San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-09-16
IN THE ARTISTS DEN.
MIR. HARRY DRESSED MAKES AN
INTERESTING TALK ON
GERMAN DAY,
And Tells the Extent OF the Deco
rations, How They are Prepared
and other Pleasant Facts.

An attache of the LIGHT recently
paid visit to the spacious building
on Leona street where the sixteen his
torical and NEUROLOGICAL floats to be
used on German day are being deco.
rated, under the care of Harry Dressl,
the celebrated artist of the New Or
leans Mardi Gras. These floats are
new and strong and great care is tax
| en- that the super-structure is good
| and solid, all being we'll braced
with iron. All the floats are
being prepared and some are
nearing completion. The latter,
even now, are sufficient to astonish
| the natives, and to cause pleasure
| and satisfaction to those who behold
| them. When completed either in the
glitter of the sun or the Pickering and
fitful light of torches and red fire the
scene will be one of grandeur and
beauty.
In conversation with Mr.. Dressed
that gentleman said: 1.-THE people
have no idea OF the expense, worry
and labor that is attendant upon the
| production of such display. Every
| part of the decorations and figures has
| be made specially, and the big figures
have to be made in several parts such
as Father Rhine, the mammoth grif-
| fms, serpents and other things of a
large character. OF course the great
thing is to combine most strength
| with the least weight and this,
| In ha N
| point, Tue mOdus operandi of pre-.
pairing these things is simple and yet
must he carefully done. Say want
to produce that large bird there.
make q skeleton frame of the shape
desired. Then 1 cover this
with clay and mould it to
the proper form. This done
q plaster of Paris cast is taken
In two pieces. When this cast is
ready the pieces are taken to one of
the young ladies employed here and
she covers them with several layers
of paper, making strong and yet
light papier-mache duplicate of the
bird. When dry the parts are fixed
by the property man and it comes
again to me, is painted in appropriate
colors, then 1T passes again to the
ladies to be tinselled and gilded. 1t
is then placed in it's proper position
on the float. Looking at the elabor-
ate designs here you can readily See
| what q great amount of tedious work
there is to be done and the care that
must be exercised in carrying out
those designs. That mammoth figure
of Father Rhine there took six
ty barrels of plaster of Paris
weighing 1900 pounds, and other
things in proportion. We are using
more thing than in New Orleans and
I can assure you that San Antonio
will have display that will eclipse
anything ever seen in this country for
the designs are beautiful, faithfully
carried out, the costumes are brilliant
and good, and the parties who will
take part are selected wholly from
the adaptability to the character rep
resented. The display presented will
be one that will excite universal ad
miration and one that will long be
remembered by those who see
it. San Antonio owes debt of graft
tude to the president and the eXecu-
tive committee for their able and I'M
firing efforts to make this celebration
worthy of the city and great sue
GEES, and although the people have
done well they should certainly now
do all in their power to cooperate
with them in attaining the success so
desired, and so much deserved, by
them. To me it is labor of love to
work at my art and to serve the
people of San Antonio, for 1 am very
grateful to them generally for
| their kind reception, and for
iriendliness shown me on all sides.
| For this reason 1 am working hard
and will leave no effort that my skill
and experience may dictate to make
your German day success, as 1 am
quite sure it will be, but now you
must excuse me as l am very busy
and must attend to my work." Mr..
Dressed then returned to complete the
decoration of group of fabulous
torch bearers that he was engaged on
when the reporter entered.
Mr.. Dressed evidently spoke with
J an animation and enthusiasm that
showed that he meant what he said
and with his unequalled experience
in such matters it may be safely
assured that the German Day cele-
bration will be one that San Antonio
may be proud of and one that will
please our visitors and send them
away we'll satisfied with the beauti-
full pageant and other entertainments
presented by the committee.
In addition to Mr.. Dressed, several
men and six ladies are busily en-
ployed on the floats which will be
ready in time. Mr.. John Beck
mann, or as the Spanish programme
facetiously calls him ''Sr. Don Juan
Beckmann," is also engaged here