The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-09
The Regal Wand Surrendered
to the Fair Ruler by Mayor
Woodward.
OPENS THE FLOWER SHOW.
Carnival Guests View a Scene of
Dazzling BriIIiancy at the Floral
Pavilion.

SANlA ROoA, CAL., May S.-Sdnta
Rosa's carnival queen came to her by
night, out of that undiscovered country
where dwell the queens OF merry making.
Having arrived in the carnival city-the
City of the Holy Rose - her way led
through streets that were dimly lighted by
somber Chinese lanterns, strung in count
less numbers across them overhead, adding
TO the mystery of her coming.
Sne holds the keys of the city now, and
the carnival of flowers is in full swing
Mayor Woodward formally capitulated
Immediately upon her arrival, and the
people have acclaimed the fair ruler with
every sign of great rejoicing.
The ceremony at the Athen@um to-
night was simple and pretty and wholly
in accord with the spirit of the floral car
nival, there being nothing of the grotesque
In connection with it.
The Athen@um was dressed in flowers
from end to end, the stage and proscen-
ium boxes being framed in white roses and
callas-nothing but white-while in the
center of the stage stood the throne,
reached by three steps made of vari-col-
ored roses. The Greek chair, or throne
proper, which stood awaiting her majesty,
was also decorated with roses The
theater was otherwise wrapped about and
festooned with bunting in carnival colors
of wine, orange and olive, tied up and
twined about with flowers and vines,
presenting the effect of floral bower for
the floral queen.
The theater was besieged before the
opening of the doors, and shortly there
ne L J
torium. was occupied. The outer aisles
were filed, and as the crowd threatened to
invade the center aisle, through which the
Queen was to make her entree, the doors
were closed. Then the crowd banked up
agalnst them until it crossed the sidewalk
and extended into the street, and stood
there pleading for admission. Even then
the outer doors were covered with roses
and flowers, concealing the iron that would
not yield.
Shortly after o'clock cannon gave no
tice that the Queen had arrived in the city,
and its booming salute continued amid the
clamorous ringing of bells and the footing
OF whistles all over the city. When the
noise quieted down formal bugle call was
sounded at the Anthenaum. But the
crowd had already taken possession to be
present at the crowning of the Queen.
Hon. a. G. Burnett addressed the multi
tude, explaining why the everyday Gov
ernment should be required to step aside
for brief interval there and then.
1t is sign-these carnivals that have
become so much the fashion up and down
the great State in these late years-that
California has entered upon a new life.
&c
selhshness, he said, but has discovered
that there is something to be done for the
better side of men, the uplifting of her
people, the cultivation of the beautiful and
the encouragement of fraternal good feel
tng-"thOse buds that should be made to
forever blossom in the gardens of the
heart" This, he said, was the purpose of
Santa Rosa's flower festival, which has
come to be an established institution in
the City Of Roses.
AS the speaker closed, a pretty little in
cident occurred. A little baby, that lust
knew how to walk, strayed from its mother.
who doubtless stood in the wings, and tod
died to the foot of the throne at the center
Of the stage. and as the great audience
broke into applause, it picked a rose and
toddled leisurely back gain.
Now the bugle at the outer gates an
nounces that the Queen is at hand. The
center aisle is cleared of the few who had
crowded into it.
The audience is perfectly still in its ex-
pectancy. The fanfare of trumpets grows
louder in its approach. The Princess of
Santa Rosa comes slowly upon the stage,
with her two little pages carrying knee
pillow to the throne.
Down the aisle come troop of little
children, dressed in white-boys and girls,
two by two, carrying flowers. They march
down to the white steps that lead to the
stage and then separate, the girls stepping
TO one side Of the aisle and the boys to the
other, leaving an open way between them.
The Princess of Santa Rosa steps down
from the stage and walks half way up this
avenue and then awaits the Queen.
She comes not in gaudy splendor, but in
white purity; she is the White Rose her
self. With her are four maids of honor.
They are pink roses. Her two pages are
also dressed In pink court costume-all
pink save the three-cornered hats in gray.
The beautiful young Queen takes the ex-
tended hand Of the Princess and is led
with her courtly following down the aisle
and up the white steps of the stage. At
the same instant battery of incandes-
cent lamps, which have been concealed in
the mass OF vines and flowers and festoons
of tricolored bunting that form a back
ground and canopy to the throne. fash into
life, adding much to the beauty of the set
ting.
The Queen takes her seat and the Prin-
cess places upon her brow crown of
white roses. There is no talking by anv
one-only the music of the band to ac-
company this pretty ceremony. Some
children advance up the stage and, couae
by couple, bow low before the Queen. then
take their places again for the flower |
dance. 1t is very pretty performance.
the children going through its several
figures without prompting. The Carnival
Choral Society sings the California mount |
ain song and the laughing chorus, and