The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-26
CALIFORNIA; CITRUS FAIR.
To the Editor OF the Eagle.

10 Inc Editor OF the ta&ie
The state citrus fair is, by the residents
of this semi-tropical land, a much
talked of event, and for months previous
to its occurrence the finest oranges are
carefully guarded, lemons are being
treated in the best manner known to
cure them perfectly, while the choicest
nuts, raisins, candied, dried and canned
fruits, as well as many novelties are sci
aside to be exhibited at the citrus fair.
Many were the beauties displayed to
the light of day, and the brilliancy OF
electric light, at Hazards pavilion, in the
city of Los Angeles, March II to the IS,
1891.
There have been fairs and fairs, but
nothing has ever been seen, in this coun-
try, to equal the grandeur of this latest
success, of the talent, energy and perse-
verance of the southern Californians.
Many who have seen citrus exhibi-
tons at New Orleans, Florida and else
where, say that they were not to be COM
pared to the one just held.
March IL was Ontario day, and you
had but to visit the west-bound trains to
know that loyalty dwells in our midst.
1t was my first visit to fair of the
kind, and l expected to see very small
models of whatever was initiated by the
designers, and was perfectly astonished
at the magniicence of the designs.
My first wish, upon entering the build
ing, was for the friends in Kansas to en-
joy the wondrously beautiful sight
within.
My eyes feasted upon the lovely in
teriors, and seemed riveted for time
upon the splendor of the arch which
spanned the stage.
Columns of evergreens upon either side
reached from ceiling to floor, and the
main part of the arch was decorated
with almost diamond shaped frames, in
laid with oranges. The outside row of
oranges being covered with red papers,
the next with white papers, and the color
of the third row was blue. In the centre
were nine oranges, in natural color. The
frames were arranged to represent pict-
ures, and in the triangle formed by the
pictures being seemingly held back, and
a band of evergreen across the lower
edge of the arch, were the words. in
wood colored letters, estate Citrus Fair"
These curved over large wood colored
star, SO filled with incandescent globes
that at night it was a star indeed.
In trying to convey faint idea of the
scene l will speak principally of the de-
signs made of the fruit.
Nearly every locality had its fruit dis
play separate from it's artistic design.
The incentive to so much thought, labor,
and money spent was the honor of
winning first prize of $3.50 for the most
artistic design.
Commencing our tour for the inspec-
ton of the various designs, the first to
claim our attention was from Duarte.
1t was a beautiful mosque, covering an
area of about twenty by thirty feet.
The lowest edge of the roof was five feet
high and the cupola was fifteen from
the floor. The entire building was of
the fruit, the slightly slanting roof
a fine place for their exhibit
ton of the same.
The next attraction was Ontario's
Gravity car, with its beautiful span of
inanimate grays. The Car was a full
horse Car, the frame work of wood
being covered with fruit. The roof of
oranges, had "Ontario" spelled with
lemons on one side of it. The thing of
floor, platforms, and steps, also cushions
of the seats, were of fruit.
A few words, in explanation of the
name Gravity" may not be amiss.
The car is used upon street railway,
eight miles long, running north and
south, connecting San Antonio Heights
with Ontario, and the northern terminus
is twelve hundred feet higher than the
southern. The horses pull the car up
the incline, and by stepping on a truck,
VIII CHI is drawn out from under the car,
they enjoy a ride TO the southern
terminus at the expense of gravitation.
have seen boys pull up hill to ride
down, but never before saw horses do SO.
We were next confronted by the old
mission of San Gabriel, with its silent
bells. Smilax ran up to and along the
roof and bank of blue grass surround
ing the building bore the words, in plants
Of lighter green, "San Gabriel Mission"
toward the center of the room
one was reminded of an Eiffel tower. 1t
was Pasadena's elaborate design and
was shaft about six feet square at the
base, towering up till at a height of
twenty or twenty-five feet the top was
two feet square. The top was covered
with Gala lilies and resting upon them
was crown filled with pampas plumes.
while sllken banners from each corner
proclaimed Pasadena to be Grown of
The Valley
About half way up the shaft were out
ward curving iron rods, twined with
'milax and supporting beautiful hanging
baskets, while around the base were blue
grass, potted plants, palms and other
;emi-tropical trees, many lovely designs
n cut flowers ard pail containing not
ess than one hundred Gala lilies.
A bowl of roses adorned each post
which supported the golden chain
around the whole.
Moving on, we came to an illustration
If scene in ''Snow-bound.' Twas a
we'll with an oldfashioned sweep, and
,ne might think. from the construction,
hat the bucket would bring up
but, alas. it was full of |
now. A little hut near by and every
hing in the scene was covered with |
play" snow.
Whittier's citizens shaped the scene. |
Occupying an area of twenty by twenty |
i've feet in the northwest corner of the |
building was what looked like a room,
he front or entrance to which was an |
immense arch.
The pillars and face of the arch were |
beautifully decorated with black and |