duke Alexis

^ William F. Cody The Adventures of Buffalo Bill Cosimo Classics, 2005 ISBN978-1596056275

^ Andreas’ History of the State of Nebraska

^ Buffalo Hunt in Nebraska by the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia in 1872

^ When a Romanov came a huntin’ Grand Duke Alexis: Russian came to Kansas in 1872 to go after the buffalo – By Bill Blankenship
^ The Hunt fo the Grand Duke Alexis

^ a b Walt Sehnert – The Grand Duke Alexis – McCook Gazette, Monday, 31 December 2007
^ Grand Duke Alexis Rendezvous

^ a b c
^ The Grand Duke Alexis. Cincinnati Redeeming its Character for Courtesy. The New York Times. 29 January 1872
^ The Grand Duke going to Louisville, Ky The New York Times 28 January 1872
^ The Grand Duke Alexis. The New York Times 30 January 1872

^ Movements of the Grand Duke Alexis The New York Times. 2 February 1872
^ The Grand Duke Alexis was at Vicksburg yesterday The New York Times 11 February 1872
^ Arrival of the Grand Duke at the Crescent City. The New York Times 13 February 1872
^ Errol Laborde – Mardi Gras.- History 2: The First Bathurst

^ History of Mardi Gras in New Orleans
^ Ned Hmard – New Orleans Nostalgia “She Was Only the Stable Master Daughter”
^ Rex King of Carnival

^ Renee Kutcher – Krewes Mardi Gras at www.miniature.net

^ New Orleans Know-It-All

^ Discovery of the American West

^ Arrival of the Grand Duke Alexis in Havana The New York Times, 1 March 1872
^ Arrival of the Grand Duke and Suite at Havana State Dining. The New York Times 1 March 1872
^ Cuba: The Progress of the War – The New York Times, 3 March 1872

^ Alexis The Grand Duke in Havana-His Arrival and Reception The New York Times, 11 March 1872
^ Alexis.; The Grand Duke’s Sojourn In Havana–The Ball At The Palace–A Sunday Cock-Fight–A Trip To Matanzas–At The Theatre–A Festive Week. The Palace Ball. Trip To Matanzas. At The Theatre. A Bull-Fight. The Duke’s Departure. The New York Times, 15 March 1872
^ The Alexander Palace Time Machine

^ Brazil – The New York Times, 23 July 1872

^ Arrival of the Grand Duke Alexis at Cape Town. – The New York Times, 24 August 1872
^ South Africa: The Grand Duke Alexis’ Visit to Cape Town Ended – The New York Times, 6 September 1872
^ -Arrival of the Grand Duke Alexis at Hong Kong. -The New York Times, 18 September 1872
^ China: Movements of the Grand Duke Alexis. – The New York Times 13 October 1872
^ China: The Grand Duke Alexis -The New York Times, 16 November 1872

^ a b Imperial Russian State Council, 1902

^ Japan: Reception of the Grand Duke Alexis – The New York Times, 17 December 1872
^ .. –
^ a b
^ Palace of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich

^ Palace of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich

^ Pepsi Nunes The Evolution of the Imperial Russian Navy and the Grand Dukes 1850-1917 Atlantis Magazine, Vol.2, 2001 Nr3-4., Vol.3 2002, Nr.1

^ a b c Zeepvat, Romanov Autumn, p. 150

^ a b c d Zeepvat, Romanov Autumn, p. 151

^ Romanovs of Russia

^ a b Van der Kiste, The Romanovs 1818-1959, p. 179

^ Journal of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich

References

Chavchavadze, David. The Grand Dukes. Atlantic, 1989. ISBN 0938311115

Ferrand, Jacques, Descendances naturelles des souverains et grands-ducs de Russie, de 1762 1910 : rpertoire gnalogique,1995.

Nunes, Pepsi, The Evolution of the Imperial Russian Navy and the Grand Dukes 18501917. Atlantis Magazine, Vol.2, 2001 Nr34., Vol.3 2002, Nr.1

Van Der Kiste, John. The Romanovs 18181959. Sutton Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0-7509-2275-3.

Zeepvat, Charlotte. Romanov Autumn. Sutton Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-7509-2739-9

Ancestry

v  d  e

Ancestors of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16. Peter III of Russia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Paul I of Russia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17. Catherine II of Russia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Nicholas I of Russia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18. Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Wrttemberg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Sophie Dorothea of Wrttemburg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19. Friederike Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Alexander II of Russia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20. Frederick William II of Prussia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Frederick William III of Prussia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21. Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Charlotte of Prussia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22. Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23. Friederike Caroline Luise of Hesse-Darmstadt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24. Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12. Louis I, Grand Duke of Hesse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25. Karoline of Zweibrcken

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26. Georg Wilhelm of Hesse-Darmstadt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13. Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27. Luise of Leiningen-Heidesheim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Marie of Hesse and by Rhine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28. Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14. Charles Louis of Baden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29. Karoline Luise of Hesse-Darmstadt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Wilhelmine of Baden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30. Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15. Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31. Karoline of Zweibrcken

 

 

 

 

 

 

v  d  e

Grand Dukes of Russia

1st Generation

Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich  Alexander Petrovich  Paul Petrovitch  Peter Petrovich  Paul Petrovich  Peter Petrovich

2nd Generation

Peter II

3rd Generation

Peter III

4th Generation

Paul I

5th Generation

Alexander I  Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich  Nicholas I  Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich

6th Generation

Alexander II  Grand Duke Constantine Nicholaevich  Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaevich  Grand Duke Michael Nicholaevich

7th Generation

Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich  Alexander III  Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich  Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich  Grand Duke Nicholas Constantinovich  Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaevich  Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich  Grand Duke Constantine Constantinovich  Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich  Grand Duke Dimitri Constantinovich  Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich  Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich  Grand Duke Viacheslav Constantinovich  Grand Duke George Mikhailovich  Grand Duke Peter Nicholaevich  Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich  Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich  Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich
8th Generation

Nicholas II  Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich  Grand Duke George Alexandrovich  Grand Duke Alexander Vladimirovich  Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich  Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich  Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich  Grand Duke Andrew Vladimirovich  Grand Duke John Constantinovich*  Grand Duke Gabriel Constantinovich*  Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich

9th Generation

Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich  Grand Duke Vladimir Cyrillovich

10th Generation

Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich**

11th Generation

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich**

*born a Grand Duke, but stripped of his title by Alexander III’s ukase of 1886, limiting the style to only male-line grandsons of a tsar

**title granted by Grand Duke Vladimir Cyrillovich

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Categories: House of Holstein-Gottorp-Romanov | Imperial Russian Navy admirals | Members of the State Council of the Russian Empire | Russian royalty | Recipients of the Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russian) | 1850 births | 1908 deaths | Recipients of the Order of Saint George IV Class | Recipients of the Order of Saint Andrew the First-CalledHidden categories: Articles with links needing disambiguation

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The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team. The team is a part of Major League Baseball. They currently play in the Eastern Division of the American League.

The Orioles were established in 1894. They are one of the baseball franchises that have been around since near the beginning. They were actually part of the American League’s charter franchise program in 1901. The league decided to charter 8 franchises in including the Orioles. They did not start off playing in Baltimore however. In their first year they played as the “Milwaukee Brewers.” The team didn’t last long in Milwaukee.

After a short time the team moved on to St. Louis. The team was in St. Louis for 52 years before moving on. During their time in St. Louis they were known as the St. Louis Browns. The time in St. Louis wasn’t exactly a good time for the team formerly known as the Browns.

The Browns found very little success in that time. They managed to win just one AL pennant in those 52 years in St. Louis. That AL pennant came in 1944.

In 1954 the team moved on to Baltimore and was known as the Orioles. The success of the Orioles changed relatively quickly after their relocation.

The team began to be a serious contender in the late 1960′s. In 1966 they won their first pennant in Baltimore. It was nice to have this accomplishment, but they wanted more than just a pennant. That year they fought to the World Series and had a dream season. They managed to take home the World Series title. This was the first title in the history of the franchise. They weren’t done yet though.

The Orioles continued on success in the 60′s and won their first East Division title in 1969. That season the team went on to also win their second AL Pennant in Baltimore. The Orioles were really paving a pathway to success.

1970 brought more excitement than ever before. The team was led by several Hall-of-Fame players like Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson and Jim Palmer just like they had been in 1966. The team was hungry for another win and so was manager Earl Weaver. They fought hard and won their second consecutive East Division Title. They kept fighting through the playoffs and managed to win the pennant and eventually they took home the World Series Title for the 2nd time in 5 seasons.

The team is probably best known for players like Cal Ripken Jr. and Eddie Murray. These players were Hall-of-Fame players that made a real impact on the Orioles. Ripken Jr. Is known as one of the greatest shortstops of all time and even won a MVP award in 1991. This was an uncommon feat for a shortstop in those days. The duo of Ripken and Murray led the team to their final World Series title in 1983.

The Orioles have had successes since 1983, but they’ve never won the big game. They have recently hired Buck Showalter to try to turn things around on a team that’s struggled for years.

Technorati Tags: Baltimore, History, Orioles

In particular this invention relates to the heavy-duty molded door mats which have usually hitherto been made of rubber and which have the function of removing gross adherent mud or slush before the user enters a building.

It is known to provide for example molded rubber door mats which have a number of upstanding ridges or spikes. However, while such mats are to some extent effective they soon become dirty and clogged with mud.

A door mat formed as a molded expanse of resilient material, comprising a raised rim surrounding a portion of the mat, a plurality of upwardly extending flexible spikes located within the rim, whereby water can be held within the rim with said spikes extending above its effective surface in use, further upwardly extending flexible spikes located over part of the surface of the mat outside the rim for gross dirt removal and being less deformable then the flexible spikes within the rim, and one or more plain areas on which the user can stand with one foot so as to avoid permanently deforming the said further upwardly extending spikes.

While all of the upwardly extending flexible members can have the same profile, it is possible for those within the rim and protruding above the water level to be more deformable than those outside the rim since they are needed to cope with the remaining relatively smaller adherent patches of material and to deform down into the water in order to be washed clean. Car mats manufacturer can supply good door mat and car mat.

The flexible members can be ribs extending transversely to the direction of movement of the foot (and accordingly generally longitudinal, referred to the usual shape of door mats) or may be upwardly extending spikes or nodules.

www.magicdoormat.com Check out these Elegant Door Mats! They light up when you step on them so your dark front door can be lit up at your convenience! Get your very own here:
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The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team. The team is one of the oldest organizations in all of professional baseball. They played in the league called Major League Baseball.

The Braves began play in 1871. The organization was not always known as the Braves though. They were also not always in Atlanta.

The team began play in Boston, Massachusetts. The squad played by the name of the Boston Red Stockings. They played with that title from 1871 until 1876. The team changed its name when it entered the National League. When the team joined the National League in 1876 they began playing under the title of the Boston Red Caps. The team has undergone a series of names changes over the years. All of the name changes include the Red Stockings, Red Caps, Beaneaters, Doves, Rustlers, Brave and Bees.

The team spent nearly 80 years playing in Boston before moving on to Milwaukee.  They played in Milwaukee for 13 years before moving to Atlanta. The team has been playing in Atlanta since 1966 and has been known as the Atlanta Braves ever since.

Early on the team found a lot of success. In their second year they won the league that they were playing in which was known as the National Association. They won that league 4 years in a row before joining the National League.

Although the team has moved around a lot and changed names, they have always been a successful franchise. They started off by immediately finding success by winning the National League Pennant. The team won two pennants in the 1870s and has been winning them ever since. They have won the National League Pennant 17 times in their history. Many of those pennants came in the 1800s and the majority took place while they were in Boston. After moving to Milwaukee they did win the pennant a few times, but their stay in Milwaukee was relatively short.

The team has won three World Series Titles over the course of the franchise. They won in 1914, 1957 and 1995. In looking at those years you can see that the team has managed to win the World Series in every city that they have played in.

Many people look at the Braves today and see a team that they think has been successful for ages. It is true that the team has been a perennial contender since the 1990s. However, it was a long road for the Braves to travel to become such a solid contender after moving to Atlanta. The team went on a streak of more than 30 years without winning a pennant. Things turned around for the Braves in 1991.

The team turned things around in the 1990s by way of pitching. The team was led by a handful of top level pitchers in that decade. The most famous were Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. These pitchers were known for their ability to control the game and managed to give the Braves a rotation that would be dangerous to face.

The Braves have maintained that focus on pitching over the years and always seem to have a formidable rotation.

Technorati Tags: Atlanta, Braves, History

Overview of events

The Mobile Mardi Gras season starts in November with exclusive parties held by some secret mystic societies, then New Year’s Eve balls. It has become closely entwined with the social debutante season for certain families. Other mystic societies begin their events at Twelfth Night (January 6), with parades, balls (some of them masquerade balls), and king cake parties.

During the last two weeks before Mardi Gras, at least one major parade takes place each day in the city. The largest and most elaborate parades take place the last few days of the season. In the final week of Mardi Gras, many events large and small occur throughout Mobile and the surrounding communities (see event schedule).

The parades in Mobile are organized mainly by Carnival krewes or orders. Krewe float riders toss throws to the crowds. The most common throws are strings of colorful plastic beads, doubloons (aluminium or wooden dollar-sized coins usually impressed with a krewe logo), wrapped candy/snacks/MoonPies, decorated plastic throw cups, stuffed animals, and other small inexpensive toys. Major krewes follow the same parade schedule and route each year.

To Mobilians, “Mardi Gras” refers to the entire festival season, also known as Carnival. Local schools have multiple “Mardi Gras Holidays” (which can include Ash Wednesday), with the final Tuesday called “Fat Tuesday” or “Mardi Gras Day”. Mobile’s culture has become diverse, and the Mardi Gras season has been extended. The area’s traditions draw from all its history, including Spanish, British, African, Creole,American and even Swedish influences.

History

A type of Mardi Gras festival was brought to Mobile by the founding French Catholic settlers of French Louisiana, as the celebration of Mardi Gras was part of preparation for Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. The first record of the holiday being marked in America is on March 3, 1699, at a camp site along the Mississippi River delta. After the construction of Fort Louis de la Mobile (17001702), the settlers celebrated Mardi Gras in Mobile in 1703, beginning an annual tradition, only occasionally canceled because of war.

Mobile was the capital of La Louisiane in 1702, but became British in 1763. Mobile later became part of Spanish West Florida (17801812). The Carnivale (Carneval) began on Twelfth Night (January 6) with torch-lit processions.

Mardi Gras has evolved over centuries in the Mobile area, combining tradition and culture with new ideas. French Mardi Gras arrived in North America with the founding French settlers, the Le Moyne brothers, Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville: in the late 17th century, King Louis XIV sent the pair to defend France’s claim on the territory of La Louisiane, which included what are now the U.S. states of Alabama and Louisiana.

The two explorers, coming through Dauphin Island (Alabama), navigated the mouth of the Mississippi River (charted by Cavelier de La Salle, 1682), sailed upstream, and on March 3, 1699, celebrated, naming the spot Pointe du Mardi Gras (French: “Mardi Gras Point”) 60 miles downriver from the wilderness that would become New Orleans 20 years later. Meanwhile, between 17001702, the 21-year-old Bienville founded the settlement of Mobile (Alabama), as the first capital of French Louisiana, and in 1703, the American Mardi Gras tradition began with French annual celebrations in Mobile. The feasting and revelry on Mardi Gras in Mobile was called Boeuf Gras (Fatted Ox). The masked ball, Masque de la Mobile, began in 1704, and the first known parade was in 1711, when Mobile’s “Boeuf Gras Society” (“fat beef society”) paraded on Mardi Gras, with 16 men pushing a cart carrying a large papier-mch cow’s head.

Mobile shifted to Mississippi Territory in 1812, Alabama Territory in 1817, and Alabama state in 1819

By 1720, Biloxi became the second capital of Louisiana, and also celebrated French customs. Due to fear of tides and hurricanes, in 1723, the capital was moved to the inland port founded 1718 and called “Nouvelle-Orlans” (New Orleans). That city also started a Mardi Gras celebration.

In 1763, Mobile came under British control. Its restrictions on free blacks and racial segregation caused many Creoles to leave Mobile and move west towards New Orleans. In 1780, Spain took control of the Mobile area in the aftermath of the American Revolution. The Carnival celebration incorporated the Spanish custom of torch-lit parades on Twelfth Night (January 6, also known as Epiphany.) In 1813, Mobile became a United States city, included in the Mississippi Territory. In 1817 it was part of the Alabama Territory. In the Anglican and Episcopal traditions, the day before Ash Wednesday was celebrated as Shrove Tuesday, marked by consumption of rich foods before the fasting practices of Lent.

Cow bell (hung on collar) as in name: Cowbellion de Rakin Society

About 11 years after Alabama became a state (1819), a group of revelers, led by Michael Krafft, who was likely influenced by his Pennsylvania Swedish traditions of celebrating the New Year, stayed awake all New Year’s Eve, started a dawn parade on January 1, 1831, making noise with cowbells, hoes, and rakes. The group became the first parading mystic society (or “krewe”), calling themselves the Cowbellion de Rakin Society, in a parody of French. They had annual parades each New Year’s Eve. Nearly 125 years after Mobile’s first parade of 1711, the new mystic society from Mobile, the Cowbellion de Rakin Society (1830), took their parade into New Orleans, circa 1835. In 1838, people in New Orleans adopted the “European custom of celebrating the last day of the Carnival by a procession of masqued figures through the streets.”

In 1843, some men who had been refused membership by the Cowbellions, formed the Mobile “Strikers Independent Society” with their own New Year’s parade. However, other men from Mobile formed the New Orleans Cowbellions in 1850, and in 1857, that Cowbellion society, renamed the Mistick Krewe of Comus, held its first parade on Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The Boeuf Gras Society (17111861) held their last procession on Shrove Tuesday in 1861, before the American Civil War, and then dissolved.

Joe Cain as Slacabamorinico

In 1867, after the War Between the States, Joe Cain revived the parades in Mobile on Mardi Gras, riding in a decorated charcoal wagon, along with six fellow veterans. That event is celebrated annually with Joe Cain Day (since 1966) and a parade on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. The event’s founder, artist and historian Julian Lee “Judy” Rayford, portrayed the “Chief” and in 1970 handed the features to the third “Old Slac”, fireman J. B. “Red” Foster. Foster prtrayed the “Chief” until passing the features in 1985 to historian, public relations professional and pastor, Bennett Wayne Dean Sr. Dean, as Old Slac IV “hisself”, celebrated his 25th year under the feathers on Joe Cain Day in 2010.

War, economic, political, and weather conditions sometimes led to cancellation of some or all major parades, especially during the Civil War and World War II. The city has traditionally always observed some celebration of Mardi Gras.

Today, many mystic societies operate under a business structure; membership is basically open to anyone who pays dues to have a place on a parade float. In contrast, the traditional mystic societies were social clubs with secret membership lists. Divulging one’s membership in a society can be grounds for dismissal. Some of the newer mystic societies actively recruit prospective members. Some of the older societies have restricted membership, with waiting lists numbering in the hundreds; others restrict members to alumni of particular schools, or other conventions.

The oldest parading society in Mobile is the Order of Myths, founded in 1868. Its Emblem consists of Folly chasing Death around the broken pillar of life, a symbol of Mardi Gras in Mobile. Other notable mystic societies include Knights of Revelry with its Folly dancing on the rim of a huge Champagne Glass, Comic Cowboys, Infant Mystics, Mystics of Time, Crewe of Columbus, Mystic Stripers Society, Order of Inca and Conde Cavaliers. Ladies’ Societies include the Order of Polka Dots (OOP), oldest and largest of the Mobile ladies, the Maids of Mirth (MOMs), their friendly mystic rivals who hit the streets just one day following the OOP in 1950. Other women’s mystic societies who have made a name for themselves include the society with the grammatically incorrect name, Order of LaShe’s (sic.), Order of Athena which kicks off the parades on Mardi Gras Day and Neptune’s Daughters. Each of these societies have contributed something to the fabric of Mobile’s Mardi Gras tradition.

Traditional colors

Traditional colors, with metallic shine.

Meaning of Colors

 Justice (purple)

 Faith (green)

 Power (gold)

The traditional colors of Mardi Gras in Mobile are purple and gold. Purple has been related to royal monarchies in Europe, and is the liturgical color used during Lent in Christianity. Many people in Mobile have incorporated a third color of green, perhaps from New Orleans’ traditional colors of purple, green, and gold, from the Russian House of Romanov in 1872, when Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff Alexandrovitch, brother of the heir apparent to the throne of Russia, had accepted New Orlean’s invitation to attend Mardi Gras, with festivities in his honor.

After Hurricane Katrina

Mobile, Alabama: Downtown flood waters came several feet up the Federal Courthouse steps during Hurricane Katrina, 4 months before Mardi Gras 2006.

Like so much of the Gulf Coast, many parts of Mobile were flooded due to the intense storm surge caused by Hurricane Katrina in summer of 2005. Downtown Mobile was flooded several feet deep, including the downtown parade routes. Despite these difficulties, enough of the routes were cleared to continue Mardi Gras celebrations and Mobile had the largest Mardi Gras in its history following the storm. Mardi Gras in Mobile continues to be a popular local and tourist tradition with strong turn outs. The recent 2007 Mardi Gras season in Mobile was attended by nearly 0.9 million people, with police estimating the overall attendance at 878,000 and a crowd of 105,600 along the streets for the Fat Tuesday finale.

Contemporary Mardi Gras

Each year, the Mardi Gras (or Carnival) season starts with three major events: the November parties of the International Carnival Ball and the Camellia Ball, New Year’s Eve and January 6, also known as “Twelfth Night” or the Feast of the Epiphany. In Mobile, the parade season generally starts three weekends before Mardi Gras Day with the Conde Cavaliers parade.

Starting two Fridays before Mardi Gras, there is usually at least one parade every night. The Wednesday before Mardi Gras is reserved as a “rain out” day in case one or more of the earlier parades are affected by weather.

Mardi Gras in Mobile: the Order of Myths 2007 catepillar float.

The weekend before Mardi Gras

Multiple parades lead up to Mardi Gras day. On Sunday (before Fat Tuesday), Joe Cain Day celebrations are held. In recent years these have included a joggers run and the Joe Cain Procession, also known as the “People’s Parade”, as originally, joining the parade did not require membership in a mystic society. It is always led by Chief Slacabamorinico “hisself” personified today by only the fourth person in the city’s long-Carnival history to wear the features of the “Chief”. He is surrounded by the Mistresses of Joe Cain mourning in red and followed by Cain’s Merry Widows wailing in black.

Lundi Gras

The Monday before Ash Wednesday is known as “Lundi Gras” (“Fat Monday”), after the French tradition of eating good foods this day as well as Tuesday, in preparation for dietary restrictions during Lent. In Mobile, Lundi Gras is traditionally a family day. Schools are closed both Lundi and Mardi Gras. At noon, the Mobile Carnival Association’s Floral Parade is held, with area parochial and public schools providing floats and young riders. The Optimist Club hosts a family-oriented midway near Fort Conde, complete with carnival rides, food, games and activities. Lundi Gras is also a day for king cake parties and other family get-togethers in Mobile.

As a tradition, after other parades, the Infant Mystics society has held its parade annually after 6 p.m. on this Monday night in downtown Mobile.

Annual events are shown in the Lundi Gras event schedule of Mardi Gras 2009:

Events on Monday, February 23 (2009):

11:00 am Arrival of King Felix III (name of Mobile’s carnival king) on Government St.

12:00 Noon Felix III Parade and Floral Parade

3:00 pm MLK Business and Civic Organization Parade (rolls on Route D)

3:30 pm MLK Monday Mystics Parade (rolls on Route D)

4:00 pm Northside Merchants Parade (rolls on Route D)

6:30 pm Infant Mystics Parade

Mardi Gras Day

Celebrations begin early on Mardi Gras day. Downtown, the long parade organized by the Order of Athena rolls first, followed by the Comic Cowboys, founded in 1884. The evening ends with a spectacular night parade of illuminated floats decorated to a theme chosen by the Order of Myths. Each parade follows a defined route so that viewers can plan attendance along particular streets or balconies.

Order of Myths 2007 parade, emblem float

Some parades are long and circular so that viewers can walk to a second viewing spot and catch more throws, as the floats circle back. It allows more time to see performances as well.

The Fat Tuesday event schedule for Mardi Gras 2009 is as follows:

Events on Tuesday, February 24, 2009:

FAT TUESDAY! (always the day before Ash Wednesday)

10:30 am Order of Athena Parade

12:30 pm Knights of Revelry Parade

1:00 pm King Felix III Parade

1:30 pm Comic Cowboys Parade

2:00 pm Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association (rolls on Route B)

6:30 pm Order of Myths Parade (rolls on Route C)

Numerous smaller parades and walking clubs also parade around the city.

The end of Mardi Gras

Promptly at the stroke of midnight at the end of Fat Tuesday, all festivities related to Mardi Gras cease, as it is the start of Lent. The city quickly cleans the streets for the next day. Local traditions frown on wearing Mardi Gras beads during Lent. Both Catholics and other Christians often observe Lenten rituals, such as giving up certain foods or taking on charitable obligations during the season of repentance.

Costumes and masks

OOM catepillar float.

Folly: Order of Myths 2007

On the days before Fat Tuesday (other than at parties), people who do not belong to a mystic society seldom wear costumes and masks publicly. Sometimes the general public may wear costumes or masks on Mardi Gras Day. Most people simply dress to be attractive, enjoying the open air and the chance to socialize with other people.

Mystic society members wear elaborate costumes that reflect the theme of their parade, ball or float. Costumes include custom-made hats or feather headdresses, though some societies do not require this. Most of the traditional krewes require riders to wear a mask that is sufficient to conceal the rider’s identity. Excessive cutting of the mask or removing the mask at anytime during the parade is grounds for dismissal from some societies. Some mystic societies also require that members wear masks during the society’s ball (typically held the same night of its parade).

Since 1957, the general public has been allowed to wear masks only on Mardi Gras day from 9am – 9pm, or if they are members of mystic societies. The restriction related to problems with masked bandits and also associations with the damage done by the Ku Klux Klan. (See below: Legal restrictions.)

Mardi Gras mask

Commercialization

There is virtually no commercial advertising during the Mobile parades, as it was prohibited by law in 1935. The various floats in a parade have been designed as independent creations, although some mystic societies have entertained the idea of corporate sponsors.

Floats

Mardi Gras in Mobile: the Order of Myths 2007 catepillar float

Order of Myths, 2007: Folly chasing Death

The design, construction and decoration of Mardi Gras floats is a year-round business in Mobile. Several companies along the Gulf Coast do no other work than building floats. The larger floats in Mobile’s parades are designed to hold about 15 or 16 adult men and their throws. City regulations stipulate length, width and height of floats, to ensure that the floats can safely navigate the narrow streets and tight turns of Downtown Mobile.

The floats are typically multi-level, with a lower level, an upper level, and one or two mezzanine stations (typically near the back of the float). The Float “captain” typically rides on the upper level, which lets him or her see everyone on the float. For floats in night-time parades, the structures are wired for lighting, and a portable generator is towed behind the float to provide power. Each float also contains some type of portable restroom facilities. Although from the street, a Mardi Gras float might look like a dainty, flimsy contraption, the reality is that they are quite sturdily built and are capable of withstanding a good rocking by the riders.

Some of Mobile’s most famous floats include:

Order of Myths Emblem: Folly chasing Death around the broken pillar of life (see image).

Infant Mystics’ black, hissing cat, humping his back atop a cotton bale.

Knights of Revelry Emblem: Folly dancing in the goblet of life.

Infant Mystics Emblem: A black cat atop a cotton bale (the pillar of Mobile’s antebellum wealth)

Mystics of Time’s Vernadean, Verna & Dean: Giant, rolling fire and smoke-breathing dragon floats

Mystic Stripers Society’s two large 40-foot long emblem floats, one a ferocious and “strong” Tiger, the another a sleek and “fast” Zebra.

Crewe of Columbus’ Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria: Three floats built to resemble Columbus’ famed ships.

Order of Polka Dots’ famed emblem featuring three winged sons of Pegasus bearing the Golden Chariot of the Gypsy Queen through rainbow enveloped clouds

Order of Inca Messengers and Sun Worshippers: Some of Mobile’s largest moving structures.

Conde Cavaliers Emblem: Swashbuckler points his sword right at Mobile.

The throws

Tossing throw beads as gifts

For many of the Mardi Gras parades in Mobile, members of societies on floats toss gifts to the general public, as so-called throws, including plastic beads, doubloon coins, decorated plastic cups, candy, wrapped cakes/snacks, stuffed animals, and small toys, footballs, frisbees, or whistles.

Mardi Gras throws have themselves evolved over the years. As little as 20 years ago, the beads thrown by Mobile maskers were small, cheap plastic pieces, and few maskers gave much thought to them. Today, the beads can be the most expensive items on a masker’s throw list. In 1956, the first Moon Pies were thrown by children on the Queen’s float in the Comic Cowboys parade. Moon Pies have since become a staple of Mardi Gras in Mobile. Other items that have come and gone through Mobile’s Mardi Gras history include Cracker Jacks (outlawed in 1972), confetti and unbagged candy. Maskers throwing candy today typically throw small bags of bubble gum, kisses and other sweet treats. A recent fad, attributed to members of the Order of Inca, has been to throw Ramen Noodle packs to crowds. The noodle packs are easy to throw, and cost about the same or less than Moon Pies.

Beads

Plastic beads with metallic finish

Mystic society members have thrown inexpensive strings of beads from floats to parade-goers since at least the late 19th century. Until the 1960s, the most common forms were custom-colored necklaces of smaller glass beads made in Czechoslovakia. These were replaced by inexpensive, durable, standardized plastic beads, first from Hong Kong, then from Taiwan, and more recently from China. Lower-cost beads allow riders to purchase greater quantities, hence throws have become more numerous and common. However, the mass-produced items have limited variety, and many bead necklaces are of one single color, bagged in bulk from the factory. This might lead to multiple necklaces of the same color being thrown at the same time, rather than a multi-color variety.

In the 1990s, many people lost interest in small, common beads, often leaving them where they had landed on the ground. Larger, more elaborate, multi-colored bead necklaces and strands with figures of animals, people, or other objects have become the sought-after throws. Nevertheless, citing the increasing cost of throws, maskers continue to buy and throw the smaller diameter beads to the masses and save the more expensive, elaborate creations for friends along the route.

Doubloons

One of the many Mardi Gras throws, doubloons are large coins, either plastic or metal, that are usually in the Mardi Gras colors. These coins portray the mystic society’s emblem, name, and founding date on one side, and the theme and year of the parade and ball on the other side. The Infant Mystics were the first Mobile mystic to toss doubloons in the mid-1960s.

Mardi Gras doubloons are round like old Spanish doubloons (pictured)

The doubloons thrown during the parade are inexpensive, stamped anodized aluminum. However, a thriving cottage industry has developed for the production and collection of limited edition doubloons. As a means of fundraising, many societies now offer limited edition doubloons struck from bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Other offerings include cloisonn and hand-painted varieties. Rather than being stamped, these pieces are struck like legal tender coins. The Resurrected Cowbellion de Rakin Society struck what has become the most unusual coins in Mobile Carnival history – the Belldallion – doubloons struck in the shape of a cowbell.

Plastic cups

In recent years, plastic cups have been thrown. The Order of Inca was the first krewe to throw plastic cups emblazoned with their emblem and the theme of the parade and ball. Now, every mystic society in the city throws themed cups from their floats. Also thrown are generic Mardi Gras cups, often with the dates of future Mardi Gras seasons printed on them.

Snacks

The snacks are typically wrapped, individual portions of food, such as a brownie cookie, snack cake, bag of peanuts, or a Moon Pie, a chocolate, banana, or orange frosted marshmallow cake. The tossed snacks have also included various bags of pork rinds crackers. Other snacks include Ramen Noodles (a recent trend), dried fruits and whole bags of candy and gum.

Toys/frisbees/footballs

A large variety of soft plastic toys have become throws, such as hollow plastic water pistols, or ribbed tube-straw whistles. The plastic toy Frisbees are typically small-sized frisbees, with the round disc less than 8 inches (41 cm) in diameter. Small footballs of soft plastic, or foam rubber, have been thrown from floats, often aimed to spin when thrown like a full-sized football. Many of these are emblazoned with the Society’s emblem or initials.

Prohibited throws

A number of objects are prohibited as parade throws in Mobile, based on safety or sexual restrictions, as defined in Section 49 of the Mobile City Code (from 10 February 2004):

“It shall be unlawful for any person to throw the following items from Mardi Gras floats or during Mardi Gras parades: Rubber balls, hard balls such as baseballs, wooden handled objects, condoms or similar items, dolls of any construction with explicit sexual organs, candy apples, ice cream or food products requiring freezing or refrigeration, any food stuff in cans, whole boxes of any food, trinkets, etc. All Moon Pies, trinkets and other throws shall be thrown individually or in small numbers.”

All boxes are prohibited as throws (also since February 2004), including “crushed or empty” boxes.

King Cake: coffee cake, re-frosted with dyed sugar.

Other Mardi Gras traditions

The King cake

The first week of January starts the King Cake season. The traditional King Cake was associated with Epiphany, January 6, also known as Twelfth Night, when English and Europeans celebrated Christmas for twelve days up to this night. The current version is a coffee cake, and is oblong and braided. The cake is iced with a simple icing and covered with purple, green and gold sugar. Each cake contains a hidden one-inch baby doll. According to custom, whoever finds the doll must either buy the next King Cake or throw the next King Cake party. In Mobile, people throw hundreds of King Cake parties every year, and thousands of cakes are made, bought and eaten.

Flame torches: 2007 OOM parade

Flambeaux carriers

The flambeaux (flame-torch) was originally a beacon for parade-goers to better enjoy the spectacle of night festivities. In Mobile, night parades were formerly cross-lit by torches topped by signal flares (as might be placed in the street at a night traffic wreck).

By the end of the 20th century, most burning flares were replaced by generator-powered electric lights on the floats. The Order of Myths parade (at night on the final Tuesday) still uses people carrying flambeaux.

Mardi Gras icons

Several common images or phrases appear during the Mardi Gras season:

Traditional colors: purple/green/gold.

Mobile flag.

official Mardi Gras flags: flags with a special emblem in Mardi Gras colors;

signs or items using traditional colors: purple, green, and gold;

the faces of Comedy and Tragedy: the smiling and frowning theater faces;

feathered masks: with fluffy feathers attached at the edges;

Fleur de Lis: the French symbol from the time Mobile was the capital of the French colony;

“Let the good times roll!” (French: Laissez les bons temps rouler!);

“Throw me something, Mister!”: shouted by a parade viewer.

the Moon Pie chant, heard along the parade routes as crowds chant “Moon Pie! Moon Pie!”

Mystic societies

Main article: Mystic society

A type of mystic society began in Mobile in 1704, with the Societ de Saint Louise founded by French soldiers at Fort St. Louis de la Mobile. The annual Masque de la Mobile was started in the same year. In 1830, a group celebrating with an early morning parade, later became the Cowbellion de Rakin Society as the first parade krewe, with annual organized parades, rather than just spontaneous processions, as had been the custom. The Cowbellions dissolved in 1912, but saw a revival of sorts in 1990 as the Resurrected Cowbellion de Rakin Society although it claimed no direct connection with its great-greatgranddaddy.

Dozens of mystic societies have come and gone over the past three centuries in Mobile. Membership has been formed by affiliated groups such as co-workers, bachelors, women, blacks, black women, Jews, married women, married couples, or open membership, including visitors.

There are more than 40 mystic societies in Mobile. Because many are run as secret societies, their impact on Mobile politics, business affairs, and Carnival activities is difficult to determine, but they have been another avenue of social and political influence. Current notable mystic societies are listed in parade and event schedules, described below (see: Recent mystic parades and events).

Development of mystic societies

Carnival celebrations in Mobile, of which Mardi Gras Day is the final day, begin in November and end promptly at the stroke of midnight of Mardi Gras Day, with the beginning of Lent. Society balls are held throughout the season, first in November, next on New Year’s Eve. Mobile’s mystic societies build colorful Carnival floats and parade throughout downtown during the Mardi Gras season, with masked society members tossing small gifts, known as throws, to the parade spectators.

Mobile first celebrated Carnival in 1703 when French settlers began the festivities at the Old Mobile Site. A form of mystic society began in Mobile in 1704, with the Societ de Saint Louise, founded by French soldiers at Fort St. Louis de la Mobile, and later became another Mobile Carnival society in 1711 as the Boeuf Gras Society (Fatted Ox Society, 17111861). Mobile’s Cowbellion de Rakin Society was the first formally organized and masked mystic society in the United States to celebrate with a parade, in 1830: the Cowbellions got their start when a cotton broker from Pennsylvania, Michael Krafft, began a parade with rakes, hoes, and cowbells. The Cowbellions introduced horse-drawn floats to the parades in 1840 with a parade titled Heathen Gods and Goddesses. The Strikers Independent Society was formed in 1843 and is the oldest remaining mystic society in the United States.

Carnival celebrations in Mobile were cancelled during the American Civil War; however, Mardi Gras parades were revived by Joe Cain in 1866 when he paraded through the streets in a wagon on Fat Tuesday, while costumed as a fictional Chickasaw chief named Slacabamorinico, irreverently celebrating the day in front of the occupying Union Army troops. The Order of Myths, Mobile’s oldest mystic society which continues to parade, was founded in 1867 and held its first parade on Mardi Gras night in 1868. The Infant Mystics also began to parade on Mardi Gras night in 1868, but later moved their parade to Lundi Gras (Fat Monday). The Mobile De Leon Carnival Association was formed in 1871 to coordinate the events of Mardi Gras, so in 1872 the first Royal Court was held with the first king of Carnival, Emperor Felix I. The Comic Cowboys of Wragg Swamp were established in 1884, along with their mission of satire and free expression. The Continental Mystic Crew mystic society was founded in 1890, it was Mobile’s first Jewish mystic society. The Order of Doves mystic society was founded in 1894 and held its first Mardi Gras ball. It was the first organized African American mystic society in Mobile.

The Infant Mystics (1868), the second oldest society that continues to parade, introduced the first electric floats to Mobile in 1929. The Mobile Colored Carnival Association was founded and had its first parade in 1939 (later renamed the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association or MAMGA), then installed the first African American Mardi Gras court in 1940, with the coronation of King Elexis I and his queen. The Conde Cavaliers were founded in 1977 (parade 1978), and hold the first parade of the season, since parades stopped on New Year’s Eve. Following the lead of the little known and now-defunct Krewe of Pan and Apostles of Apollo societies composed of the city’s gay and/or lesbian community, the Order of Osiris held its first ball in 1980. It is now one of the Carnival season’s most anticipated balls and sought-after invitation. Another gay society, the Krewe of Adonis, held its first ball on New Year’s Eve of 1991, but is now gone from the social scene. The Mobile International Carnival Ball was first held in 1993 with every known Mobile mystic society in attendance. The year 2002 saw Mobile’s Tricentennial celebrated with parades that represented all of Mobile’s mystic societies.

Recent mystic parades and events

The schedule of mystic parades and events, included below, reveals some aspects of the notability of various krewes within the Mobile Carnival season.

2009 Mardi Gras schedule:

Saturday, January 24

1:00 pm Krewe De La Dauphine Parade (Dauphin Island)

Saturday, January 31

1:00 pm Island Mystics Parade (Dauphin Island)

Friday, February 6

6:30 pm Conde Cavaliers Parade

Saturday, February 7

2:30 pm Bayport Parading Society

6:30 pm Pharaohs Parade (www.thepharaohs.org)

7:00 pm Conde Explorers Parade

Thursday, February 12

6:30 pm Order of Polka Dots Parade

Friday, February 13

6:30 pm Order of Inca Parade (www.orderofinca.com)

Saturday, February 14

2:00 pm Mobile Mystics Parade (www.mobilemystics.com)

6:30 pm Maids of Mirth Parade

7:00 pm Order of Butterfly Maidens Parade

7:30 pm Krewe of Marry Mates

Sunday, February 15

6:30 pm Neptune’s Daughters Parade

Monday, February 16

6:30 pm Mobile Mystical Ladies Parade

7:00 pm Order of Venus Parade

Tuesday, February 17

6:30 pm Order of LaShe’s (sic.) Parade

Thursday, February 19 (Wednesday is rain-out day)

6:30 pm Mystic Stripers Society Parade

Friday, February 20

6:30 pm Crewe of Columbus Parade

Saturday, February 21

12:00 noon Floral Parade

12:30 pm Knights of Mobile Parade

1:00 pm Order of Angels Parade

6:00 pm Mystics of Time Parade

6:30 pm Coronation of Queen to King Felix III (Mobile Convention Center)

Sunday, February 22

1:00 pm Arrival of King Elexis I (at foot of Government Street)

2:30 pm Joe Cain Procession

5:00 pm Le Krewe de Bienville Parade

5:30 pm Les Femmes Cassettes Parade

8:15 pm Coronation of King Elexis (Mobile Civic Center)

Monday, February 23

11:00 am Arrival of King Felix III (name of Mobile’s carnival king) on Government St.

12:00 Noon Parade of Felix and Floral Parade

3:00 pm MLK Business and Civic Organization Parade (rolls on Route D)

3:30 pm MLK Monday Mystics Parade (rolls on Route D)

4:00 pm Northside Merchants Parade (rolls on Route D)

6:30 pm Infant Mystics Parade

Tuesday, February 24

(Mardi Gras Day or Fat Tuesday, always the day before Ash Wednesday)

10:30 am Order of Athena Parade

12:30 pm Knights of Revelry Parade

1:00 pm King Felix III Parade

1:30 pm Comic Cowboys Parade

2:00 pm Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association (rolls on Route B)

6:30 pm Order of Myths Parade (rolls on Route C)

So, the final parade is held by the Order of Myths (OOM), Mobile’s oldest Tuesday-parade mystic society (founded in 1867).

Legal restrictions

Over the past centuries, laws have been established in Mobile to limit certain types of behavior during the Carnival season. Laws in Mobile have regulated activities based on race, immorality, noise, face masks, gloves, parading, fireworks, and objects thrown. In 1826, people of color were required to obtain licenses for assemblies or dances; in 1845, balls were banned at homes of free blacks or slaves (but not Creoles); and in 1866, laws restricted noise or any party where “immoral or disorderly persons” might gather:

1826: According to Section 7 of City of Mobile Ordinance 4 titled “An Ordinance to establish a City Watch and to regulate the duties of Watchmen,” no ball, dance, or assembly of people of color would be permitted within the City unless they first obtain a license from the Mayor or the Alderman, with no license granted passed 1 a.m. in the morning;

1845: A Mobile city Ordinance prohibits free blacks or slaves from holding balls at their place of residence; the restriction does not include the Creoles in Mobile, who held a distinct status in American society as written in the 1803 Treaty of Paris (Louisiana Purchase), with Thomas Jefferson; Alabama had become a state in 1819, giving American protection to citizens after Mobile had been a colony of Spain, 17801812.

After 1902 the use of masks were largely limited to mystic societies or children under 12. In 1918, public masking was forbidden in Mobile during World War I (repealed in 1920); by 1947, masks were limited to mystic societies only, plus a masked individual was forbidden to “wear gloves or have his hands concealed” or covered. After 1957, the general public were allowed to wear masks, but only on Mardi Gras day from 9am – 9pm, or as members of mystic societies.

Because of safety issues, in 1987 fireworks were prohibited during Mardi Gras. The city also restricted pets in parade areas, skateboards and scooters, prohibited firearms, and the public throwing any object into the parade.

While many visiting tourists might think of Mardi Gras as an “adult” holiday, local residents view it as a time of family traditions; indeed, many view the parades mainly as sources of enjoyment for children. Many families with young children gather along the parade routes in downtown. The city discourages nudity, public drunkenness and other lewd behavior, which can lead to quick arrest.

Short glossary

The Mobile Mardi Gras season uses several terms which have specific meanings for the events:

Carnival: the festival season (term used in Spanish period of Mobile, 17801812), generally from January 6, Twelfth Night, to Mardi Gras, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday;

Lundi Gras: (“Fat Monday”) the Monday before Lent;

Mardi Gras: (“Fat Tuesday”) the Tuesday before Lent, also refers to the general several weeks of Carnival festival;

King Felix III: the contemporary king of the Mobile Mardi Gras;

mystic society: secret society formed for any annual Carnival events;

parade krewe: a society that has annual, organized parades;

tableau: a pageant event; and

throw: any gift thrown from a float to the spectators.

See also

New Orleans Mardi Gras

Notes

^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa “Carnival/Mobile Mardi Gras Timeline” (list of events by year), Museum of Mobile, 2001, webpage: MoM-timeline.

^ a b c d e f g h i j k “”Mardi Gras – Mobile’s Paradoxical Party”". “The Wisdom of Chief Slacabamorinico”. http://jacksonsnyder.com/arc/slac/MardiGras/paradox.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-18. 

^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t “New Orleans & Mardi Gras History Timeline” (event list), Mardi Gras Digest, 2005, webpage: MG-time.

^ a b “Calendar” for McGill-Toolen Catholic High School (week of 3-Feb-2008), Mobile Archdiocese, November 2007, webpage: .

^ a b “Westlawn Elementary – All Events for February/2008″ (calendar), Westlawn Elementary, Mobile, AL, 2007, webpage: Westlawn-calendar: events in February 2008; also check 2007 (“iYear=2007″).

^ a b c d e f g h i j “Mardi Gras” (description), Mobile Chamber of Commerce, 2007, webpage: MChamber-Mardi.

^ a b c d “Gulf Coast’s oldest Mardi Gras” (overview), USA TODAY, 1-26-2004, webpage: UToday-MG (lists throws as stuffed animals, Moon Pies, sunglasses, beads).

^ a b c “Mobile Carnival Association, 1927″ (3rd group), Mardi Gras Digest, 2006, webpage: MD-com-Mobile-Carnival-Association.

^ a b c “Mobile Bay Convention – Mardi Gras Terminology” (list), Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2007, webpage: MBC-terms: “Carnival” definition has November events & daily parades.

^ a b The International Carnival Ball and the Camellia Ball are held in November each year (since 1993), and the grand ball of the Striker’s Independent Society is held on New Year’s Eve.

^ a b c “Mardi Gras Information and Safety Tips” (press release), Mobile Police Department, Mobile, Alabama, 2007-02-01, webpage: MPD-press-release (uses term “Mardi Gras season” & prohibits pets, skateboards, motorized scooters, and throwing objects to parade).

^ a b “Louisiana Timeline: Year 1699″ (events for March 23), Encyclopedia Louisiana, September 2000, webpage: EnLou-year1699.

^ a b c d “NOLA.com : Mardi Gras : About Carnival” (history), New OrleansNet LLC, 2007, webpage: www-NOLA-mardigras-history.

^ a b “Timeline 18th Century: 17001724″ (events), Timelines of History, 2007, webpage: TLine-17001724: on “17021711″ of Mobile.

^ a b c “Mardi Gras in Mobile” (history), Jeff Sessions, Senator, Library of Congress, 2006, webpage: LibCongress-2665.

^ “Mardi Gras” (history), Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2007, webpage: MGmobile.

^ “Carnival/Mobile Mardi Gras Timeline” (list of events by year), Museum of Mobile, 2001, webpage: MoM-timeline: states “Michael Krafft in Mobile establishes America first organized and masked Carnival Society, The Cowbellion de Rakin Society. On December 31, 1830…

^ “About Mardi Gras” (short history), Toomey’s, The Original Mardi Gras Headquarters, 2006, webpage: ToomeysMG.

^ a b “Katrina floods downtown Mobile, beaches, bayous” (news), USA TODAY (from AP), 2005-08-30, webpage: USAT-Katrina-floods-Mobile: reported “MOBILE, Ala. (AP) Hurricane Katrina’s surging floodwaters swept over cars and roads and turned downtown buildings into stark concrete islands Monday as its pounding rains and destructive winds hit coastal Alabama.”

^ a b c “Girl killed after Mardi Gras parade” (news), Montgomery Advisor, The Advertiser Co., Montgomery, AL, 2007-02-23, webpage: MA-Mobile-344: reported “Police described the overall carnival as safe, despite the 5-year-old’s death [20Feb07 4:30pm]. Arrests included 22 felony charges and 237 misdemeanors.”

^ “The Original Mardi Gras: Mobile, AL” (overview), Squidoo, LLC, 2007, webpage: www.squidoo.com/originalmardigras/ MG-schedule.

^ a b c d “2009 Mardi Gras Schedule”, Official Mardi Gras, 2008-12-21, webpage: OfficialMG-53.

^ a b c d “Mobile Government – City Council Meetings: Minutes and Agendas” (includes updates to Mobile City Code), City of Mobile, Alabama, February 2004, webpage: CoM-Council-minutes-161.

^ “”Mardi Gras Terminology”". “Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau”. http://www.mobile.org/vis_mardigras_terms.php. Retrieved 2007-11-18. 

^ Houston, Susan (2007-02-04). “Mobile; It Has History”. The News & Observer (News & Observer Publishing Company, (Raleigh, NC)). 

^ a b c d e f g h i j “”History”". “Mobile Carnival Museum”. http://www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com/History.aspx. Retrieved 2007-11-17. 

^ “Joe Cain Articles” (newspaper story), Joe Danborn & Cammie East, Mobile Register, 2001, webpage: CMW-history.

^ “”MAMGA History”". “Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association”. http://web.archive.org/web/20040604100834/www.mamga.org/Templates/history.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-18. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mobile Mardi Gras

City of Mobile, Alabama webpage

Mobile Mardi Gras website

Mobile Mystics Mardi Gras Association website

Mobile Carnival Museum

Categories: Festivals in Alabama | Carnival & Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama | Cultural institutions in Mobile, Alabama | Carnivals | 1703 establishments

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