The herald., 1894-04-11
i HAS TAKEN THE TOWN.
La Fiesta Carries Everything
Before 1t.
Something About Its Origin and
DEVELOPMENT.
History of the Great Celebration to
Dissatisfaction of the Name and
CoIors-Thoae who Have
Worked for 1t.

-
all classes, grades and conditions OF
men, women and children have given
themselve over entirely and unequiv-
ocally and unstintedly to the occasion.
From its first inception, down through
all the devious and intricate details of
plan and preparation to this, the curtain
raising on the fret act, the movement
has been unanimous, harmonious and
decisive.
The curtain was drawn upon scene
of gorgeous splendor. Decoration was
universal. La fiesta colors we're every
where. Turn any way you will, within
the confines of Che city, and you will see
them-red, green and yellow; the
orange. the olive and the wine. Ii
there was any need of previous indi-
cation OF the sentiment of the people
toward the celebration, it came in the
lavishness of the decoration.
But there wac no need of indications,
for the movement had been much in the
form of a popular uprising from the
start. That was what made it possible,
even comparatively easy, for the busi
ness men of the city to carry forward to
a perfect and brilliant contamination
the details OF the plans of the greatest
celebration the city has ever known. 1t
was as if the very name LA Fiesta"
had been magic wand waved over the
city, and 10 its everyday appearance is
transformed into a gala scene, and the
thoughts of everyone turned from the
ordinary channels into the paths OF
pleasure and festivity.
The carnival which commenced in
this city yesterday ia intended to be as
typical of this CITY and it's people as is
the Mardi Gras of New Orleans typical
of that city and it's pleasure-loving
class. 1t is meant to be the first of a
series of its kind, occurring annually,
and embracing year by year all the
varied and various forms of gaiety and
amusement of which tho idea will admit.
The origin of the pro;ec> came from
Mr.. Max Mey berg. 1t dc not come di-
rectly in the form of an IN .Diration but
was the result of some dellOeration and
a great deal OF hard work.
When the Merchants association was
asked to contribute its share toward the
Chicago and San Francisco exhibitions
Mr.. Mey berg demurred mildly upon the |
ground that both places were too remote |
from Los Angeles, and to make his posi- /
ton in the matter plain asserted that |
out some exhibition of it's own. A flower
and citrus fair did not seem to suit the
popular demand, or requirement rather, |
and shortly after Mr.. Meyburg pre-.
sented for the consideration OF the mer-
chants the idea of q carnival.
But it was to be an original carnival
not one of tha .stereotyped things pro-
duced in eastern cities but something
typical of Sonthern Oslifornis.s The idea
took we'll. There was plenty Of enthus-
iasm even before any definite plans were
made or suggested at all.
The first action taken by the Mer-
chants association was the appoint
ment of Mr.. Mey berg asadirector general
of the celebration with full power to act
nj his Judgment should direct.
Secondly, the executive committee OF
the Merchants association was made
committee to raise funds by subscrip-
ton from the merchants to carry for
ward the work.
Mr.. Mey berg began his duties by the
appointment of an executive committee
of "A members which was afterwards,
under his direction, divided up into cub
committees for the various departments
of the work. Messrs. f. A. Wood and
A. Petsch were appointed assistant di-
rectors and the committees made up as
follows:
Parade ommittee-Capt. H. steere,
R, W. Pridham, II. G. Lichtenberger,
F. Ven Week, II. Fuller, A. F. Coronel
N. j. Neemoze.
Music committee-Prof. Wilhartitz,
F. ]. Kubel, j. .. Koepfii, L. Loeb, n.
H. Newmark.
School committee-Dr. Wills, LIE Roy
D. Brown, D. X. Trask.
Societies committee-H. B. Belt, @.
H. White, Maj. NJ. L. Owens, Jacob
Kurtz.
Municipal committee-Mayor Rowan,
]. II. Dockweiler, +. ]. Teed, II. T.
Hazard.
Artistic committee-C. T. Sloan, A.
T. A. Eisen, F. Van Vleck, John Kahn,
Prof. Conte.
Social committee-L. F. Vetter, J. w.
A. OFF, F. j. Thomas.
Military committee-Gen. E. P.
Johnson, Colonel Schneider, Colonel
Spileman.
Southern California committee-AM. II
Newman, Williamson Dunn, l. B. New.
ton, @. S. Walton.
Public comfort committee-J. J. Mel
lus, j. D. Wiley. s. Il. Hunt.
Advertising committee-J. o. Koepfli
F. j. Kubel, E. D. Silent, Prof. will
hartitz.
Street decorating committee Han
cock Banning, D. A. Watson, A. w
Barrett, D. F. Donegan, Capt. a. w
Cross.
Benefit entertainment committee-C
M. Pyke, H. @. Wyatt, J. H. Schunk
Laurence Hsnley, 9. NJ. Wood, Martir
Lehman, Fred Cooper.
School transportation committee
James Eshmau, f. w. Stein, L. W
Patty.
illumination committee - w. B
Cline, ]. W. Warren. S. w. Garretson
Committee on Invited Guests-Charle
]. Ellis, Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont
Hon. E. M. Ross, Mrs. J. P. Jones
Mr.. j. t. Griffith.
1t was eminently fitting that Mr.. Mey
berg, whose ingenuity and originality
had evolved the idea, should be sp,
pointed its director. but it was NOR
from recognition of his executive abil
ity that the appointment came. In tn
light of recent developments the excel
lence of the choice has been shown. MIR
Mey berg has devoted himself wholly t.
the work for the past three months, an,
the result Of his labors is now in evi
dence.
Much of his individual attention ha
been directed toward the school chi
dren. He has publicly addressed ther
on several occasions, and has perfecte
himself all the plans for their entertain
ment and participation in the festivitie:
Mr.. Mey berg's personal estimation {
the result of the carnival ia that il wi