Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-23
Auspicious Opening of the
Flower Festival.
The Pavilion Filled With an
Admiring Crowd.
An Artistic Arrangement of Beautiful
Floral Displays.
The Various Features Described-The
Programme Last Evening-A
Good Beginning.


ion. In spite of the fact that only a
few hours before seeming chaos had pre-
vailed throughout the building, when
the appointed time came every exhibit
was in place, the booths were all in per-
feet form, the flower designs were COM
pleted, and order reigned supreme.
There was no necessity for apologies for
things that were not yet completed, but
on the contrary, the management was
entitled to congratulations on the per-
feet and auspicious beginning of the
fete.
Very soon after the doors were opened
the clear space of the main floor and the
galleries was filled with a brilliant
crowd. 1t is estimated that from 5000
to 1000 people visited the festival in the
course of the evening. Expressions
of admiration and surprise were
heard on all sides, and the success of the
festival was in a short time made an
assured fact. 1t cannot be doubted
that it will continue to attract large
crowds throughout the week and that
the ladies who have labored with such
assiduity in its preparation will find
themselves amply repaid by the enthusi-
astic praise of all visitors.
1t is quite impossible for the visitor at
the festival to see and appreciate all its
beauties in one evening; much less is it
possible to describe them in one article.
One may wander about by the hour and
study the scene from one point of view
after another and always find horde of
new wonders to admire. Rather more
artistic skill has been exercised this
year than ever before in the creation OF
an ensemble effect, which can, of course,
be best obtained by standing in the gal
lery near the stage and looking back to-
ward the entrance The main booths
in the center are large, yet so arranged
as not to hide one another. They are all
of artistic design and the general effect
is such as to form memorable scene.
In the center of the main floor stands
the Eiffel tower, perfect model of the
famous Partisan ediice. 1t is 81 feet, 6
inches in height, extending to the cell
ing. The base is % feet wide. The
platform, which is occupied by the
band, is Az feet above the floor and is
20 feet square. At the top is huge
electric light, and, scattered among the
evergreen foliage with which the tower
is covered, are many incandescent lights
of all colors. Around and above the
platform are friezes of Gala lilies. The
foundation columns are covered with
long sprays of Banksia roses.
AT each side of the tower are huge
fountains IA feet in height, with basins
16 feet in diameter. These, together
with the tower and many of the booths.
were designed by G. H. Brown, the
architect. They are covered with lilies
and ferns. On the opposite sides of the
tower from the fountains are the pyra-
mids of roses, solid banks of rich color,
harmoniously arranged and relieved by
bands OF moss. At each corner of the
main inside space are larger booths,
where the displays entered for premiums
are placed. Near the stage on the right
hand side is the booth where floral table
decorations are displayed. The design
shown last night was by Mrs. Stillson
and Mrs. Flint. The table was set for
ten persons, and was artistically arranged
with smilax, ferns and roses. To the
left, near the stage, is the display of
potted plants, rare and beautiful speci-
mems of hothouse culture. On the right
hand side, nearer the entrance, is the
booth containing the special display of
roses. There are a great many rare va
rieties, forming an interesting exhibit.
On the left-hand side is one OF the pret-
tiest booths in the festival-that of the
wild flowers. 1t is covered to the top
with long grasses and ferns, and within
there is fine collection of yucca bios
SONS, and of the natural field flowers of
California.
In the corner under the gallery, to the
right of the entrance, is the hat and
coat stand, covered with palm leaves
and plants. Next to it, on the right
hand side, comes the newspaper booth,
the columns of which are festooned with
brilliant clusters of geranium blossoms.
Next is the lemonade booth, built in the
form of large bird-cage, where a num-
ber of young ladies, dressed in yellow to
represent canaries, serve the thirsty
a cool drink. The last booth on this
side is the "purple" booth, triangular
shaped edifice, it's columns hung with
purple and white cloth and covered with
delicately harmonized color effects in
flowers.
Near the entrance to the left is the
catalogue booth, rooted in with an UNI
brella-like covering of light bunting.
The first booth on the left-hand side of
the building, under the gallery, is the
boutonniere stand, white and green and
very artistically arranged. 1t is of dia-
mond shape, and hangs out delicate
streamers OF smilax. Next comes the
candy booth, rich and warm in color,
and striking in it's effects ON the eye.
The last booth toward the stage forms
a peculiar contrast to the one just men
toned. 1t is the soda-water stand, and
is designed to represent cool grotto.
Its colors are white and green, and the
young ladies who serve at the fountains
when they come forward to the counter
seem to emerge from a dark cavern, so
far does its tlowery roof overhang
All these booths are filled with sweet
faced young ladies in appropriate cos
tunes. The visitor is not solicited to
make purchases from them, but he feels
that he has not treated himself
fairly if he neglects to do so. The names
of the ladies who are devoting their time
to this good work were given in the
HERALD of yesterday.
The ice cream booth, which on former
occasions was placed in the center of the
gallery, has much more roomy and
inviting situation this year on the right
hand side of the gallery. 1t is a wire
work structure, running nearly the
whole length of the side, and its parti-
ton walls are tastefully decorated with