The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-17
Never Has There Been Such
Rejoicing in City of
Sonoma.
SUBJECTS SHOUT GREETINGS
= In the Parade, Plaza and the Pa
VIlion Due Homage Is Shown
Her Majesty.

triumphal march of California's carnival
north from far Los Angeles reached Healds-
burg this morning, and the era of revelry
here has begun. The city is thronged with
visitors already. The perfume of roses,
and the throb of music is in the air, and
the rich colors of the festival, blue and
gold, are everywhere.
1t has been a notable day in Healdsburg.
She dressed herself up and laid her plans
for carnival that will take its place in the
front rank of the splendid procession OF
holiday affairs the spring has inaugurated.
She invited the good people of the State to
come and join in her merry-making, and
they are arriving by every train that enters
the city, and when they depart it will be
tospread the glory of Healdsburg. With
her beautiful plaza in the very heart of
- the city she is peculiarly equipped for a
carnival which all may view and take part
in to the very best advantage.
When iocund day stood tiptoe on the
misty mountain top to the east eager to
catch the first glimpse of the holiday city
this morning he was saluted with the
hutter of thousand banners and the
blare of trumpets. The city was ready;
her gay clothes were nicely adjusted and
her head was up in the air with her bright
anticipations. Already the holiday-maker
was abroad and his number increased with
the passing moments.
The Queen had chosen one of the first
morning hours in which to take charge of
things, for these carnival queens are gay
and capricious, and pick their own time
for releasing the festival spirit, sometimes
coming in the night and again when the
day is fading, and again, as it were, they
come with the young day himself. It was
IL clock when she made her public ap-
pearance from the royal residence on
Matheson street.
A cayalcade of mounted knights, dressed
in the splendor of the sixteenth-century
knight, from this city, and another troop
from Alexander Valley, escorted her to
her throne in the plaza, The Sotoyome
band led the procession with City Marshal
Leard. who had command, and then came
the gallant knights escorting the Queen.
The royal carriage was the first of a long
line. 1t was richly and tastefully dressed.
In the carriage with Queen Emma Meiler
were her first maids of honor. Misses Maud
and Annie Mclean. and the pretty little
crown-bearer. Miss Nina Luce. In the
grand carriage were the other maids. Miss
n.
= Following these were other carriages in
. which; were the retinue of ladies and
gentlemen. The procession moved through
the principal streets: to the plaza, which
was now crowded with the merry-making
populace.,
/: In the center of the: plaza is a tower,
: hallway up which a wide platform had
been erected, and on this the throne was
in plain view of every eye. The tower and
stage and throne were completely buried
in green things making a striking, beau
tiful- point about which the festivities
might swing.
- The procession moved entirely around
the plaza and then stopped at the main
entrance. The two silver-clad knights who
rode beside the royal carriage assisted
the Queen and her ladies to alight and led
them to the plaza gates, where Mayor
:. Young, Rev. r. Messenger, chairman of
the reception committee, and Edward
Norton and DR.. ]. R. Swisher met them.
Two little pages, Willie White and Joe
Miller, led The way, and just behind them
little Lena Luce carried the silken cushion
upon which.the Queen must kneel to re-
ceive her crown. They assembled the stems
to the throne and then the populace gave
its first united and royal greeting to the
Queen.
Rev. Mr.. Messenger questioned the
Queen as to her purpose in her rule, if it
was good, and the Queen removed all doubts
by her frank answers. She kneeled upon
the cushion and DR.. Swisher placed the
golden crown upon the dark hair, where
it seemed to fit well and properly, as
though the one had long been designed for
the other. She rose up and took her place
on the throne, and the maids of honor
ranged themselves about her and again the
people shouted their greeting.
Mayor Young realized the folly of re-
slsting-in fact had no notion of so doing.
He handed over the keys of the city with
very handsome little speech. He said :
Most gracious Majesty. it is not through
accident OF birth. nor as an incident of war,
nor by the caprice of fortune that you
wear your queenly crown and WELD your
royal scepter, but by the willing suffrages
OF your grateful subjects. ALI their power
is epitomlzed in you, and your enthrone-
ment is the realization and climax of their
ambition.
In tneir name, as an. expression of their
admiration and fealty to your person and
throne, have the honor and pleasure to
welcome your advent and to beseech you
graciously to preside over their floral festi-
val and command its exercises. This is
your royal prerogatiYe and pray Won will
exercise 1t. Certainly nothing could be
more appropriate than that she who has
been selected because of her grace and
beauty should rule in Flora's realm, where
all is beauty These flowers, whose tints
no painters brush can initiate and whose
modesty is not feigned nor forced, are
angels thoughts materialized. They speak
with power and pathos that no one can
resist; theirs is the language of symbolism,
heavens form of speech, and ours before
mans descent from primal innocence,
That symbolism is still preserved in myth