Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1893-03-16
TOURNAMENT OF ROSES.
Southern California Festival Which Takes
Place Each Year.
From st. Ntcholas,1

From st. Methodist
The sTournament OF Roses" Ia given
every year; 1t might be called floral
thanksgiving, as the idea which suggest
ed the festival was the coming Of the
winter flowers and the ripening of the
oranges. 1t ia essentially a children's day
and the young folks are encouraged to
take part In it. For weeks b fore hand lha
tournament Ii talked Of, and the FORUM
ate owners of pony carriages and carts
are wing with one another in the elabor-
alton of designs to complete for the
prizes offered to the vehicles showing
the most beautiful and artistic floral dec
grafton. Prizes are given also for the
various races of ponies, horses, and bur-
ros,-one prize being for the last burro
to arrive in a slow race.
Finally the day-the first of the new
year-arrives. Early in the morning the
procession forms. The boys and girls on
horseback, their steeds garlandtd with
flowers, join the Master of Ceremonies.
The bind 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
children, and in front is a heaping pile
of oranges, and flowers, free to all. FL
lnally the Master of Cert monies rings
bell, the young folks stand back, and the
track is cleared. The first event is re-
'vival of an old Italian aud Spanish sport,
played in the fifteenth century and known
as sitting at the rings" 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 fence
jumping, by fine California thorough
breds. "Can it be, as l have heard,
that calla-lily hurdle is used?' we have
heard asked. Quite possible, for the men
now drag across the track a veritable
hedge of the white flowers-to Eastern
eyes the most remarkable hurdle horse
ever jumped. The bell rings, and away
60 the racers. They clear the hurdle in
graceful leaps, and sweep past the grand
stand with clatter of hoofs and a jan
gle OF silver trappings from the old Mex
clan saddles, spurs, and DTS.
The third event is race in which the
young folks are particularly interested.
Two fine greyhounds-"Mo and her
grandson, "Junior"-have challenged
the fasest rae eh orse in Pasadena. Mouse
is bedecked with huge collar of red
geraniums (the ''colors" of the club to
which she belopgs), and looks up, blink
ing and winking very hard, as much as
q q q " frnr hnrcn
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. "Gow
shouts the starter. Around comes the
race-horse, "Daisy,' and as she crosses
the line with hardly 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, bnt close beside
her are the two dogs, moving like ma
chimes. Around the course they 60,
Junior ahead, barking and thinking IL
great sport, while old M ,use hangs at
the quarter, looking up every few mo-
ments to see why Daisy does not 60
faster. Louder grow the shouts as the
competitors pass around the great circle
Boys and girls crowd upon the track,
and the cry goes up thar the dogs are
ahead a moment later, horse and dogs
come rushing acI oss the line, the latter
well In advance. AS every one knows
that the fastest horse cannot run away
from grey hound, the defeat Of Daisy
Is considered no disgrace.
While the dogs are being congratulated
and the kennel of foA-hounds beneath
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 exhibition of
their manly sport.