Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-10-30
A BRILLIANT SCENE.
The Chrysanthemum Fair at
the Simpson Tabernacle.
A SUCCESSFUL UNDERTAKING.
The Opening Night-A Large Crowd.
The Display Highly Cred
liable.

liable.
The Chyrsanthemum Fair opened las
evening at the new Simpson Tabernacle
on Hope street. 1t cannot be ques
toned that this is one of the most bril-
liantly successful undertakings ever
carried out by the ladies of Los Angeles.
Although the plan originally started
among the ladies of the church in which
it is given and was primarily under their
management, yet they have succeeded in
interesting all those who are accustomed
to take part in the flower festivals, az
well as many other excellent workers,
and the result is one of which not only
those concerned, but every one who visits
the fair, will feel lively sense of pride.
The comparison which naturally sug-
gests itself to the visitor is with the
flower festivals which have heretofore
been held in this city, but there are GER
tain conditions involved which makes
this com parison scarcely fair one. This
is an exhibition of single flower in a
thousand varieties, instead OF Thousand
different flowers. While this gives a
certain advantage in the unique nature
of the exhibition, it renders it moro diff
fcult to avoid the tedium of sameness.
1t is hard for the visitor to appreciate, az
he looks at the brilliant and variega1ed
scene about him, that the basis OF it all
is the single plant from which the tair
takes it's name. With infinite skill
and originality the ladies have suc-
ceeded in presenting the chrysanthe-
NUNS in designs of such various
uses that the result may be said in many
respects to surpass that attained by any
of the flower festivals that have preceded
it. Together with the flowers, there are
exhibits of various other sorts, all admir-
ably planned and carried out, making
the fair, as whole, wonder and de-
light.
The tabernacle is the largest structure
of its sort in Southern California, and
every part of it, including it's many ante
rooms and galleries, is called into req
uisition for the use Of the fair. Ample
space has been left for thousands of spec
tators to walk about and view the booths
or to sit and watch what takes place on
the stage; yet last night the aisles were
so crowded with people that it was diff
cult to get about. and the seats, even
to those in the topmost gallery,
we're all filed. The receipts at
the door last night were $429, but as
many season tickets had already been
sold this represented only a part Of the
large attendance. The visitor who stood
at the edge of the balcony and looked
over the rail beheld last night one OF the
most brilliant sights ever Offered to his
gaze. The large stage was covered with
elegantly designed flower pieces, fanked
by a labyrinth of green arbors, in the
midst of which the children who took
part ia the cantata that was presented,
dressed as fairies and elves, ran in and
about. In front of the stage was broad
band of flowers in which the wore" Simp-
son" was worked out in q design of per-
fectly harmonized colors. The main
floor was divided in vast beds
of potted flowers carefully arranged to
give the most pleasing effects to
the eye and separated by wide aisles.
Back toward the wall in semicircle
about the building were the booths, all
of different design, and each seemingly
more beautiful than all the others. Over
and through all of this was poured
a stream Of moving people, ele-
ing men. In the gallery above there
was circle of booths, decorated, not
like those below, with flowers and green
cry, but with flags and hangings, and
here, too, moved the stream of human
ity. The scene was one which could
never be forgotten.
1t would be useless to attempt to give
at one time q description of all of the
wonders and beauties Of the Chrysanthe-
mum Fair. 1t will continue during the
next ten days, and in the reports which
will from time to time appear, an effort
will be made to do justice to such parts
as can be adequately described in words.
To be appreciated, however, the fair
must be seen, and seen not once, but
many times.
A large string orchestra was in attend
ance last evening under the charge Of
Prof. Arend, which gave the following
pieces of music Signal march, Fest
overture, selections from Erminie, Vice
Admiral waltz, Ten O'clock gsllop. A
feature in the programme also was the
violincello solo rendered by Prof. Mayer.
The music was all well rendered and
much enjoyed.
The main element in the programme
of the evening was the cantata, "The
Birth of the Chrysanthsmum," which
was written by Mrs. R. D. P. Widner,
of this city, and given under her manage
ment, with assistance in the stage
work from Mrs. o. Fl. Church
hill and Mrs. M. L. Dyer. 1t
was made up of three acts of
two scenes each. On the raising of
the curtain two groups of flower fairies
were seen. who sang chorus as they
waved their tiny wands. The little girls
who took the parts were: Menon
Churchill, Belle Coulter, Leida Simonds,
Mamie McClung, Pearley McCullum,
Daisy Rendell, Mamie Andrews, CLARA
Parmalee, Hattie Moody, Clara Allinson,
Edna Lewis, Lena McGarvin, Estella Nc
Clung and Bertha Boal. Presently
three black beetles appeared on the
scene and frightened the fairies away.
The boys who, dressed in black with
groteeque antenn Sc upon their heads, took
these parts were Eugene McFadden,
Russell Baxter and Andrew Austin. The
fairies are driven into the thistles to hide,
and in the next scene appear bereft Of
their beautiful flower clothing. They go
to the Goblin's cave to learn from him
how they may recover their clothes, and