The herald., 1894-04-26
SANTA BARBARA FETES.
THE CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS IN
FULL SWING.
A Fine Display OF Fruits aud Posies,
The City Decorated as 1t Never
Wac Before and Crowded
With visitOrs.

SANTA BARBARA, April 25.-The third
annual flower festival opened today,
with an exhibition of flowers and fruits
at the pavilion.
The weather WAS not the best, but
there is no doubt that the carnival will
be a success in every particular. The
carnivals at Santa Barbara always at
tract large crowds. and such is the case
this year. The city is we'll filled with
visitors, though the festival proper does
not commence till tomorrow.
The city presents gay appearance.
etiofJE, 1r4S~~za%a tn aclinae all previous
State street in style much more elao,
crate than before. Three oeautilul
archee-one of psmpas planes ana two
OF palms and cypress-span the vice
thoroughfare from curb to curp, Whlle
flowers can be seen everywhere. stream
era and banners OF carniual coIors ny
from every etaf and building and are
strung from pole TO pole, until the SKY
is hidden by dazzling array OF beautl-
full colors. The Stars aud Stripes are
given preference over all. Most OF the
floral decorations were not put out till
evening.
Today's proceedings were but the be-
ginning of the festival, and the smallest
part of the celebration in honor OF the
horal queen. But the display at the pa
vilion is worthy of note. Santa Barbara
ia famous for flowers, and this fame is
heightened in the minds OF those who
have seen the pretty exhibition. Gray
tree moss forms beautiful background
for the exhibits of cut flowers with
which the tables and stands are filled.
Roses OF every variety seem to predomi-
nate. though there are plenty OF other
flowers. The fruit display is small but
Of large variety.
One of the most striking exhibits is
that of shrubs and plants lately intro
duced from foreign countries. 1t con-
sists of many varieties never seen before
which, it is stated, will become as we'll
known as many of the most common IL
| California today.
Tomorrow the cut flowers, which are
so delicately arranged for display, will
be taken out and used in the battle ol
flowers. Roses and dainty carnations
will be crushed by horses hoofs, and
sweet-scented buds will be mingled with
the dust. Marguerites and daisies will
be used to carpet over the paved streets,
while lovely violets will become ammu
milton in the novel sport.
The flower festival dates from Apri
"a. 1891, when President Harrison
visited the city. Wishing to make {
unique show, something entirely differ
ent from other places where the dis
tinguished party had been entertained
the Barbareilos met their guests witt
flower bedscked carriages at the train
and escorted them to a grand stand
likewise trimmed with flowers, anC
from which the president reviewed
this first carnival of roses. Beside
those of latter years that little fora
event fades into insignihcance, and is o
no comparison with that of 1894. Thl
year following this memorable visi
from the chief executive, Santa Bar
bara saw the Flower Festival essocia
tion incorporated, and the event becGm
an annual feature of the city of roses
The battle of fowers, in which the mos
destructive missile is an elegant fora
bouquet, became popular sport.
Many prominent visitors arrived TO-
day, and every train brings increasin,
crowds. The grand day OF the iestiva
is tomorrow, commencing in the after
noon with floral parade, followed by
rose battle, and ending in the evenin
with an illuminated parade, in whicl
decorated floats and carriages will agail
take place. This latter is an innovation
of the present year, but every effort i
being made to have it successfully car
ried out.
The sale of seats for the tribunes dur
ing the battle of flowers is larger thal
previous years, and the entries for tn
procession tend to show that it will b
longer than that OF 1893. The attend
ance at the pavilion this afternoon an
evening has been quite large.
The battleahip Monterey is provin
an attraction, and has been visited b
many people.