Hi all,  I was at the Endymion parade in New Orleans this Mardi Gras,
near the corner of Canal St. and Carrolton Ave.  The weather was very
cold but nevertheless the crowds were *enormous*.  On both sides of the
street people were fifty feet deep and packed like sardines.  It was
quite dark with only the street lights and an overcast sky.  Everyone in
the street was going crazy, and beads were flying from the huge floats
which carry about 250 riders.

All of a sudden I heard the unmistakable sound of a calliope.  The
thought of a reproduction Tangley come to mind.  I pushed my way through
the crowd and couldn't believe my eyes.  There was a team of horses!
Behind it I could see an old circus wagon with a tall chimney in the
rear, and black smoke was really shooting out of it.  I was so impressed
with that boiler that I didn't notice if it was being played by a person
or by mechanical means.  I was in *shock*.

It was a very fun night, but I didn't get too many beads, though,
since there was a very attractive woman perched on her husbands
shoulders, wearing a sweater that she lifted up each time a float
went by.  They had all the beads!

Did anyone else see that parade?  Does anyone know about the circus
wagon?

Randy Hayno

 [ _Where_ were the beads, Randy??!   :)  -- Robbie