Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1894-04-30
CALIFORNIA HOLIDAYS.
La Fiesta de LOS Angeles.

In oe LOS AnReleGs
Tothe Editor OF the JOURNAL AND CouRrKz:
In this part of the country 1t seems to
be any excuse for holiday, and all the
natives, and the tourists too, are always
ready and anxious to turn out, on foot, on
horseback and In wagons, coaches, buggiss
and carts; all we'll furnished and lsvishly
decorated with flowers, to honor and enjoy
the show, which at the moment happens
to prevail. Our recollections of the east
are that IL one was alive In the sprirg
time he was generally too much exhausted
by the labors incident to the inclement
season; shovelipg snow off the sidewalk,
shoveling coal into the furnace and toteipg
out ashes and cinders to furnish Boreas
with material with which to fill the heigh-
bors' eyes, to have any surplus enthusiasm
or to wish for any sports, unless he had
perhaps q faint desire to go q fishing.
There, owing to natural advantages (for
the 6sb), going fishing is Q rather dis
couraging business, and the fshes Qf
caught are either enormous enough 20
catch the fisher or else are too infnitssi-
NAL to count.
Consequently we must relieve our su-
psyabundsnt frivolity with psgeants and
tournaments Of roses, and shove all fee
tas.
Now hsstas are away ahead of every
thing, unless, indeed, an exception may be
made In favor of the triepnisl Offering and
entertainment which our Chinese friends
make to their gods; this show, which goes
of with much flourish of fans and um-
brellss, and din Of tom toms, smell of In
oense and burning images, is most excel
lent, and Is by come considered superls-
tive.
But lately Los Angeles city has outdone
itself and everything In La Fiesta de Les
Angeles, q spectacle of magnitude, beauty
and fun.
Beginning on Tuesday. the city has been
decorated at every available spot with red,
yellow and green, the red for wine, the
yellow for oranges, and the green for ol-
ives, and has been Allied to overhowing
with eight-seers from all the country
around, the crowds themselves being cos
mopolitsn and as worthy of observation
as the show and parade itself; electric and
cable cars have been loaded and crowded
almost beyond endurance; railroad trains
returning from the city have been stalled
upon the steep grades and sbrupt curves
90 common heresbouts, q trip of 8 few
miles some times taking mp the greater
portion of the night, crowds have crowded
| and teams have blockaded, yet accidents
have been almost unknown, and every
body, including the much tried policeman,
has been good natured.
The parade was surely unique; nothing
can approach Il in its curious unlikeness
to any other display under the sun.
To hardi Grss there is always q certain
sameness, vithal q gorgeousness and show
i of gilt and tinsel which is greatly lacking
here, but the deficiency IL supplied In 9TH
| er ways. and here is no eam.ness; every
single obi jsot lie different from every other,
i and much more thsn different, IL is an OBJ.
/ jsct lesson In itself.
To bsgin to enumersts the separate parts
would take altogether too much ink, no.
to say patience, but perhaps the most no.
ticeAble was the Chinese display, on which
the Celsstisls had lavished money without
stint, and which was allowed by all to be
Q chief feature of the whole.
While the Boomers" riding In hack.
and In all their glory were truly q sight to
behold, and most amazingly and admirably
gotten up In every detail, the Busted
Boomers" who folio wed them not far be
hind perfectly saturated 10 misery and
doleful dumps, adorned tale and pointed
Q moral which Was apparent and appreeis
ted by all the duellers of these psrte, mos,
of them more OF less bitten themselves,
but all tie same always ready to put their
heads in the lions mouth again on the
Il N6IJ bukutCrN 0NS1fAOas ALa tINa AAe
ancient missions ION vheels), with their co.
cort of monks, brought to mind the old
time (so good, of oourte), while the thip
of old Cabrillo, mixed In with clowns
cowboys, bronchos and the profuss display
of California products, carried IA at
glance from the ancient to the modern.
All this and even so much more VA
continued at intervals for four days, anc
the procession was 90 long In passing tn.
Plaza that the eyes were tired With sesins
and the feet with standing, though the en-
ljoyment was great, and was not at all less
ened by Watching the good priests hun
The boys from the roof Of the old missior
church which faces the Plaza
| And then came Saturday night, tn
wind up and hnieh Of the whole, the nigh
| of carnival, masks and harmless jokes
what sight the strssts presented then
cowboys, Indians, Tpperary men, ranch
msn, clowns, Turks, Japs, Chinamen, Is
kimos, anaels. spirits, imps and 30 on In
numersblA tandem teams of curiou
makeup ,ched to vehicles which wen
ing hIled with Q motley collection of pas
, landed to ride. much less 10 drive.
Bucking bronchos, slow-going burros
horns mellow and horns sbominsble
Woe then to him or her who had no mack
though dressed In sober gsrb and with de
corous mien, he or abe was quickly ant
, siyly decorated from head 10 foot Will
, Hour, and almost smoihered with ava
lanches of flowers, more or less fresh
| might happen.
, But Of midnight tie strests were de
| ssrted and all was quiet and serene. AM
| before morning came the city had resumes
} It's usual appearances, the decorations na
! all bean taken away, and as TAR ss Posaoa
. .vsyy siqn of the carnival removed.
!, And al present any one who wishes. an
. Who is In possession Of Ave dollars coin Q
|, / the realm with which to pay railroad fars
a can easily attend upon another fiesta no.
i In full blast at San Diego. which lie taid
be very fne indeed and includes bu
6rht. ]. T. B.