Abraham’s Fat Tuesday

Mardi Gras arrived in the United States when King Louis XIV sent Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne De Bienville to defend France’s claim on the territory of Louisiana in the late 17^th century.  By 1703 French settlers had the first organized Mardi Gras celebration in what was to later become Mobile, AL. The first real Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans didn’t happen until 1830.

By the time Abraham Lincoln was President there had been thirty years of Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States.  It got me wondering if President Lincoln ever was in New Orleans for Carnival and Mardi Gras. It seemed like a strange idea, to imagine tall Abraham Lincoln strolling down Bourbon Street, drunk on rum, telling women on the street to show him their ankles so he’d give them some beads. 

This is of course, pre-beard and pre-politics Lincoln. He was still just a young lawyer out of Illinois just trying to get a little fun in before the serious business of life had to start. I just think it’s a very funny idea. I doubt the real Lincoln actually was ever in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. But I just want to imagine he was. I mean they already made him a vampire hunter why not a Hangover type movie staring Lincoln and a few of his buddies having a wild Mardi Gras night?

I think that would be hilarious “Four score and seven beers ago and all that”. We could get Daniel Day Lewis to reprise his masterful performance from Lincoln, but get him all schnockered. Or would it be too disrespectful?

While you ponder this wonderful idea I must off to a two hour meeting about insurance stuff. My mind will likely continue to linger on Lincoln screaming from a balcony about how hot that woman’s ankles were. Maybe a little shoulder.