Mistick Krewe of Comus - Respite From Revelry

Respite From Revelry

From the first Comus parade until a police strike in 1979, nothing suspended New Orleans' lavish Mardi Gras celebrations except war. On March 1, 1862, Comus issued his first proclamation suspending Carnival revelry on account of war. On that day, the New Orleans Daily Picayune published this notice:

Comus issued an identical proclamation in 1917 (for World War I) and another in 1942 (for World War II) and again in 1951 (for the Korean War). On each occasion, the Captain of Comus persuaded the Captains of other Carnival organizations to refrain from organized revelry during hostilities.

From 1885-1889, the Mistick Krewe chose not to parade, although other observances continued. During this period, the Krewe of Proteus moved its parade to Carnival night. When Comus resumed parading in 1890, Proteus refused a request to withdraw from parading on Carnival night. That year, the two parades collided on Canal Street, nearly reaching an impasse. As the Captains of the two groups exchanged defiant expressions, a Comus masker diverted the horse bearing the Captain of Proteus, and Comus was able to complete its procession.