This was an important event in New Orleans' Mardi Gras history, becoming one of the first major parades to use satire and political commentary. In 1873, Comus had no floats, but the members paraded in costumes made of papier-mache, based on the drawings in this collection. A Swedish lithographer, Charles Briton, made the designs, and Georgie Soulie helped construct them in New Orleans (in years past, costumes were made in Paris). According to various histories of the krewe, during this parade Comus appeared in a chariot led by Shetland ponies. The official name of the parade was "The Missing Links to Darwin's Origin of Species". It not only satirized the theory of evolution, but other issues such as Reconstruction and the Metropolitan Police. While the police department provided protection to the parade, it refused to break up crowds at Canal Street in order to permit the krewe to march through. Many of the images depict figures related to the Civil War and Reconstruction, such as Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Butler, and Louisiana Governor Henry Warmoth. Also depicted are notable figures such as Charles Darwin, and Algernon Badger (head of the Metropolitan Police).
From the description of Mistick Krewe of Comus "Missing Links" Parade costume designs, 1873. (Tulane University). WorldCat record id: 558588031
