Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-04-08
.To,tRNAMENT OF ROSES. 70
An Annual Southern California Fes-
tiyaf.


The Tournament of Roses is given
every year; it might be called floral
thanksgiving, as the idea which suggested
the festival was the coming of the winter
flowers and the ripening of the oranges.
1t is essentially a children's day; and the
young folks are encouraged to take
part in it. For weeks beforehand the
tournament is talked of, and the fortu-
nate owners of pony carriages and carts
are wing with one another in the elabo-
ration of designs to compete for the
prizes offered TO the vehicles showing the
most beautiful and artistic floral decora-
ton. Prizes are given also for the vari--
Gus races of ponies, horses, and bur
ros, One prize being for the last
burro to arrive in S59W race.
Finally the day-the first Of the new
year-arives. Early in the morning the
procession forms. The boys and girls on
horseback, their steeds garlanded with
flowers, join the master of ceremonies.
The band plays gaily, and they wend
their way to the park, where the tourna-
ment is to be held The grand stand is
already packed with men, women, and
of oranges and flowers, free to all. FL
nally the master of ceremonies rings q
bell, the young folks stand back, and
the track is cleared The first event is
revival of an old Italian and Spanish
sport, played in the fifteenth century,
and known as "tilting at the ring"
Rings little larger than napkin-ring
are suspended at intervals over the
course and the knights" charge upon
them at full speed, endeavoring to carry
off as many rings on their long lances as
they can. The one taking the greatest
number is declared the victor. Shouts
and cheers greet the knights, some of
whom often are descendants of the Oldest
Spanish families in the State.
next comes the hurdle-race or trench
jumping, by fine California thorough
breds. "Can it be, as have heard, that
calla-ly hurdle is used?' we have
heard asked. Quite possible, for the
men now drag across the track a verita-
BILE hedge Of the white flowers to East
ern eyes the most remarkable hurdle o
horse ever jumped. The bell rings, and
away 60 the racers. They clear the hur-
die in graceful leaps, and sweep past the
grand stand with a chatter of hoofs and q
jangle of silver trappings from the old
Mexican saddles, spurs and bits.
The thru event is a race in which the
young folks are particularly interested.
Two fine OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES" and her
grandson "Junior"-have challenged the
fastest race-horse in Pasadena. Mouse is
bedecked with huge collar of red gera-
NUNS (the "colorsn of the club to which
she belongs, and looks up, blinking and
winking very hard, as much as to say, Il
have run away from this horse on many
hunt, and don't propose to be defeated
before all these people"
All is ready. The track on both sides
is crowded with eager faces Coop
shouts the starter. Around comes the
race-horse, DAISY" and as she crosses
the line with hardly a glance at her old
companions, Mouse and Junior are
slipped, and they dash away amid
chorus of cheers and shouts. The horse.
skins along like bird, but close beside
her are the two dogs, moving like ma
chimes. Around the course they go,
Junior ahead, barking and thinking it
great sport, while old Mouse hangs at the
quarter, looking up every few moments
to see why Daisy does not go faster.
Louder grow the shouts as the competi-
tors pass around the great circle. Boys
and girls crowd upon the track, and the
cry goes up that the dogs are ahead. A
moment later, horse and dogs come rush
ing across the line, the latter we'll in adj
vance. AS every one knows that the
fastest horse cannot run away from
greyhound, the defeat OF Daisy is con-
sidered no disgrace,
While the dogs are being congratu
lated and the kennel Of fox hounds be-
meath the grand stand is bowling and
baying welcome, the open space within
the track is cleared for the politicians,
and for an hour they give an exciting ex-
hibition of their manly sport ST.
Nicholas.