The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-04-30
THE FEAST OF FLOWERS
a Curious indian Festival sin Observs'
In Mn,I.n.

q Curious indian lcstitAl SIN OD>tift Z"
iu Mexico.
The Kansas City Times correspondent IN
the city OF Mexico writes as follows: Ia
fiesta De la flores. or feast Of the flowers,
Classic among the sun-kisod children Of
M0nitzuma. i- the one of an festivals that
strikes u responsive chord and aWaken5 an
agreeable emotion within the breast OF me
foreigner who visits thisflblcd c0dntry. fuii
OF delicate p0esy and an ever prominent love
for the beautiful in Naiuro,a significant and
thoroughly characteristic feature of the Mex
lean people Is this charming custom. During
these SUNNY DAYS. when 'he streets OF Mex
iro'. fair c4pital are hcdcckcd with waving
nage and beautiful tropical flowers, the IN
dian florists are In their glory, andnO fingers
/ in tia world are apter and more crowded 10
the tips with q subtle. delicate taste than
those OF those humble people ~ Who'e VEINS
set flows the bronze blood OF the ancient
Aztec KINGS. and who, even 10 Ton, day,
have faint conception Of what the nation
al feast of aOWers was IN those halcyon
days of long ago.
Tle exquisite sense OF The fitness OF things
dieulaved by these indian florists draws
forth exclamaiions Of admiration and Won
der from the American ladies who visit this
country. aud the executive ability deNei-
oltd hv them. where a display Of natural
flowers il concerned. is remarkable. In Toe
matter of weaving and designing Wfeath'
aud -arland- for the adjournment Oh altar or
fountain. ballroom or palace, the
Mexican Indians have no superiors.
Nm their hands the flowers are
ARRANGED I'm such q manner, toned here and
erffoued There. that "a dumb, indescribable
melody Is attained that strikes vita start
ling disiinciness the heart and the eye Of
f,s lover OF the beautiful in Nature; and
c0rl the flowers which at this writing
adorn the beautiful Alameda del Paseo. DE
converted into musical notes and chords.
The. would produce a harmony so rich and
varied that 10 would touch the sensitive
soul of the immortal List himself.
The festival OF the flowers j. one looked
forward 20 with pleasure hY the people OF
Mexico. and, while the plans for the celeDra-
ton in these later DAYS are not so extensive
as they were In times gone by, nevertheless
the goddess of culture and civilization has
elevated the custom from the rude jacal 81
the Aztec Indian % the gilded halls OF Mex
ico's palaces, and what was once an Indian
custom has In these later days resolved itself
into national festival observed by heXi-
cans from PasO del NOrte 10 SOcOnuscO and
from TampicO to MaZatlan.
Early this morning. before the first suns
RAYS had glintcd from the sno"-capped
peaks OF Popocatepetl and lxtaccihnat-
the canal which connects the city with the
upner lakes presented scene as varied rs
il was beautiful. From the thlnampas, or
hoatiny gardens 10 the city itself the bosom
of he little river was covered with one
mass of waving. gliding gondolas. Indian
canoes. and Aztec ducOuts laden 10 their
gunwales with richly tinted tropical fruits
and flowers. all hurrying 10 the city with
their fragrant carg0es. MANY pleasure
parties were starting TO the lake for all-daY
outing, and the broad paseo which borders
the bank of the canal WAS crowded 10 rs
utmost with the handsome equipases Of the
elite Of Mexicos capital.
The Indian canoes, padded by their sole
occupant, generally the women, presented